Sponsored by The British Robotics Seed Fund
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15 May 24. NAVAIR awarded Airbus U.S. Space & Defense a Phase I Other Transactional Authority Agreement, through Naval Aviation Systems Consortium, in support of the United States Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Connector. The award is part of a Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) Rapid Prototyping Program which aims to provide the USMC with prototypes to demonstrate the aircrafts capabilities to the warfighter through a series of operationally experiments.
“Our unmanned UH-72 Logistics Connector leverages nearly two decades of U.S. military capability and offers Marines a versatile, affordable and enduring solution to address logistics missions around the globe,” said Rob Geckle, Chairman and CEO of Airbus U.S. Space & Defense. “We look forward to supporting the Marine Corps with this latest modernization of the Lakota platform.”
The Airbus U.S. UH-72 Unmanned Logistics Connector, a variant of the proven Lakota platform, is intended to provide logistical support during expeditionary operations within contested environments. (Source: UAS VISION)
16 May 24. U.S. Army Eyes Formal Integration of FPV and Tethered Drones in 2025. The U.S. Army is set to elevate two types of drones—first-person-view (FPV) and tethered—from experimental technology to formal military programs by fiscal year 2025. Lt. Col. Michael Brabner, who oversees small-drone requirements within the Army’s Maneuver Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate, announced the initiative. The goal is to deploy FPVs to units by fiscal year 2026, enhancing the operational efficiency of infantry platoons and armored units respectively.
FPVs gained attention due to their effective use in Ukraine, where they have been employed to destroy far more costly enemy vehicles. Similarly, tethered drones have been tested by U.S. Army units for their ability to stay airborne for extended periods thanks to their wired power sources. The Army’s vision for FPVs includes a modular payload system that can accommodate different types of explosives, transforming these drones into versatile tools for tactical squads.
These drone programs are distinct from other Army projects like the Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (LASSO) program, which involves larger, more expensive drones designed for targets like tanks. Meanwhile, the Marine Corps is also exploring similar technologies, aiming to deploy loitering munitions at the squad level by 2027.
Lt. Col. Brabner highlighted that while the FPVs are intended to be attritable and expendable, they will not mimic the ad-hoc, homemade drone efforts seen in Ukraine. The U.S. models will adhere to strict safety and compliance standards to ensure they can be safely deployed in combat scenarios. The aim is not merely to match enemy capabilities but to achieve a decisive technological and tactical overmatch on the battlefield.
In addition to hardware advancements, the Army plans to launch a new training program for operating these drones. This program, slated to start in early fiscal 2025 at the Maneuver Center of Excellence, will teach soldiers how to fly FPVs and execute strikes effectively. The training aims to prepare troops for scenarios where they might need to perform reconnaissance or engage targets in hostile environments. (Source: https://www.sofx.com/)
15 May 24. Watershed Moment for UAS: Iridium Connected Drones from American Aerospace Granted First FAA Waiver for BVLOS Commercial Operations. Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM), a leading provider of global voice and data satellite communications, today announced a historic development for uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). Iridium partner American Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (AATI) was granted a first-of-its-kind waiver from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct UAS surveillance of critical infrastructure in the San Joaquin Valley on behalf of a multinational oil and gas company. This waiver may serve as a tipping point for wider adoption of safe and scalable UAS operations in the National Airspace System (NAS).
Enabled by Iridium’s truly global L-Band satellite connectivity, AATI’s AiRanger is supporting remote aerial surveillance for the energy corporation’s pipeline and production facilities. Iridium’s low-latency network is providing reliable and cost-effective BVLOS connectivity, including remote Command and Control (C2) and Detect and Avoid (DAA) capabilities. Flying over a pipeline network, the large drones (over 200 lbs.) will send information via Iridium® satellites to quickly perform routine oil and gas pipeline inspections. Iridium partner Blue Sky Network customized the development and integration of its global, dual-mode SkyLink 7100 voice, data, and BVLOS terminal installed on the aircraft. The Iridium Connected™ Skylink 7100 enables continuous tracking and C2 capabilities for aviation and UAV operations.
The Iridium Connected AiRanger is the first UAS to demonstrate compliance with industry consensus standards for the DAA system and meet FAA requirements for aircraft right of way BVLOS operations. This milestone helps pave the way for companies to deploy BVLOS UAS to support operations and achieve higher situational awareness, lowering inspection costs and maximizing value. The waiver demonstrates that Iridium satellite C2 capabilities can meet large drone BVLOS waiver requirements with the FAA.
