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26 Jul 23. IDEF 2023: Meteksan unveils shallow-water retractable sonar. Turkey’s Meteksan Defence unveiled a new retractable sonar, named Yakamos-RT, at the 16th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) held from 25 to 28 July in Istanbul. The sonar is an improved version of the Yakamos 2020 developed by Meteksan and is designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations in shallow waters. It was developed with the need to equip smaller surface combatants, such as patrol boats and unmanned surface vessels (USVs), with an ASW capability, Meteksan’s business development manager Aykut Kertmen told Janes.
Yakamos-RT is a high-frequency passive/active sonar operating in the 20–30 kHz range. It has a small array structure with an array diameter of 450 mm and can be lowered to a depth of 2m.
The sonar has a detection range of around 6km for conventional submarines and features a small target detection capability (namely mine detection) as well as a torpedo detection mode. The weight of the entire system is less than 1 tonne. (Source: Janes)
26 Jul 23. Leidos and L3Harris Announce Team for ATHENA-S. Leidos (NYSE:LDOS), a FORTUNE® 500 science and technology leader, and L3Harris Technologies announced today they are teaming up for the U.S. Army’s Theater Level High-Altitude Expeditionary Next Airborne – Signals Intelligence (ATHENA-S) proposal. Together the companies will seek to deliver two enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft in support of the program.
“The Leidos-L3Harris team focuses each of our companies’ extensive and diverse talents to achieve mission success with ATHENA-S,” said Tim Freeman, Leidos senior vice president and Airborne Solutions Operations Manager. “With our combined integration, investment, engineering and design expertise, we look forward to producing a highly-configurable platform with more ISR capabilities to create an operational picture of the battlefield. The Leidos-L3Harris team is excited to deliver a decision advantage for the U.S. and our allies.”
Together, the Leidos-L3Harris team is the only one with experience designing, integrating, certifying and operating ISR business jets for the U.S. Army. The team will work to modify two Bombardier Global 6500 jets with radar, electronic and communications intelligence capabilities tailored to ATHENA-S requirements. The aircraft are intended to support U.S. Army missions in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility and are designed to close the gap between the Army’s medium- and high-altitude ISR aircraft fleet. ATHENA-S will fly at higher operating altitudes, provide increased range, greater endurance, more capacity for larger payloads and greater standoff ranges, along with next-generation sensor technology.
Leidos currently operates two Leidos Special Mission Aircraft (LSMA) for the Army’s Airborne Reconnaissance Targeting and Exploitation Multi-Mission Intelligence System (ARTEMIS) program in support of U.S. European Command. The LSMA provides deep-sensing electronics intelligence to enable threat analysis and delivery of long-range precision fires.
L3Harris currently operates a Bombardier Global Series jet as part of the Army’s Airborne Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare System (ARES) program supporting U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. In addition to ARES, L3Harris is also performing on Phase 2 of the Army’s Multi-Domain Sensing System program to develop, build, integrate and demonstrate prototype electronic and communications intelligence sensors for the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program. (Source: ASD Network)
25 Jul 23. Poland signs contract to buy 2 Swedish Saab 340 AEW-300 aircraft. Poland signed a contract to buy two Swedish airborne early warning and control Saab 340 AEW-300 planes for approximately 600m Swedish crowns ($57.81m), the Polish defence minister said on Tuesday.
“Thanks to this, NATO’s eastern flank will be strengthened and Polish airspace will become safer,” Mariusz Blaszczak said on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Poland is modernizing its armed forces as a result of the war in neighbouring Ukraine, and plans to spend around 4% of gross domestic product on defence this year. The early warning systems comprise the Saab 340 aircraft equipped with Saab’s advanced Erieye radar. The contract also includes ground equipment and in-country logistics and support services, the company said in a statement.
