Sponsored By Oxley Developments
www.oxleygroup.com
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22 May 25. OSI Completes TDNS HAT for Chilean Navy Submarines.
- TDNS the Submarines Tactical Advantage
- Involved two classes of submarines: Thomson and Scorpene
- Each submarine deploys TDNS, OSI’s advanced Tactical Dived Navigation System
- Key capability includes GNSS Denied Navigation
- Systems are Powered by OSI’s ECPINS, the only WECDIS fully compliant to NATO WECDIS STANAG 4564
OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) is pleased to announce the successful completion of the final Harbour Acceptance Test (HAT) for the upgrade with OSI’s Tactical Dived Navigation Systems (TDNS) on board four Armada de Chile (Chilean Navy) Submarines. OSI delivered four TDNSs, with the Chilean Navy Thomson-class submarine receiving the first system in 2022, the second in 2023, and the final two TDNS units delivered to the Scorpène-class submarines also in 2023. Additionally, OSI has provided Operator and Maintainer training to the submarine crews. TDNS represents a significant advancement in submarine operations and Dived Navigation. Powered by ECPINS WECDIS, the system offers a wide array of GNSS-denied features, including multi-sensor data integration, bottom contour navigation, and uniquely advanced algorithmic calculation that provides a Pool of Errors. This minimizes reliance on external sensors, allowing the submarine to remain undetectable for extended periods of time while retaining its full tactical advantage. Situational awareness and operational effectiveness are further optimized with specialized ECPINS features, such as 3D view, Water Space Management (WSM), Moving Havens (MHN), Target Motion Analysis (TMA), and Subnotes. OSI worked closely with the Chilean Navy to meet their requirements. Sensor identification combined with mast management was crucial in improving the operator’s response and awareness. Further, the system features a bespoke submarine user interface providing the operator with quick, easy-to-reference navigation details, thus improving the navigator’s response time and ship safety. The Chilean Navy currently operates two Thomson-class (Type 209) submarines alongside two newer Scorpène-class submarines. The HAT is the second-to-last stage in certifying the seaworthiness of the vessels and systems; the Sea Acceptance Test (SAT) is the final test. ECPINS is the only WECDIS third-party type-approved against NATO WECDIS STANAG 4564 and is deployed on more than 60 submarines among NATO and Allied navies, including Chile, Sweden, the UK, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, South Africa, Singapore, Indonesia, and Brazil.
Jim Girard, President and CEO, “This milestone highlights the strength of our collaboration with the Armada de Chile and our ability to tailor advanced systems to specific operational needs. The delivery and integration of TDNS across their submarine fleet is a testament to OSI’s technical expertise and trusted solutions.”
Jim Davison, VP of Business Development, “The successful completion of the HAT with the Chilean Navy underscores OSI’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge navigation capabilities. TDNS reflects the future of undersea operations, providing unmatched tactical advantages in GNSS-denied environments. We are proud to support our partners in achieving their mission objectives with precision and safety.” (Source: ASD Network)
20 May 25. Sopra Steria and EUROCONTROL have agreed a new five-year contract to further develop the local and sub-regional airspace management support system – better known as LARA. The new agreement extends a long-standing successful partnership, which has seen LARA become the cornerstone of advanced airspace management for over fifteen years. The system enables real-time decision-making and optimised flight paths, enhancing the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of air travel. By supporting collaborative decision-making between civil and military airspace users, LARA provides common situational awareness to all stakeholders and increased efficiency, while enhancing safety and promoting harmonisation. LARA has also helped to address environmental challenges – by reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions – and ensure safer skies, which is paramount for the ms of passengers who rely on air travel every day.
Adrian Fieldhouse, Managing Director (Strategic Digital Solutions) at Sopra Steria UK, said: “We’re committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation to drive positive change in business and society – and it doesn’t get much more important than keeping people safe and reducing environmental impact. We’re therefore delighted to continue our journey with EUROCONTROL and are proud to deliver such critical infrastructure for the aviation sector.”
Major Gen Karsten Stoye, Head of Civil Military ATM Cooperation Division at EUROCONTROL, said: “The renewal of the contract with Sopra Steria confirms EUROCONTROL’s commitment to providing state-of-the-art airspace management capabilities to our civil and military stakeholders. LARA is a key pillar in ensuring a flexible, collaborative, and secure airspace environment, and its continued development and support are vital for the performance and resilience of the European Airspace Network.”
