Sponsored by The British Robotics Seed Fund
http: www.britbots.com/fund
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28 Nov 23. US DoD Inspector General recommends delay for US Navy MQ-25A purchase. A report by the US Department of Defense (DoD) Inspector General (IG) recommended a delay to the US Navy’s (USN’s) Boeing MQ-25A Stingray purchase. The report, released on 20 November, found that the USN’s schedule includes making a Milestone C decision or certifying that the programme can move from engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) into low-rate initial production (LRIP), before completing developmental testing, and declaring initial operational capability (IOC) before completing operational testing.
Though the USN wants to deploy the MQ-25A as soon as practical, “making critical production decisions without conducting sufficient testing introduces additional risk that the MQ‑25 program will not meet its operational capability requirements, which could require costly and time‑consuming engineering changes and may delay the MQ‑25A’s deployment”, wrote the IG. “Therefore, Navy officials should either delay the [Milestone C] and IOC decisions until the program office can conduct sufficient tests and evaluations” or update its risk calculus accordingly. (Source: Janes)
28 Nov 23. Turkish Aerospace Industries Preparing National Aircraft ANKA-3 and KAAN for First Flights. Turkey’s leading aviation industry company, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), is having a busy year with increasing demand in aviation structures, domestic and international deliveries, and original development projects.
This intensity and excitement will reach its peak in the final days of the year. TAI aims to carry out the first flights of the unmanned combat aircraft ANKA-3 and, just after, the national combat aircraft KAAN.
ANKA-3, which has many advantages such as low radar visibility, high speed and high payload thanks to its “flying wing” structure, was made ready for the first flight after design, structural and subsystem improvements. It is expected to make its maiden flight before the end of the year.
Load tests, which have been ongoing for a while for Turkey’s most important technology development project KAAN, have been completed. The mission systems and subsystems that will take place on KAAN’s first flight, which was disassembled down to the smallest piece, began to take their place on the aircraft after independent tests.
This assembly activity will end with the engines taking their place in the prototype. KAAN, which will take to the runway after the assembly activity, will prepare for its first flight by taxiing first slowly and then fast. It is aimed that these activities will intensify in mid-December and KAAN will make its first flight on December 27.
ANKA-3 and KAAN prototypes will make their first flights unpainted, just like HÜRJET. In this way, it will be easier to detect issues that may arise during the flight and identify needed improvements in aircraft.
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Anatolian News Agency)
23 Nov 23. Canada delays $3.6bn Reaper buy until drones can work in Arctic. The Canadian military’s acquisition of medium altitude armed drones is being delayed to allow for more development work to enable the aircraft to operate in the Arctic region.
The Remotely Piloted Aircraft System project was to deliver a fleet of drones for the Royal Canadian Air Force that would be operational by 2025. That date has now shifted and the delivery of the first aircraft is expected in 2028.
“The Canadian RPAS configuration will require significant development work in order to address RCAF requirements, which differ from our allies’ requirements,” said Department of National Defence spokesperson Andrée-Anne Poulin told Defense News.
Ottawa is focused on acquiring the General Atomics MQ-9B Reaper in a project budgeted with as much as 5bn Canadian dollars ($3.6bn). It’s hoping to have a contract in place by the end of this year or early next year.
The developmental work would require the integration of new systems on the MQ-9B, Poulin said in an email.
“For example, the need to operate at high northern latitudes, including in the Arctic, requires the use of satellites and aircraft antennas and communication components not previously integrated on the MQ-9,” she said. “Similarly, additional testing and qualification work will be required to ensure the RPAS can be operated and maintained in Canadian climatic conditions.”
Poulin said there is also some developmental effort required to integrate the Canadian-made WESCAM MX-20 EO/IR sensor onto the platform.
“Other examples include work required to develop a training solution tailored to RCAF requirements, and airworthiness certification required to support the RCAF concept of operations,” Poulin added.
Mark Brinkley, a spokesman for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, declined to comment.
In September the U.S. State Department approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to Canada for 219 Hellfire missiles and other weapons and radars to be used by the MQ-9B. The proposed sale is worth an estimated $313m.
Department of National Defence spokesman Andrew McKelvey said that FMS proposal was developed based on the current planned timelines for the RPAS project. The equipment and weapons expected to be provided through the FMS case will be delivered as and when required to support the RPAS integration, testing and production work that will be performed by General Atomics, he added. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
25 Nov 23. Exail announces Robotics and Maritime Autonomy Internship Partnership with Flinders University. French contender for the RAN’s autonomous minehunting Project SEA1905 Exail has launched a research internship partnership with South Australia’s Flinders University, focused on deepening understanding of maritime autonomy and robotics.
The partnership, forged under the leadership of Exail’s Marine Data Processing Product Manager Sébastien Tauvry and Flinders University’s Professor of Maritime Autonomy Karl Sammut, promises innovative research opportunities and hands-on experiences for students.
Flinders University Masters student Jeremy Wojak has headed to the west coast of France to begin a 6-month internship working alongside Tauvry and his team at Exail’s Brest facility in Brittany. The internship also involves ENSTA Bretagne, Brittany’s world-class engineering school.
“This collaboration further solidifies Exail’s commitment to strengthening ties with Australian universities and opens doors for real-world maritime domain experience and research with us,” said Tauvry.
“We’ve had a strong link with ENSTA Bretagne for many years, working with their leadership and students on research and development.
“We know that Flinders University is also dedicated to advancing capabilities in underwater vehicles and have been working with them for a few years now, so we are delighted to be moving the relationship forward with this new internship.”
Wojak is sponsored by the Nicolas Baudin Travel Grant, a program designed to encourage Australian students to undertake study, research or professional development in France.
“Working with Exail on underwater vehicle applications aligns perfectly with our focus on advancing maritime autonomy,” said Professor Sammut. “Flinders University is a university of choice in defence research known for its strong ties to the maritime sector and fostering industry connections.
“Internationally recognised as a leader in Advanced Manufacturing, maritime autonomy, electronic warfare, biofouling, material sciences, human factors, and cybersecurity, Flinders is keen to work with companies offering the opportunity to develop new capabilities that are in Australia’s national interests.”
Exail hopes the partnership with Flinders University will develop to address technologies related to marine robotics such as autonomous decision-making and signal processing to understand the environment in which the robot is operating.
“Exail looks forward to a fruitful collaboration that not only advances research but also shares valuable learning experiences for students,” said Tauvry. (Source: https://www.ex2.com.au/news/)
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The British Robotics Seed Fund is the first SEIS-qualifying investment fund specialising in UK-based robotics businesses. The focus of the fund is to deliver superior returns to investors by making targeted investments in a mixed basket of the most innovative and disruptive businesses that are exploiting the new generation of robotics technologies in defence and other sector applications.
Automation and robotisation are beginning to drive significant productivity improvements in the global economy heralding a new industrial revolution. The fund allows investors to benefit from this exciting opportunity, whilst also delivering the extremely attractive tax reliefs offered by the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS). For many private investors, the amount of specialist knowledge required to assess investments in robotics is not practical and hence investing through a fund structure makes good sense.
The fund appoints expert mentors to work with each investee company to further maximise the chance of success for investors. Further details are available on request.
www.britbots.com/fund
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