It said the value of the order was about 600m Swedish crowns with a 2023-2025 contract period. ($1 = 10.3793 Swedish crowns) (Source: Reuters)
24 Jul 23. Northrop Grumman in line to win NATO forward air defence counter UAS contract. The U.S. Government anticipates an award of a Definitive Contract Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) and Cost-Reimbursable to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (NGSC) “for the acquisition of the Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control (FAAD-C2), Air and Missile Defense Workstation (AMDWS) and Communications Network (C-NET) Systems to integrate Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Architecture for Air Defense and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) in support of their homeland defense.” According to a post in the US government www.sam.gov website: “The requirements of this acquisition will provide Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar (C-RAM) Network (C-NET) Interface Kits, Software Updates, Engineering Services, Hardware Acquisition, Financial Reporting, Quality Management, Cybersecurity, Security FAAD/AMDWS/C-Net Field Service Representative (FSR) Support, Integration and Testing Support, and support for GBAD C2 Allied Interoperability Test Events.This acquisition will be sole source Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (NGSC), 7575 Colshire Drive, McLean, VA 22102-7508, Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code 5FVX5, pursuant to the authority, Title 10 United States Code (U.S.C.) 3204(a)(1), as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii)(A) and (B) and (iii)(A) and (B), “Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.” NGSC is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and has been the only source to provide the communications architecture/systems engineering, integration, installation, communications network and Rocket Artillery Mortar Warning (RAM Warn) hardware, and logistics support of the unique C-RAM System of Systems (SoS). NGSC owns the Technical Data Package (TDP), essential proprietary software of C-RAM C2, and AMDWS and has expert knowledge of the C-RAM System of Systems (SoS). The Government does not own the technical data package (TDP) for the FAAD C2 or AMDWS. This requirement will be a definitive contract with a period of performance ending on 30 September 2024.” For more information: https://sam.gov/opp/04e4487fc16a4ad4b460b59cc493f4bd/view (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
24 Jul 23. Germany’s bi-annual market study identifies growth in drone detection and commercial drone usage. Germany’s Association of Unmanned Aviation (VUL) has released the results of its bi-annual market study into current trends and developments in the drone, air taxi and drone detection and defense markets. The study is based on real market data.
Key drone detection and defence findings:
The growth of the drone detection and countermeasures market is correlated with the proliferation of drones in personal and commercial use, fueling the demand for protection against potentially dangerous aircraft. In 2022, 13% of the 215m euros invested worldwide flowed into German companies.
Key commercial drone market findings:
There are well over 400,000 drones in circulation in Germany. Most of it, 359,000 drones, is used privately. However, this proportion has been declining for several years. However, the market for private drones seems to be saturated, while the commercial use of drones is becoming increasingly popular: the proportion of commercially used drones has increased by 197 percent since 2019 to 56,400 drones now.
The growth in the area of commercial use is also due to the high investments in drone companies: In the past ten years, around 124m euros have been invested in these companies, 93 percent of this sum the drone companies received in the past two years alone. On average, these companies in Germany are eight years old and employ around 20 people.
The German drone market is currently 955m euros. The commercial drone market accounts for 893m euros and the private drone market for 62m euros. In the ranking of the largest commercial drone markets, Germany continues to rank fourth after China, the USA and Japan. However, this is put into perspective if one does not take the absolute size of the market as a basis, but the size of the market per employee: Norway and Switzerland are then at the top in a global comparison – Germany comes in 18th place.
The number of drones in Germany will be around the same level in 2030 at around 412,000. While growth in personal use will continue to level off, the number of commercially used drones will increase to 80,000. Only one in seven drones is currently operated commercially in Germany; by 2030 it will be one in five drones. The German drone market will almost double by 2030 from EUR 955m to over EUR 1.7bn, which corresponds to an average annual growth rate of 7.5 percent. The growth is mainly driven by the commercial market.
Around 3,100 people in Germany work primarily with air taxis. The companies are six years old on average and employ around 160 people. The German air taxi market is currently 16.6m euros and will grow to 167m euros in 2030. This corresponds to an annual growth rate of over 30 percent. At the moment there are no air taxis flying, as all devices are in the design, prototype or certification phase. However, that could change as early as next year: the first commercial flights are expected to start in 2024, and around 300 air taxis are expected to be in operation in German airspace by 2030. 262 air taxis will be used for passenger transport and 67 for freight transport.
The Association of Unmanned Aviation (VUL) is a joint initiative of the Federal Association of the German Aviation Industry (BDL) and the Federal Association of the German Aerospace Industry (BDLI).
View the study here: https://verband-unbemannte-luftfahrt.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/VUL-Markststudie_2023_DE_f_-1.pdf
For more information visit: www.verband-unbemannte-luftfahrt.de (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
24 Jul 23. California court issues criminal charges against Orange County man for unsafe drone use. According to the attorney’s office for the Central District of California, an Orange County man has pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges for unsafely operating a drone aircraft on several occasions, including once flying it near a United States Coast Guard helicopter in mid-flight off the coast of Laguna Beach. Alexander Milinovic, 62, of Laguna Beach, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft. According to his plea agreement, Milinovic unsafely operated a drone on three occasions from June 2022 to March 2023.
US District Judge Fred W. Slaughter scheduled a November 28 sentencing hearing, at which time Milinovic will face a statutory maximum sentence of one year in federal prison for each count. The FBI and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter as part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration and the United States Coast Guard.