Xavier Pecquet, Executive Lead for Aeroline, Sopra Steria’s dedicated aerospace organisation, said: “This renewed commitment presents an exciting opportunity for Sopra Steria to actively support EUROCONTROL in addressing its evolving digital transformation challenges. By delivering innovative solutions like LARA, we are dedicated to enhancing flight efficiency, improving airspace capacity, while ensuring military mission effectiveness.”
20 May 25. uAvionix Releases muLTElink Upgrade, Enabling Seamless Autonomous C2 Link Management. uAvionix, a provider of low-SWaP aviation-grade communications and surveillance technologies for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, has announced a significant software update to its muLTElink product family, enabling advanced link management for assured Command and Control (C2) and payload during UAS operations. muLTElink, which integrates up to four independent radios (C-Band, LTE, ISM, and optional IP based radios such as SATCOM or Starlink), includes advanced Dynamic Link Selection and Active Link Monitoring features. These improvements allow seamless, automated make-before-break switching across multiple C2 links—without operator intervention. The upgrade enables dedicated radios for Command Non-Payload Communications (CNPC) to be optimized for path and frequency diversity, minimizing the risk of lost connectivity in complex terrain or dynamic RF environments, while allowing an additional link for transmittal of payload data.
“This release delivers meaningful improvements in operational resilience and cost-efficiency that our customers have asked for,” said Cyriel Kronenburg, VP of UAS and Aviation Networks at uAvionix. “Our customers face unpredictable terrain, RF interference, and increasing complexity while trying to control the aircraft and complete the mission. muLTElink’s enhanced automation means the UAS selects the best available link in real-time for C2 and keeps payload data streaming—so operators can focus on the mission, not the network, all through a single device.”
New Capabilities and Highlights
- Real-Time Dynamic Link Selection – Automatically chooses the optimal link (LTE, C-Band, ISM, or an IP based radio such as SATCOM) based on real-time signal quality, interference, and geographic conditions.
- Active Link Monitoring – Continuously monitors all available links and autonomously switches before failure occurs—virtually eliminating link loss.
- Improved Network Resilience – Provides true frequency and path diversity. Adversarial interference or coverage gaps in one band are bypassed using alternative paths.
- Lower Operational Costs – Intelligent link arbitration reduces unnecessary reliance on high-cost SATCOM by using LTE or ISM when viable.
- Field-Proven Reliability – Under FAA contract testing, muLTElink achieved 99.97% link availability across a 360-mile flight path, with less than 5 seconds of total downtime over 4.3 hours.
Deployment Scenarios
The upgraded muLTElink is optimized for high-risk and complex UAS operations such as:
- Long-range linear inspections (pipeline, powerline, rail)
- Emergency response and public safety (DFR, overwatch)
- Urban air mobility (UAM) trials and infrastructure surveys
- FAA test site research and certification initiatives
Current muLTElink configurations include the muLTElink5060, which combines LTE and C-Band in a compact 100g, 2W package, and the muLTElink915, offering LTE and ISM radios at 65g. Both support external SATCOM integration and are managed via uAvionix’s SkyLine C2 Manager, a web-based platform for link arbitration and C2 application integration. Either muLTELink can be combined with a skyLink915 or skyLink5060 for up to four communications links.
Trusted by Industry Leaders
muLTElink and skyLine is already at several ranges in partnership with NASA, Choctaw Nation, OAIRE, skyWay Range, Thales, and Vantis, and is active at multiple FAA-designated UAS test sites.
21 May 25. Advanced Navigation, a global leader in autonomous systems and navigation technologies, has successfully demonstrated a hybrid solution for long endurance GNSS-denied navigation, proving that a software-fused inertial-centered architecture is the defining standard for autonomy.
“The world is evolving, and navigation must evolve with it. GPS is disturbingly vulnerable to challenging environments, harsh weather conditions and cyberattacks with rising threats of jamming and spoofing. The question isn’t if GPS will fail, but when. Operators need to build resilience now,” shares Advanced Navigation CEO and co-founder, Chris Shaw.
“This hybrid solution is designed with adaptability and reliability in mind. While others focus on individual components, Advanced Navigation champions a layered, inertial-centered, multi-sensor architecture, fused together by intelligent software. This approach can be updated or modified to adapt to harsh environments and mission requirements.”