“This certification shows innovation through the fusion of technology, partnership, and practical application,” said John Peterson, Executive Director of Aviation, Iridium. “When aircraft manufacturers and communications providers get together, scalable business solutions can become a reality. Iridium and our partners AATI and Blue Sky Network are proud to lay the groundwork for scalable BVLOS operations and show what’s possible with reliable satellite communications.”
Iridium continues to collaborate with the drone industry in establishing safe separation using Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) avionics. Last year, Iridium published a whitepaper that addresses challenges faced in enabling a safe, scalable, and efficient adoption of UAS in the NAS, including how to maintain safe separation between aircraft and what supportive COTS avionics are readily available today. This whitepaper provides a recommended equipment list and highlights capabilities enabled by the Iridium network that support safe and scalable UAS operations in the NAS. (Source: PR Newswire)
15 May 24. Draganfly Unveils New NDAA Compliant “FlexForce” Modular FPV System. Draganfly Inc. has announced the launch of its newest product, the FlexForce Modular FPV UAV System, available exclusively to Government & Military buyers following a FPV UAV Demonstration and Training. Designed to meet the rigorous demands of Government and Defense aerial reconnaissance and surveillance applications, the NDAA-Compliant FlexForce FPV System features a set of quick-exchange assemblies, available in four-, seven- and ten-inch configurations. Capable of a dynamic range of flight characteristics, payload capacities ranging from 1.2 lbs to 6.5 lbs, and able to sustain a maximum speed of 93 mph, the FlexForce FPV System easily and quickly adapts to a variety of mission requirements. The quick-exchange assembly allows an operator to adjust between sizes in minutes without the use of specialized tools or components.
The FlexForce Core, the foundation of the FlexForce FPV System, is a tightly integrated FPV airframe that offers the modern FPV pilot a variety of flight modes, including Full Acrobatic, GPS Assist & Waypoint Mission. GPS-denied position hold is enabled via an optical flow sensor and a configurable radio link provides additional resilience in challenging environments. The FlexForce Core features an onboard Sony camera alongside a variety of payload attachment mechanisms that accommodate a variety of payloads. The ultra-low latency video feed from the FPV Core can be displayed to both the FPV Goggles and external monitors.
These technologies, along with others, were recently on display during a FPV UAV Training & Demonstration Event held in March 2024 at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. During this 2-day event, Draganfly FPV pilots and subject matter experts assisted over 200 members of the Special and Conventional forces in gaining valuable exposure and training for FPV UAV operations.
Sale and demonstration of the Draganfly FlexForce FPV System is currently offered exclusively to Government and Military clients, underscoring Draganfly’s ongoing commitment to supporting critical missions. The FlexForce FPV System can be viewed by appointment with Draganfly Representatives during Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week 2024 in Tampa, Florida with shipments to eligible early adopters beginning in Q2, 2024.
“The importance and effectiveness of FPV drones have been demonstrated and are now a key tool for defense operations. Given our work and experience in Ukraine and with the Drone Racing League, we designed the Flexforce Modular FPV Drone platform to offer maximum flexibility and capabilities”, said Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly, “We are thrilled at the performance and results of demonstrations and training process to our military customers and look forward to providing this product to them at scale.” (Source: UAS VISION)
16 May 24. Airbus achieves Eurodrone’s Preliminary Design Review. The Eurodrone programme has successfully performed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR). Led by Airbus Defence and Space as prime contractor, this major programme milestone has been completed with OCCAR and representatives of the four customer nations (France, Germany, Italy and Spain) in the presence of the three Major Sub-Contractors (MSC), Airbus Defence and Space Spain, Dassault Aviation and Leonardo.
The PDR proves that the initial design of the aircraft has consistently matured, paving the way to proceed with the detailed design. It is the outcome of different technical assessments and evaluations conducted, such as Wind Tunnel Testing to confirm the aerodynamic configuration of Eurodrone, the overall design to ensure demonstration of operational capability, and the validation of a fully representative Digital Twin. From the very beginning, the Eurodrone programme benefits from both design philosophies – physical and digital.
Supported by and based on the knowledge already gathered, the Eurodrone programme enters into a new phase to reach the Critical Design Review (CDR), which will represent the final step and closure of architecture and system design.