For more information visit: www.justice.gov (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
24 Jul 23. USAF hosts multi-national C-UAS exercise in Qatar. U.S. Air Forces Central (AFCENT) reports it “has successfully concluded a comprehensive Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems exercise on July 20, which aimed at enhancing integration, interoperability, and lethality among participating nations. The exercise brought together air forces from the United States, United Kingdom, France, and three other regional air forces, fostering collaboration and strengthening institutional capacity in countering the evolving UAS threat.”
The exercise was hosted at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
“The recently concluded exercise served as a crucial platform for AFCENT and its partners to improve their ability to effectively neutralize UAS threats, ensuring the safety and security of their respective airspace, said an organisation press release. “A total of 17 aircraft, including U.S. F-16s, a KC-10, and MQ-9s, participated in the exercise. This diverse fleet represented the cutting-edge capabilities of the participating nations, showcasing their commitment to countering UAS threats through advanced technology and operational expertise.”
“The exercise focused on various aspects of countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems threats, including detection, tracking, and engagement techniques. Through realistic scenarios and simulated UAS threats, participating forces enhanced their situational awareness, refined their tactics, and developed effective countermeasures.
“The event provided an opportunity for U.S. Air Forces Central and its partners to share best practices, lessons learned, and operational experiences in countering UAS threats. This exchange of knowledge and expertise will contribute to the continuous improvement of C-UAS capabilities across the coalition, fostering a stronger and more coordinated response to this evolving threat.
For more information: https://www.afcent.af.mil/News/Article/3466732/air-forces-central-conducts-c-uas-exercise-with-uk-france-and-regional-partners/(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
24 Jul 23. RoK research team ‘develop new drone detection radar based on high resolution algorithm.’ Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science And Technology (DGIST) has developed a radar system that can detect sub-miniature drones that are 3km away, according to an article published by Fierce Electronics.
According to the article, the discovery of a North Korean drone in Paju in March 2014, prompted South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense to adopt a drone detection radar based on an overseas technology, commenting that up to now, South Korea has used radar systems from abroad, such as drone detection radars from RADA in Israel and Blighter in the UK.
“Since 2014, DGIST senior researcher Daegun Oh’s team has continuously been developing a drone detection radar system based on a very high resolution algorithm using only Korean technology. The team developed Korea’s first radar system that can detect drones 200 m away for the first time in 2016, and now have designed a world-class radar system that can detect phantom drones flying in the sky over 3 km,” says Fierce Electronics.
“The researchers designed the drone detection radar system to operate between 12 GHz and 18 GHz, and applied high-resolution radar signal processing technology to locate drones accurately by applying an AESA radar1 technology to increase the maximum detection distance of radar. Furthermore, the radar system can identify and detect drones more clearly in real-time by integrating GANs (Generative Adversarial Networks) -based drone cognition technology, which has been drawing attention as next generation deep learning algorithm.
“The radar system’s hardware components, such as the transmission, transmission antenna, receiving unit, receiving antenna, and signal processing platform inside the radar detection system were developed jointly with Korean small and medium-sized companies.
“This research achievement is a result of cooperation with Korean companies to develop radar hardware and our focus on the development of a unique radar signal processing algorithm for detection, tracking, and identification of drones,” said senior researcher Daegun Oh from the team in the DGIST Collaborative Robots Research Center, in a statement. “We will strive harder to enhance the reputation of domestic radar technologies in the global market by changing the market spectrum led by overseas companies.”
The AI radar identification technology in the research was published in the radar journal IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters on June 18. Also, papers on the element technology of drones have been published on Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, IEEE Sensors, IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronics Systems, MDPI Sensors, etc.
(Image: The research team from Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science And Technology (DGIST) that developed the drone detection system, Fierce Electronics) For more information visit: www.fierceelectronics.com (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
24 Jul 23. Russian defence ministry approves plan to equip Navy with counter drone capabilities. According to information published by Izvestia on July 13, 2023, and covered in defence media reports including Navy Recognition, Russia is to equip its ships with additional anti-drone capabilities under a modernisation plan approved by Russia’s Ministry of Defense.
Media reports say the ships will feature additional electronic warfare stations and special fire points equipped with large-calibre machine guns. A portion of Russian warships has already undergone the corresponding modernisation, including at least one amphibious ship, according to the Russian report.