A New Era of Navigation Resilience
This advancement is achieved by integrating a strategic-grade fibre-optic gyroscope (FOG) inertial navigation system (INS) with a new class of navigation aid: a Laser Velocity Sensor (LVS). The result is a fused hybrid architecture that delivers unprecedented precision and reliability in even the most challenging environments. At the centre of every reliable navigation platform is a trusted source of truth: the INS. Advanced Navigation’s FOG INS, which is sensitive enough to detect the Earth’s rotation, provides that foundation by delivering precise attitude. Complementing this, Advanced Navigation’s LVS uses infrared lasers to measure a vehicle’s ground-relative 3D velocity with exceptional accuracy and long-term stability. Unlike conventional sensors, LVS performs reliably on both ground and airborne platforms, as long as it maintains a clear line of sight to the ground or a stationary surface. Beyond its role as a velocity aid, LVS also enhances navigation resilience by detecting GNSS spoofing. By comparing its independent velocity measurements against GNSS-derived velocity, LVS adds an extra layer of security to Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (APNT) strategies.
AdNav OS Fusion draws on sophisticated algorithms to interpret and filter sensor data. The software is designed to dynamically weigh the input from each sensor, adjusting in real time based on reliability scores, environmental conditions, and operational context. This ensures continuous, high-confidence state estimation even when signals are lost, degraded, or distorted. This inertial-centered, multi-sensor approach delivers a step-change in GNSS-denied navigation performance, compared to traditional methods.
Proven Capabilities with Real World Data
To validate the accuracy and resilience of the LVS Hybrid system, Advanced Navigation conducted a series of rigorous real-world driving tests. Across five trials, the system delivered exceptional performance with an average error per distance traveled of 0.053% compared to a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) reference. At the starting point, GNSS on the INS was disabled in the state estimation process, forcing the system into dead-reckoning mode. RTK GNSS was logged separately as a reference. This approach allows for a direct comparison between the computed dead-reckoning solution and a trusted position reference. The below data shows dead-reckoning results from a 23 km drive around Canberra, Australia. GNSS was not used at any point in the drive for heading or position. RTK GNSS is shown as the red line, while the Hybrid system’s result is shown in blue. The below results are from a 19.2 km drive around the Parliamentary Triangle in Canberra, Australia. GNSS was not used at any point in the drive for heading or position. RTK GNSS is shown as the red line, while the Hybrid system’s result is shown in blue. The Hybrid system was also tested on a fixed-wing aircraft combined with a tactical-grade INS, demonstrating a final error per distance traveled of 0.045% over the course of a low-altitude flight over 545 km. These results demonstrate the system’s impressive ability to improve navigation performance of the INS in GNSS-denied or contested scenarios. For a more in-depth look into the technology, a white paper can be read here.
Commercialising Space to Earth
LVS is a terrestrial adaptation of LUNA (Laser Unit for Navigation Aid), a space-grade navigation technology developed for autonomous lunar landings. LUNA enables reliable navigation in the harsh environment of space by providing precise three-dimensional velocity and altitude information relative to the Moon’s surface. The result of several years of R&D, LUNA is set to be demonstrated aboard Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lander as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.
By leveraging the engineering insights gained from LUNA, LVS adapts space technology into an Earth-ready solution for terrestrial GNSS-denied navigation.
What This Means For the Future of Navigation
In today’s dynamic operational environments, relying on a single sensor technology (such as GNSS or IMU) is no longer viable. Missions increasingly take place in GNSS-denied, electromagnetically noisy, and physically complex settings where traditional systems falter.
Robust navigation demands a layered, inertial-first and multi-sensor architecture – held together by intelligent software – that can adapt and scale to meet the unique demands of each mission. Embracing a software-defined nature, Advanced Navigation’s architecture means updates and enhancements can be deployed with minimal hardware disruption. This paradigm shift ensures truly resilient navigation for critical applications across defence, aerospace, robotics and autonomous systems.
About Advanced Navigation
Advanced Navigation is a global leader in APNT and autonomous system technologies. By leveraging capabilities in software-enhanced hardware, every solution delivers unrivaled capabilities and exceptional performance across land, air, sea and space applications where GPS is contested.
Made possible with extensive research, testing and vertically integrated manufacturing, the company has progressed into deep technology fields, including robotics, inertial, photonic and quantum sensing, artificial intelligence, underwater acoustics, and GPS antennas and receivers. Customers choose Advanced Navigation for rapid product delivery and unmatched technical field expertise.
Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, with research and production facilities nationwide and offices globally, Advanced Navigation is an Australian manufacturer exporting worldwide. The company is backed by KKR, In-Q-Tel (IQT), former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and General David H. Petraeus (US Army, Ret.). #JoinTheAutonomyRevolution.
21 May 25. HighPoint Technologies is introducing an industry-first, portable, near-petabyte NVMe storage solution. The solution leverages eight Solidigm™ D5-P5336 122TB SSDs in a HighPoint RocketStor 6542AW NVMe RAID Enclosure to deliver an astounding 976TB storage capacity in an ultra-compact high-performance design. This innovative solution is designed to deliver scalable, server-grade NVMe storage for a variety of data-intensive applications, including artificial intelligence (AI), media production, big data analytics, enterprise data backup, and high-performance computing (HPC).
Industry-First Portable near 1 Petabyte Storage Solution
The RocketStor 6542AW supports up to eight Solidigm D5-P5336 SSDs via a single PCIe connection, delivering a massive 976TB of storage capacity. This solution not only breaks through the capacity limits of portable storage devices but also ensures exceptional data read/write speed via HighPoint’s proven PCIe Switching technology. The combination of near-petabyte capacity together with ultra-fast transfer performance represents a significant milestone in storage innovation, and is ideal for enterprise workflows designed to handle massive datasets.
Ultra-Compact Powerhouse
With its near-petabyte storage capacity, compact footprint measuring just 4.84 inches tall and 9.25 in length, and dedicated PCIe x16 host to device connectivity, the HighPoint RocketStor 6542AW NVMe RAID Enclosure is ideal for environments where space is limited but high performance is essential. Whether in an enterprise data center environment, media production studio, or portable setup for an on-the-go professional, this solution delivers uncompromised storage capacity and performance while maintaining a sleek and space-efficient form factor.
Empowering AI/ML and Big Data Analytics
For artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) workloads, data throughput and processing speed are critical factors in model training efficiency. The RocketStor 6542AW, combined with high-performance Solidigm D5-P5336 SSDs can significantly accelerate AI/ML model training times. For researchers and developers working with large datasets, this solution provides a powerful boost to productivity and efficiency.
Ideal for Enterprise Backup and HPC Applications
Data security and backup efficiency are paramount in the enterprise. The RocketStor 6542AW’s redundant RAID technology and robust CDFP connectivity facilitates rapid and secure backups of large datasets. Additionally, the compact solution excels in high-performance computing (HPC) environments and is capable of supporting intensive computational workloads with minimal latency. It is particularly well-suited for scientific research and engineering simulations, where fast and reliable data access is critical.
Seamless Handling of High-Resolution Media Workflows
For high-resolution media applications such as 4K/8K video editing and rendering, storage capacity and data access speed are often bottlenecks. The solution’s 976TB of capacity and 28GB/s of transfer bandwidth effortlessly accommodates large volumes of video files, ensuring smooth playback and accelerated production pipelines. This makes it an ideal choice for High-resolution media applications such as film production, animation design, and rendering.
HighPoint Technologies: Redefining the Boundaries of NVMe Storage
“This collaboration between HighPoint and Solidigm is a game-changer in enterprise storage,” said May Hwang, VP at HighPoint Technologies. “By qualifying the Solidigm D5-P5336 SSDs in our RocketStor 6542AW, we’ve created an unprecedented solution that combines high-capacity NVMe storage with seamless scalability. AI, HPC, and data-driven industries can now harness near-petabyte storage in an ultra-compact form factor without compromising performance.”
“As Hardware RAID adoption in the AI ecosystem is becoming more prevalent, this collaboration is significant using Solidigm industry-leading, high-capacity SSDs and HighPoint’s HW RAID enclosure.” – Mike Mamo Senior Principal Engineer/ Senior Director at Solidigm
A New Benchmark for External Storage Expansion
The HighPoint solution with Solidigm SSDs sets a new standard for external NVMe storage expansion, addressing the growing demand for external, high-performance, high-capacity storage in AI, media production, and big data analytics. With its exceptional speed, unparalleled capacity, and flexible RAID technology, the 976TB external NVMe storage solution is poised to become the go-to choice for customers seeking reliable and efficient storage support in their data-intensive workflows.