“Performing the Preliminary Design Review for the development of Eurodrone represents an important step forward for this key European defence programme”, said Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space. “It shows a real joint effort and collaborative spirit from all industrial partners and the Customer community to ensure European sovereignty and independence in this critical segment of unmanned long endurance ISTAR capability.”
Provided with innovative cutting-edge technology and designed to become one of the main pillars of any future combat air system, the Eurodrone will be an indispensable capability to facilitate international conflict prevention and crisis management, ensuring operational superiority to the nations, especially in the context of Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions.
14 May 24. Tiburon Subsea Introduces Advanced Underwater Robotic Technology. Tiburon Subsea has launched its patent pending autonomous underwater thruster control technology, JETTE. JETTE is a pioneering in-line dual vectored subsea robotic controlled propulsion system designed to meet the evolving demands within the underwater robotics market. This revolutionary design employs dual fore and aft thrusters working independently and in tandem giving Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV) enhanced capabilities. The JETTE system offers increased speed, variable controls, maneuverability, durability, and redundancy over traditional UUV’s. This design eliminates the long-standing control plane weak points that have plagued UUV’s. JETTE provides extended hover/dwell/scan abilities and simplifies maintenance while providing redundancy and self-rescue. It is a unique system and an evolution in hydrodynamic efficiency. Breaking down barriers to emerging technology and facilitating its availability is a mission for Ocean Explorer, Founder and Tiburon Subsea CEO Tim Taylor.
“Autonomous vehicles are opening new frontiers just as satellites have in space. Timely ocean data is a missing link. Renewable energy, climate change remediation, coastal engineering and security will all benefit from this technology. Tiburon’s aim is to democratize access to autonomous robotic tech for stakeholders and caretakers. In facilitating access to data, we will increase awareness, care, and management of our ocean resources and environment in real-time,” states Taylor. (Source: PR Newswire)
14 May 24. Leidos and Elroy Air to demonstrate autonomous aerial resupply drone for U.S. Marine Corps. Leidos (NYSE: LDOS), a FORTUNE® 500 innovation company, and Elroy Air, an autonomous aircraft systems and software development company, have been approved to demonstrate an autonomous Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle – Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) prototype for the Navy and Marine Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems program office (PMA-263). The flight test activities are scheduled for July 2024. The development and testing are part of a contract awarded last year to develop and demonstrate an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) that can autonomously resupply forward-deployed ground forces for the U.S. Marine Corps.
“Leidos is pleased to team with Elroy Air to bring this critical capability to the warfighter,” said Tim Freeman, Leidos senior vice president and Airborne Systems business area manager. “Approval to proceed to test is a major milestone and is the result of months of hard work by the team. We look forward to demonstrating how the Leidos and Elroy Air MARV-EL solution will help deliver a logistics advantage to the Marines and other branches of the military.”
Leidos and Elroy Air are slated to demonstrate Elroy Air’s Chaparral system at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Grounds (YPG), Yuma, Arizona. The Chaparral is a “lift-plus-cruise” hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (hVTOL) cargo aircraft. The Chaparral system leverages the benefits of wing-borne flight driven by electric propulsion and turbo-generation for efficient autonomous operations and longer-range missions. It is designed with an advanced carbon composite airframe and modular automated payload capabilities to help reduce the personnel required versus legacy aircraft and enable zero-touch logistics.
“We’re excited to work with Leidos to provide these critical capabilities to U.S. and allied forces,” said Elroy Air CEO and Co-founder Dave Merrill. “We’ve been designing Chaparral from the beginning to move cargo and resupply troops in the battlespace without putting crews in harm’s way. We look forward to demonstrating these capabilities and working towards serving the U.S. Marine Corps’ goals for expeditionary logistics.”
MARV-EL is a PMA-263 effort which is designed to provide commanders with a responsive capability to sustain Marine Corps Forces conducting expeditionary advanced base (EAB)and other distributed operations. MARV-EL, using autonomous operations, should be the ‘middle-weight’ unmanned logistics asset, providing combat sustainment to Marines when ground or manned aviation assets are unavailable due to threat, terrain, weather, or competing priorities.
About Leidos
Leidos is a Fortune 500® innovation company rapidly addressing the world’s most vexing challenges in national security and health. The company’s global workforce of 47,000 collaborates to create smarter technology solutions for customers in heavily regulated industries. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $15.4bn for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023. For more information, visit www.leidos.com.