The additional protection of the Russian Navy is not only relevant considering the experience from special military operations in Ukraine, but also in light of the potential use of combat drones by terrorist organizations, Admiral Valentin Selivanov, former Chief of the Naval Staff, told Izvestia. For more information visit: www.navyrecognition.com (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
23 Jul 23. Meteksan Defence to show new counter-micro/kamikaze/tactical UAS radar at IDEF. Meteksan Defence has announced that Retinar AESA, the new member of the Retinar Ground Surveillance Radars Product Family, will be exhibited for the first time at the IDEF 2023 Exhibition to be held on July 25-28, 2023.
According to the company:
“Retinar AESA will add great power to our security units with the following features:
- New generation active electronic scanning and MIMO structure,
- 90 x 90 degree coverage with a single radar panel,
- Hemispherical (90 x 360 degrees) coverage with the use of quad radar panels,
- Ability to detect air and ground targets simultaneously at long ranges with an expanded target set,
- Increased tracking performance with high update frequency,
- High-performance target classification with low speed sensitivity,
- 3D (3 dimensional) high resolution radar imaging capability and
- Protection from weather conditions due to operating frequency
“Retinar AESA will be able to detect and track not only mini/micro UAVs (drones) but also Kamikaze UAVs and Tactical UAVs.
“Thanks to its design and low power consumption, this advanced radar system can be used not only for stationary protection of critical facilities and borders, but also on moving vehicles with vehicle integration. With its ability to operate on the move, Retinar AESA will be a force multiplier for our security units as a critical system in convoy / VIP protection missions.” (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
23 Jul 23. Mexican drug cartels “starting to use counter-UAS weapons” – C/O Futures. A report from C/O Futures, LLC, a small business located near to California’s Claremont Colleges consortium, reports that Mexican drug cartels have, it seems, started to field counter-UAS systems to protect their operations from government agencies using drones.
“The Mexican cartels have been utilizing weaponized drones since October 2017 with the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) the leader in this area of illicit tactical innovation,” reports C/O Futures. “As various cartels have been targeting each other with this weaponry the expectation exists that dedicated counter-drone capabilities, beyond small arms fires, would start to appear in their arsenals.
“While no proclamation from CJNG exists related to counter-unmanned aerial systems (CUAS) being possessed by that cartel, imagery is beginning to appear—from an indications & warning (I&W) perspective—that they are now being sporadically fielded. Such anti-drone gun imagery has now appeared in a video related to a Cárteles Unidos (CU)/Policía Comunitaria Tepalcatepec (PCT) weaponized drone attack against CJNG (posted in February 2023) and in a photograph related to the seizure of CJNG anti-fighting vehicle mines (IVAMs) near Apatzingán, Michoacán in June 2023.
“The (second) image appears to be a QR-07S3 Digital Eagle Anti Drone Gun available for USD20,000.00 per device for small orders and also directly from Digital Eagle the manufacturer via inquires.”
This news was first reported by Belgian defence analyst Tim de Zitter in a Linkedin post.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-de-zitter/recent-activity/all/
C/O Futures “provides specialized research and analytical consulting and training services that facilitate client knowledge solutions for addressing future socio-political and operational environment shaping and response.”
For more information: https://www.cofutures.net/post/i-w-concerning-c%C3%A1rtel-de-jalisco-nueva-generaci%C3%B3n-cjng-counter-drone-cuas-capabilities: https://www.cofutures.net/ (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
21 Jul 23. Russia develops hibernating device for drones, leaving no electronic footprint – Tass. Russia’s Center of Comprehensive Unmanned Solutions has developed a hibernation device for the Joker family of first-person view (FPV) drones, says a Tass report.
Center CEO Dmitry Kuzyakin told TASS: “The Center has developed and implemented a hibernation device for FPV drones of the Joker family and its top model, the Ultimatum. A drone with a hibernation device can be pre-positioned for an attack and then literally ‘fall asleep’ for several weeks [before being reactivated]. The hibernating drone would not leave an electronic footprint on the airwaves, [thus making it undetectable]. As a rule, commanding heights and rooftops of buildings or other high-rise structures are selected [as pre-positions for drone attacks]. When the time comes [to launch the attack], the drone would not need to traverse the distance to the target, as it would already be pre-positioned and would only need to become reactivated and go into attack mode,” the executive said.
The hibernation device enables reducing attack preparation time for drones to the minimal amount possible, Kuzyakin said. “Flight time is saved. Just a few seconds pass between drone reactivation and the attack, leaving [the adversary] no chance to launch anti-drone systems. One FPV pilot can pre-position drones and then ‘wake them up’ and can sequentially deploy up to fifteen ‘sleeper’ drones,” he added.