20 May 25. Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, joined the U.S. Army Program Manager FLRAA office and members of Team FLRAA in support of a program status update and demonstration of the FLRAA Virtual Prototype.
“I am thrilled to see the first piece of hardware that will be delivered on the Army’s FLRAA program,” said Col. Jeffrey Poquette, FLRAA Project Manager. “By leveraging Congressional authorities, not only will we deliver two FLRAA virtual prototype cockpit simulators but also accelerate the broader FLRAA program by four years. Once delivered they will provide our user community, Army pilots, with the ability to experiment with tiltrotor tactics and ultimately develop doctrine for its future use. Additionally, we will take the feedback received from our users and seek to incorporate what is most important to them into the final design of the aircraft. Overall, this represents great progress for the FLRAA program.”
The Virtual Prototype, an advanced simulator based on a digital twin of the FLRAA weapon system, is a key element of the Army’s accelerated acquisition approach leveraging the Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) process. The two Virtual Prototypes will support accelerated user familiarization, feedback, and development of TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures) in preparation for FLRAA’s transformational speed and range. These assets are expected to be converted into Flight Training Devices (FTDs) over time.
“I am incredibly proud of the joint team’s execution, working together in parallel to the weapon system development to deliver this advanced capability,” said Ryan Ehinger, senior vice president and FLRAA program director, Bell. “Having the PM FLRAA team alongside the Bell team as we head into final USG testing and delivery is further evidence of the extensive industry/government collaboration benefitting this program.”
The U.S. Army’s new long-range assault aircraft is designed to fly twice as far and twice as fast as the current fleet while providing unmatched agility and handling capabilities. Utilizing mature tiltrotor technology coupled with an innovative digital engineering approach and a modular open systems approach, it is designed to be the most reliable, affordable and high-performing long-range assault aircraft in the world.
20 May 25. Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) has expanded its navigation portfolio with the launch of the HGuide o480, a high-performance, single-card inertial navigation system (INS) engineered to deliver precise, resilient localization and attitude data in an ultra-low size, weight and power package.
“The HGuide o480 is an engineering marvel and a technological breakthrough,” said Matt Picchetti, vice president, Navigation and Sensors, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “For the size, there are no competing products in the industry today that can achieve the same high-performance at the price point, in addition to having the ability to be augmented by the wide array of Honeywell alternative navigation capabilities to form a truly remarkable resilient navigation solution.”
The entire HGuide o480 product line is suitable for a wide range of industries, including the emerging small-factor unmanned aerial vehicles, autonomous ground and underwater vehicles, as well as an extensive range of aerial and terrestrial mapping systems for the geodetics industry.
The HGuide o480 can be integrated directly into the electronics stack of a range of applications requiring precise and robust localization. It can also reduce system size and integration complexity, enabling faster deployment and improved performance for unmanned and autonomous systems across air, land and sea. The system is fully compatible with multiple velocity aiding sensors, including the Honeywell Radar Velocity Sensor, and provides GPS-denied localization performance that is typically unavailable in similar systems.
Additionally, security is built into the fabric of the HGuide o480. Designed to perform in contested and GPS-challenged environments, the system features anti-jamming and anti-spoofing capabilities via Septentrio’s AIM+ technology included with the Mosaic global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver. The HGuide o480 is offered with both the triple-frequency Mosaic X5 in a single-antenna configuration and with the dual-frequency, dual-antenna Mosaic H for when GNSS attitude aiding is required. In both cases, the Mosaic delivers best-in-class real-time kinematic (RTK) GNSS performance.
19 May 25. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has successfully integrated the advanced Optix software—developed by General Atomics Integrated Intelligence, Inc. (GA-i3)—into the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) Common Intelligence Picture (CIP) for a multi-service Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course.
This milestone marks a significant enhancement in the USMC’s Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, delivering a unified operational view critical to the training of future aviation leaders. For the USMC, this integration directly supports the deployment and effectiveness of the GA-ASI-supplied MQ-9A Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aircraft System within the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). Achieved through close collaboration with Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) and Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1), the integration brought together engineers from GA-ASI and GA-i3 alongside USMC unmanned aviation operations experts. Their combined efforts enabled the seamless deployment of the Optix software during the rigorous WTI 2-25 training cycle. USMC MQ-9A operations during the exercise took place at Yuma, Arizona, and the Strategic Expeditionary Landing Field (SELF) at Twenty-Nine Palms, California—the Marine Corps’ only expeditionary runway in the U.S. The live-fire training environment provided an invaluable opportunity to evaluate the MQ-9A’s role in complex combat scenarios. By introducing Optix into this high-demand setting, Marines gained access to real-time data fusion, a shared operational picture, and enhanced collaborative decision-making—tools critical for modern battlefield success.