About Elroy Air
Elroy Air is developing industry-first autonomous aircraft systems and cutting-edge software, revolutionizing the world of express shipping. Leveraging hybrid-electric and autonomous vehicle technologies, their vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) aircraft transcend traditional airport limitations, unlocking new frontiers in commercial air shipping, humanitarian aid, and military logistics. From agile, low-risk resupply for troops, to dynamic disaster response and firefighting support, to warehouse-to-warehouse express parcel transport, their technology reshapes logistics possibilities. With headquarters in South San Francisco and flight test operations in Byron California, Elroy Air is backed by premier venture capital firms including Catapult Ventures, Marlinspike Partners, Snowpoint Ventures, and Shield Capital. Strategic investment from industry giants like Lockheed Martin Ventures and support from visionary angel investors including early Uber executives drive the company’s mission to provide same-day shipping to every person on the planet. For more information, visit elroyair.com. (Source: PR Newswire)
15 May 24. The Heron TP RPAS Produced by UAV PEO at the Directorate of Defense Research & Development at the IMoD and Israel Aerospace Industries Has Made Its Maiden Flight Over Germany.
The German Heron TP (GHTP), produced by UAV PEO at the Directorate of Defense, Research and Development at the IMoD and Israel Aerospace Industries, has today (15.5.2024) flown in German airspace for the first time. The Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) was customized for the unique requirements of the German Ministry of Defence, as part of a joint venture between IAI, Israel’s Ministry of Defense’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D), and Airbus.
The close cooperation between Airbus, IAI, DDR&D and the German Armed Forces, ensured development of a RPAS which exhibits both advanced performance and operational readiness while also providing the German Armed Forces with additional capabilities. The flight was conducted in the presence of the senior representatives from the German Air Force, the DDR&D at the Israeli Ministry of Defense, Airbus and, IAI. This historic event is an important step towards reaching full operational capability.
President and CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Mr. Boaz Levy:”
As part of an operational turnkey solution by Airbus, the German Heron TP (GHTP) RPAS will fill a gap in the field of persistent, airborne, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). In addition to the provision and modification of the RPAS, the industrial operator model also includes the training of Air Force personnel, basic operation, maintenance, and repair, in theatre, as well as the provision of flight hours.
The system is equipped with means to conduct optical and imaging radar reconnaissance, while providing options for additional SIGINT (signals intelligence) as well as maritime surveillance capabilities.
The German Heron TP (GHTP) RPAS, enables the German Armed Forces to expand its strategic and tactical capabilities, while ensuring interoperability with NATO partners.
At the same time, the system is the only RPAS in its class that has been certified in compliance with STANAG 4671.
The Heron TP is the strategic version in IAI’s Heron family of RPAS which also includes the Heron 1 – successfully operated by the German Air Force during its deployments in Afghanistan and Ma
13 May 24. Reaper drones deployed in France for air security of Olympic Flame. France deployed two MALE reaper drones to protect the 1945 Victory commemorations and the Olympic flame.
On 8 May 2024, French Air and Space Force deployed two Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Reaper Drones to protect French national territory as part of special air security arrangements over the 1945 victory commemorations in Paris and the arrival of the Olympic flame in Marseille.
Reaper drone operations are often kept away from public view to protect the security of the systems.
Observers will be interested to see the announcement from France’s Ministry of Defence detailing the use of the drones from the 33rd Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Attack Wing (ESRA) being operated from Cognac air base, after taking off from two separate air bases earlier in the day.
The two drones were operated by a crew of four Airmen based in Cognac, while their operational control was directed by air defence and air operations command located at Air Base 942 in Lyon-Mont Verdun.
The first Reaper took off from its home-base in Cognac, Charente-Maritime, to enter the Parisian skies and ensure surveillance during the 1945 Vicrtory commemorative ceremony.
The second Reaper was deployed from Air Base 126 in Solenzara, Corsica, to contribute to the security of the arrival of the Olympic flame.
The Air and Space Force operation was made possible by the temporary establishment of a Reaper detachment to Air Base 126 in Solenzara, inline with the ‘Morane’ concept of reactive and minimal deployment in personnel and equipment. According to the French Ministry of Defence release, a total of 16 Airmen in Corsica and 20 in Cognac directly contributed to this aerial security mission.
The two special air security arrangements, known as dispositifs particuliers de sureté aérienne (DPSA), form protective bubbles intended to prevent malicious acts from the air, and during this occasion was spread across more than 700km of French national territory.
(Source: airforce-technology.com)
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