For more information visit: (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
21 Jul 23. US defence department tests MITRE-developed counter drone phone app CARPE Dronvm. US Army Central’s Task Force 39, the team dedicated to developing innovative ideas throughout USARCENT, facilitated a test of CARPE Dronvm at McEntire Joint National Guard Base and Poinsett Range on July 18, 2023.
CARPE Dronvm is a DoD funded application developed by MITRE Corporation that uses crowd-sourced information to detect unmanned ariel systems, or UAS. This test used a version of the application on cell phones to detect a UAS. Maj. Travis Valley, the Task Force 39 operations officer, said the potential for crowd-sourced UAS detection increases force protection capabilities.
“The CARPE Dronvm experiment, or proof of principle, was a huge success for ARCENT,” said Valley. “This was the largest experiment ARCENT has conducted to date. We expanded the experiment footprint, covering 50 kilometers, with multiple individuals in the area using the CARPE Dronvm app. This was all to prove the CARPE Dronvm app works. It did, in fact it exceeded my expectations on the simplicity of use and the program’s drone detection ability. This has the potential as a Force Protection multiplier, adding another tool to help protect Soldiers in a deployed environment.”
During the test, Soldiers used government provided cellular devices to test the functionality and capability of the application by capturing images of a UAS. The UAS used in the test flew from McEntire JNGB to Poinsett Range to provide the maximum amount of testing space available.
CARPE Dronvm is the result of a US Air Forces Central initiative to develop systems to detect UAS. US Army Central is testing the ability to operate this application at the soldier level.
“Countering the drone threat in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility is essential to keeping our personnel, aircraft, and equipment safe,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Steven Norris, AFCENT counter-UAS cell chief. “Our MITRE partners have been helping make CARPE Dronvm a reality since 2019. Every single warfighter can help sense and warn, creating a comprehensive layered defense that will tie into our existing command and control architecture and increase awareness of threats in the region.”
“The UAS threat is a shared security challenge for the U.S. and our regional partners,” said Frank. “To combat this threat, CENTCOM and USARCENT will test and field counter-UAS systems. The advanced measures we intend to pursue regarding innovation and experimentation will provide critical, real-time data to inform Army and Defense decisions on counter-UAS technologies.”
United States Army Central is the US Army Service Component Command for United States Central Command and is responsible to the Secretary of the Army for the support and administration of more than 12,000 Soldiers, including those assigned to joint task forces and embassies, across the 21 countries in the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility. For more information visit: www.dvidshub.net (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
21 Jul 23. India’s border with Pakistan sees over 50 drone incursions in first six months. Counter-UAS systems and policies
According to a report in Hindustan Times, security agencies in Punjab are battling drug and weapon smuggling activities, many involving drones. The report says:
“In the past year, 51 drones have been shot down in Punjab along the border with Pakistan, as security agencies combat drug and weapon smuggling. Punjab Police have also arrested 143 terrorists and radicals, seizing firearms, explosives, and drugs. Additionally, 16,360 drug smugglers have been arrested, and properties worth ?26.72 crore have been forfeited. The anti-gangster task force has busted 208 criminal modules and arrested 688 gangsters.
“With the increasing smuggling of drugs and weapons using drones from the across the border becoming major challenges for security agencies, 51 drones have been shot down in Punjab along the international border with Pakistan in the past one year.
“Disclosing this during a press conference over drug recoveries by the state government, IG headquarters Sukhchain Singh Gill said the official data from July 5, 2022, to July 16, 2023, reveals that Punjab Police have busted 18 terror modules with the arrest of 143 terrorist/radicals after recovering 31 rifles, 209 revolvers/pistols, five tiffin improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 6.78-kg RDX and other explosives, 10 hand grenades, one sleeve of disposed rocket launcher, 51 drones, and one loaded rocket propelled grenade. “At least 244 drones have been spotted in Punjab this year so far. This year’s data on spotting of drones is not ready yet but concerted efforts between Punjab Police, BSF and other agencies have resulted in combating the threat from drones successfully,” said Gill. For more information visit: www.hindustantimes.com
(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
19 Jul 23. Robin Radar collaborates with Marduk Technologies to combine C-UAS detection solutions. During a successful joint performance demonstration event to in Vredepeel, Netherlands, Robin Radar Systems and Marduk Technologies collaborated to finalise the integration of their drone detection radar and electro-optical sensors, IRIS and Marduk Shark, says the press release.
Marduk Shark and IRIS are deployed in modular, multi-sensor integrated CUAS solutions across the globe. IRIS provides long-range radar detection and classification in 3D using advanced micro-doppler technology enhanced with deep learning. Marduk Shark is an electro-optical C-UAS precision targeting platform with a gimbal speed of up to 270 degrees per second. The system is designed to detect, recognize and target a variety of fast-moving small and medium-sized unmanned air systems.