“The integration of Optix software represents a key step toward the effective deployment of the MQ-9A MUX MALE platform within the MAGTF and joint operations,” said Doug Brouwer, Senior Director for USMC Programs at GA-ASI. “It enables near real-time situational awareness and improves the decision-making process across the battlespace.”
Andrew Majchrowicz, Project Manager for Department of Defense Programs at GA-i3, added: “Equipping Marines with advanced ISR tools like Optix enhances the common intelligence picture and operational readiness in live-fire environments. This is a critical milestone in our shared goal of enabling joint-force effectiveness and full operational integration of the MQ-9A.” The successful deployment of Optix within the WTI course underscores General Atomics’ continued commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that empower the U.S. military with unmatched intelligence and operational capabilities for future multi-domain operations.
19 May 25. RTX, Tawazun Council, EGA to advance gallium production in UAE. The gallium is said to be a critical component of defence products including advanced radars. RTX has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tawazun Council and aluminium producer Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) to explore production of gallium for applications, mainly defence, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The MoU aims to create gallium extraction and refining capabilities at EGA’s alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi. This would make the UAE the world’s second largest producer of gallium; a critical mineral with applications in various sectors including semiconductors, electric vehicles, medical devices, and telecom infrastructure. In the defence industry, gallium is a vital component in advanced radars and other military products. The agreement is set to secure access to this essential mineral for companies, including RTX. RTX operations and supply chain senior vice-president Paolo Dal Cin said: “The aerospace and defence industry relies on stable access to rare earth elements.
“Today’s agreement puts us on a path towards a reliable supply of gallium, needed for production of critical aerospace and defence solutions.”
EGA and RTX intend to sign an agreement to assess the feasibility of developing a high purity gallium plant at EGA’s Al Taweelah alumina refinery.
The refinery processes bauxite ore into alumina, which is the feedstock for aluminium smelters and contains trace amounts of gallium. RTX said that as gallium is an impurity in aluminium, gallium levels must be carefully managed in metal for the most demanding applications.
RTX, previously recognised as Raytheon, manufactures jet engines, aircraft parts, and Patriot missile defence systems. In April 2025, RTX has reported a total revenue of $20.3bn for the quarter ended 31 March 2025. The company anticipates adjusted sales in the full year 2025 to range between $83bn and $84bn. However, RTX has issued a caution regarding the potential impact of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, which could reduce its 2025 profits by $850m. The company estimated $50m burden stemming from steel and aluminum tariffs. The company anticipates that the impact of tariffs on operating profits will become more evident in the latter half of the year when existing inventory is sold off, according to chief financial officer Neil Mitchill. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
16 May 25. Lyten Announces Next-Generation Drone Propulsion Initiative with American-Made Lithium-Sulfur Batteries. Lyten, the supermaterial applications company and global leader in lithium-sulfur batteries, has announced a new national security-focused initiative to support the growing demand for high-endurance, wide-operational-radius drones for defense applications.
The initiative is built on a next-generation drone energy storage system powered by Lyten’s ultra-lightweight lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Lyten is dedicating production capacity in its California manufacturing facilities to meet the unique needs of the U.S. defense, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and satellite sectors.
Lyten’s U.S.-sourced and manufactured lithium-sulfur batteries are uniquely positioned to help the Department of Defense meet two urgent modernization imperatives:
- Reducing dependence on foreign and adversarial supply chains for critical minerals, components, and batteries, and
- Enabling the deployment of lighter, longer range, and more capable UAV platforms.
“Defense initiatives increasingly rely on unmanned, autonomous systems, yet nearly all these systems are powered by raw materials and batteries sourced from geopolitical rivals,” said Dan Cook, Lyten Co-Founder and CEO. “We built Lyten’s lithium-sulfur battery platform to solve exactly this problem – to provide lightweight, high performance battery power that is locally sourced and locally manufactured in the United States.”
In a newly released demonstration flight video, Lyten showed its lithium-sulfur battery powering a U.S.-built, 3D-printed UAV. The drone was made by Titan Dynamics, utilizing a battery pack designed by Upgrade Energy, both located in Los Angeles. The successful flight of Titan’s 8.5 foot wingspan drone in Palos Verdes, California demonstrated flight time capability of over 3 hours while executing a wide range of maneuvers, at speeds of up to 86 mph.
Lyten’s next upcoming drone battery release is targeting up to 8 hours of flight time on the Titan Dynamics platform.
Lyten’s lithium-sulfur batteries are free from nickel, manganese, cobalt, and graphite — minerals dominated by Chinese supply chains — enabling a secure, National Defense Appropriations Act (NDAA)-compliant energy solution for defense platforms. Lithium-Sulfur batteries, with their higher energy density, are designed to support longer flights, heavier payloads, and extended operational range.
“Lightweight propulsion is of critical importance to so many industries,” said Celina Mikolajczak, Lyten’s Chief Battery Technology Officer. “Satellites, drones, EVs, and micromobility can all dramatically improve in performance with lighter weight batteries. We have designed the lithium-sulfur battery platform to provide this lightweight performance, while avoiding materials subject to growing geopolitical and supply chain constraints.”
Lyten is currently taking orders for its latest lithium-sulfur battery for drones. Lyten previously announced a contract with the Defense Innovation Unit to demonstrate Lyten’s lithium-sulfur batteries on the International Space Station, slated for launch later this year. Lyten’s ultra-lightweight solution is now achieving over 3000 cycles for satellite applications. (Source: UAS VISION)
16 May 25. Pierce Aerospace and MITRE Partner to Advance Remote ID Research and Development. Pierce Aerospace announced that it has executed a memorandum of understanding with MITRE to advance research and the state of the art of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) remote identification. The new collaboration between Pierce Aerospace and MITRE will see Pierce Aerospace’s Remote ID sensors installed at the MITRE National Range for remote identification and UAS-related research purposes.
The two organizations also will collaborate to advance airspace detection, UAS/autonomy operations, and homeland security capabilities.
“MITRE has always been at the forefront of supporting the public safety sector and the United States through their research and development in support of the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Transportation,” said Aaron Pierce, chief executive officer, Pierce Aerospace. “We previously engaged with MITRE in testing and evaluation of our Remote ID sensors and capabilities. It made logical sense to further the relationship so we can continue to advance research and development with MITRE in support of the public safety sector and the U.S. government, particularly as we continue to advance the state of the art of UAS remote identification.”
The new collaboration between Pierce Aerospace and MITRE focuses on using scientific research and experimentation to address real-world challenges from the increased use of unmanned systems. Allowing academia, government, and industry to collaborate on advancing mission priorities through prototyping and experimentation, the MITRE National Range provides an ideal location to learn, develop, and test capabilities to enhance homeland and national security measures that serve the public interest.
“MITRE is proud to partner with Pierce Aerospace to advance critical initiatives in homeland and national security. Our mission is to enhance capabilities in ways that are both effective and safe,” said Yosry Barsoum, vice president and director of the Center for Securing the Homeland at MITRE. “By working across industry, federal agencies, and academia, MITRE is uniquely positioned to understand how emerging technologies align with mission objectives. This collaboration between the MITRE National Range and Pierce Aerospace is a vital step in transforming airspace management, ensuring public safety for drone operators and hobbyists, and strengthening our ability to respond to evolving threats.”
“In the last year, we’ve advanced our Remote ID capabilities and demonstrated that broadcast Remote ID can serve as a fundamental infrastructure that supports an economical path toward UAS integration into the National Airspace System (NAS),” added Pierce. “With MITRE we intend to continue to push the envelope of research and deliver solutions that aid in the safe and secure integration of drones into the NAS.” (Source: UAS VISION)
17 May 25. UK Armed Forces to benefit from ground breaking underwater glue developed with industry. Defence scientists develop glue that enables rapid repairs to equipment in extreme environments. An underwater glue could soon be saving lives and providing UK Armed Forces with an operational edge following successful trials in Portsmouth. The glue, which mimics the way a mussel sticks to a rock in nature, will enable military personnel to repair wetsuits, damaged dinghies and other equipment rapidly in extreme environments, potentially saving lives. It will also make it easier to repair bridges under the water line and could save the public money by enabling repairs during deployment. The glue was developed by the Ministry of Defence’s Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), working with biotech firm Zentraxa. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
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Oxley Group Ltd
Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.
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The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.
https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/
Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.
Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.
Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide. The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting. It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.
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