This integration of two compatible sensors demonstrates the advantage of multi-layered protection when the synergy between sensors compliments each other, resulting in a low false-alarm rate for end-users. The collaboration is designed to increase the range of optical detection and tracking and advanced precision in holding the track on a moving drone, as well as visual verification of the drone payload.
For more information visit: www.robinradar.com (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
18 Jul 23. Singapore to install 50 AeroSentry Zero remote ID sensors to detect and monitor drone movements. Drone Defence is working with Metropolitan Wireless International (MWI) in Singapore to deploy fifty AeroSentry Zero remote-ID sensors over a 24-month implementation programme. Drone Defence is responsible for the technical viability of a wide-area sensor network, to effectively detect, identify, and monitor conspicuous drone and their flight behaviours.
According to the Drone Defence press release, the pilot phase will involve the installation of 3 drone detection sensors being deployed at a number of trial sites. Following on from this, phase 1 will see several sensors deployed across the Southern region, phase 2 focusing on the Northern region and finally, phase 3 covering the Central region of Singapore.
Richard Gill, Drone Defence CEO and founder said: “We’re excited to be taking part in this project in Singapore. The installation of the AeroSentry Zero sensor network is extensive and will provide full coverage of the 720 sq. km city-state, to ensure all conspicuous drones are identified and visible via AeroTracker.“ He continues: “This remote-ID network will also provide visibility for Unmanned Aircraft Traffic Management (UTM) systems, offering data and analytics into Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight paths, trends and areas to avoid for flight corridors.”
This ground-based infrastructure approach will also be combined with Drone Defence’s cloud-based Airspace Monitoring System (AMS), AeroTracker. The system provides a user-friendly, online interface, displaying conspicuous drones and their locations, detected by deployed remote-ID sensors.
Drone Defence’s AeroPing will also be used in conjunction with this project. The FAA approved real-time drone transponder will be used to ensure accuracy of the remote-ID sensors.
This project will also allow other individuals and organisations to make use of the sensor remote-ID network.
As well as feeding the sensor data to AeroTracker, the network will also be made available via API, providing the option to integrate the same data points into an existing system. Services such as FoodPanda and their PANDAFLY service, may then utilise this data for their inter-island food drone deliveries, which is currently under trial. The project is set for completion at the end of 2024. For more information visit: www.dronedefence.co.uk (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
17 Jul 23. High Lander collaborates with Robotican to test new rapid response system. Robotican, a company based in southern Israel, plans to provide its Goshawk drones as first responders to police, ambulance, and fire services throughout Israel. In order to integrate the Goshawk safely into civil airspace, Robotican is collaborating with High Lander to benefit from the company’s Uncrewed Traffic Management (UTM) system Universal UTM.
According to the press release, the Goshawks will receive flight plan approvals and adjustments, real-time flight monitoring and in-flight conflict warnings, as well as prioritizing first response drones over other drones, in the same way that first-response road units receive right of way of the road. Together, the systems could provide a nationwide network of first response drones that operate as a harmonious part of the civilian airspace.
Robotican reports completion of the first stage of integration with the conclusion of successful simulated flights.
Originally designed as a drone interceptor, the Goshawk can launch in less than 10 seconds and reach speeds of 110 kph. Unaffected by ground obstacles, the Goshawk will get to scenes first and provide first responders with information via its high-quality camera. This means that ground teams will be able to assess situations before arrival and be better prepared to take immediate action – for example, how to best put out a fire, or what medical care is needed. In the case of crime scenes, the drone will establish presence, which can deter criminal behaviour and prevent damage to property and harm to officers. For more information visit: www.highlander.io (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
18 Jul 23. USAF C-UAS branch seeks industry information on small UAS common operating picture. The United States Air Force (USAF) Counter small-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) branch is requesting information regarding systems to provide a Common Operating Picture (COP) to track small-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (s-UAS). The system must integrate disparate sensors and command and control (C2) feeds in an urban geographic region to detect and track s-UAS to provide the COP. COP will be web based and need to be accessible simultaneously from multiple geographically separated locations via a Government URL, (e.g., central node). All software must be Government owned or Government Purpose rights.
According to the US government’s www.sam.gov website: “The COP should consist of the following main functions a User Interface (UI), Algorithm, and centralized data node. The UI will need to display track and detection data on a map while the algorithm is needed to correlate or fuse, and deconflict tracks/detections to declutter the UI. A centralized data node is needed to allow for the COP to be accessed by multiple users at separate locations (e.g., Cloud Server).
“The Government plans to field an initial capability with the scalability to meet future integration of additional sensor/C2 nodes. Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) is required for all system components (definition here) that allow for rapid integration of third-party sensors and software.”Deadline for responses is August 16, 2023. For more information: https://sam.gov/opp/cecb6073de004f8f9600294a15088c88/view (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
24 Jul 23. European Parliament wants more regulation of emerging drone sector. A July 19 European Parliamentary debate on the report Unmanned Aircraft Systems integration into European airspace and operation over populated areas, which had been presented to the Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) earlier in the month by Clémence Routaboul Steer in response to the European Commission’s Drone 2.0 strategy, has given almost all sides of the European Union political spectrum a chance to air their views on the emerging drone sector.
The centre-right EPP Group was represented by Marian-Jean Marinescu, who said European Parliament representatives needed to become more involved in rule-making in this sector, which required more sector specific regulations. He proposed making a formal request to the European Commission along these lines. Delegated and implementing acts lacked sufficient parliamentary engagement, he argued.
The Left bloc, which “stands up for workers, environment, feminism, peace & human rights”, was represented by Elena Kountoura, who said drones are primarily used by private individuals for recreational purposes and by armed forces and security agencies. She was concerned about the potential dangers of deploying drones in populated regions, with the potential for loss of life and property damage as well as the protection of citizens’ privacy. National and local authorities should carefully consider the security aspects of drone usage before allowing extensive commercial applications, she said, and argued that the first widespread application of drone services should be dedicated to medical services and improving connectivity to remote areas.
The S&D (the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats) ’s Isabel García Muñoz highlighted the lack of harmonisation between Member States in the emerging drone sector and urged the European Commission’s DG MOVE to develop a roadmap for drone developments which would be a vital incentive for their deployment.
Finally, Karima Delli from the Greens political bloc was worried about emerging drone capabilities in data collection, cybersecurity and surveillance, especially in operations near borders; with technology starting to move faster than legislation. There was a need to strengthen regulations on pilot obligations and increased penalties for misuse. She was also concerned about the process for authorising requests to fly in urban areas.
In presenting the report, the author Clémence Routaboul Steer concluded the Drone Strategy 2.0 was welcomed by stakeholders and recommended 19 flagship actions. But the difficulty of some measures may be underplayed and social acceptance and ground risk assessments may require more attention. The report said the Drone 2.0 strategy lacked an industrialisation roadmap; nor did it include the prioritisation of the 19 flagship actions. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
20 Jul 23. ICAO invites states to link enacted UAS regulations to ICAO UAS Toolkit repository. ICAO is inviting States which have enacted UAS regulations to share them by providing a link or PDF file to . These regulations may thus be added to the repository of “Current State Regulations” in the UAS Toolkit on ICAO’s public website at https://lnkd.in/eXGYVcK9 .
States, UAS operators and remote pilots can all benefit from the wide variety of information contained in the ICAO UAS Toolkit, particularly as UAS operations increase in airspace traditionally occupied by conventional aircraft. Included in the UAS Toolkit is a handy reference to the current UAS regulations of over 55 States.
Additionally, States are kindly requested to notify the Organization of any enhancements or expansions made to their UAS regulations.
Access the ICAO UAS Toolkit here: https://www.icao.int/safety/UA/UASToolkit/Pages/default.aspx
For more information visit: www.icao.int (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
21 Jul 23. US space department awards Anduril USD8m contract extension for networking software. The US Department of Defence has awarded a USD8 m contract extension to Anduril Industries for its LATTICE mesh networking software. The software platform will operate at Space Surveillance Network sites through December 2024, according to press reports. The Anduril technology creates an integrated picture by autonomously analysing data from sensors.
LATTICE is capable of autonomously parsing and integrating data from Anduril platforms and thousands of third-party sensors and data sources.
According to Space News: “The SSN is a collection of sensors dispersed across multiple sites worldwide first deployed in the late 1950s to provide early warnings of ballistic missile launches. The network has a mix of conventional radars, phased-array radars and telescopes for missile detection, and to track satellites and space debris. The Space Force so far has awarded Anduril USD10.5 m in Small Business Innovation Research contracts for the company’s Lattice networking software that autonomously parses and integrates data from third-party sensors and data sources.”
The company last year won a nearly USD1bn contract from the US Special Operations Command to use the Lattice platform to detect and track drone threats. For more information visit: www.defense.gov; www.spacenews.com’www.anduril.com (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
24 Jul 23. VITEC Gets Airborne with German Police Force. A German Police Helicopter Squadron recently decided to upgrade its video transmission system on its fleet of state-of-the-art Airbus EC135 helicopters. Team2 applications, a developer of electronic system solutions for aviation and security, KMT GmbH, a security service application specialist, and VITEC combined forces to design a new system to meet the requirements of this challenging application.
The bespoke solution features team2 MLX100/VRX211/NGR421 Routers, VITEC single channel HEVC/H.264 MGW Pico+ TOUGH Encoders or MGW Diamond TOUGH HEVC/H.264 quad-channel Encoders, and airworthy antennas designed by team2. All units are housed in ruggedised enclosures, and all products are airworthy-grade, designed specifically to support mission-critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) from both manned and unmanned airborne platforms operating in extreme conditions.
Through the Airbus EC135 retrofit program, all equipment is contained in a ruggedised roll-on-/roll-off rack, which can be installed in the helicopters within 5 minutes, with seat-rail quick-locks attached to the airframe, and easily connected to the helicopter’s standard power outlet and the video-cameras to 3G-SDI video outlets.
Christoph Eder, General Manager, team2applications, commented: “Winning this contract demonstrates team2’s position as a leading technology provider of mobile cell-based IP video streaming technologies and our successful strategy in designing and delivering high-quality, reliable and IT-security enabled networking and tactical video solutions that meet the most stringent specifications of governmental surveillance markets. The project required a rugged, reliable, and versatile end-to-end solution, for which the VITEC MGW Pico+ TOUGH and Diamond TOUGH Encoders are the perfect fit. They provide every capability for processing and distributing ISR or situational awareness video generated by surveillance helicopters.”
The solution meets the customer’s requirement for two independent video transmission systems on the equipped helicopters and provides a WLAN/Wi-Fi network access point that extends the German Police Force’s IP-network to the helicopter cabin.
The VITEC encoders provide up to four 3G/HD/SD-SDI or composite inputs for video capture and live streaming. In addition to providing H.264 encoding, the MGW Pico+ and MGW Diamond TOUGH Encoders offer options for advanced HEVC compression for streaming HD/SD video (up to 1080p60), with bandwidth savings up to 50 percent compared to current H.264 standards.
The team2/KMT/VITEC solution is the industry’s first ruggedised roll-on/roll-off system to bring bandwidth-efficient HEVC compression technology into field video streaming applications.
21 Jul 23. US Army, Joint Force Work to Counter Evolving Small Unmanned Aircraft Threat. The Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office, along with the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office and industry partners, completed a four-week demonstration in June at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.
The event was to test solutions for defeating one-way small aircraft systems that are preprogrammed with a target and don’t require an operator after launching. The team chose to test this emerging threat following a capability gap analysis.
This UAS variant creates additional challenges for countering the system, said Col. Mike Parent, chief of the JCO’s acquisition and resources division. The demonstration allows the team to test solutions that could potentially help the operational force close that gap.
During this event, the team worked with industry partners to develop five solutions, including laser-guided missiles and high-powered microwaves.
Each capability was tested during the demonstration against an attacking UAS from a range of 2.5 miles or more. The systems engaged a single UAS weighing between 55-1,320 pounds at low altitude and then one at high altitude.
The combination of the attacking aircraft and the distance to engage the target proved to be a challenge for all the solutions, but the team was satisfied with how they performed, Parent said.
The JCO will post a detailed report of the results from the demonstration later this month. The team will deliver that report along with the cost of the solutions to each U.S. military branch and partner nations for consideration moving forward.
This event was the fourth demonstration the team has performed with industry partners since 2021. These events evaluate emerging technologies, close capability gaps, inform requirements and promote innovation. Each one focuses on a particular problem.
The first event, completed in collaboration with the Air Force, concentrated on low collateral effects interceptor capabilities. These autonomous aircraft track and shoot down enemy piloted UAS.
The second demonstration looked at ground launched systems without inflight terminal guidance, while the third event featured high-powered microwave ground-based aerial denial systems. These capabilities use focused electromagnetic pulses from ground locations to destroy airborne small UAS.
Following each event, a solution was purchased for prototype, operational testing or further development by one of the services/partners.
“The [UAS] threat is evolving,” Parent explained. “…These demonstrations aren’t just JCO demonstrations, they’re really demonstrations going on with all the services, partners and allies. That synchronizes our efforts across the services, across DOD, with our partners and really looks at what we can do to get after that threat … because it will continue to evolve.”
The JCO is planning another demonstration next year. After conducting a capability gap analysis, the team will select a focus area and engage with industry partners as they continue to look at ways to counter the UAS threat. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/US Army)
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