Sponsored by The British Robotics Seed Fund
Sponsored by BCB INTERNATIONAL
http: https://www.bcbin.com/
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
18 Jun 24. Thales Unveils OpenDRobotics to Support a New Era of Extended Collaborative Combat Enabled by AI.
- Thales is launching OpenDRobotics, a revolutionary new solution that combines robotics technologies with unmanned air and ground vehicles to provide the armed forces with an integrated, human-in-the-loop mission system capability.
- Artificial intelligence transforms collaborative combat by integrating multiple drones and robotic systems, increasing their ability to operate autonomously and reducing the cognitive burden on warfighters.
- OpenDRobotics was developed in close cooperation with the armed forces and leverages the expertise of an ecosystem of innovation partners to meet the challenges of high-intensity combat.
With OpenDRobotics, Thales is taking collaborative combat to the next level through the development of a revolutionary integrated system that ties together robotics technologies and different types of drones to provide an automated mission system capability.
Recent conflicts have demonstrated the operational value of drones and robotic systems in terms of battlefield transparency and speed of action to enhance mission effectiveness while keeping human operators out of harm’s way. These systems can also saturate enemy defences without requiring larger numbers of human operators or increasing the cognitive burden on the forces already deployed.
Thales is a pivotal player in the field of collaborative combat, providing AI modules, connectivity solutions, mission systems that enable engaged units to operate as a network and a unique ability to integrate with conventional assets already in service with land forces.
Building on the success of CohoMa II1, the OpenDRobotics initiative creates operational value by coordinating the capabilities of a wide range of drones and robotic systems, providing command-and-control and extended collaborative combat functions by capitalising on the Group’s long-standing experience with tactical mission systems, in particular for the Scorpion programme.
OpenDRobotics has a central role to play in a broad spectrum of armed forces missions: reconnaissance, intelligence, CBRN2, Special Forces operations, cavalry, artillery, etc.).
OpenDRobotics builds on the open-source ROS (Robot Operating System) and STANAG 4586 standards, which are widely used by NATO and were developed as collaborative initiatives to promote easier integration of drones and robotic systems developed by partners and third parties.
“We are proud to present OpenDRobotics, a comprehensive offering that will accelerate the process of integrating drones and robotic systems in land combat operations. Building on our experience on the Scorpion programme and the lessons learned from collaborative combat deployments, Thales is enabling the forces to conduct their missions more quickly and in greater safety by coordinating large numbers of autonomous systems on the battlefield,” said Arnaud Lacaze, Vice President Defence Business Segment, Thales. (Source: ASD Network)
19 Jun 24. TEKEVER, the European market leader in unmanned aerial systems (UAS), today announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with BTI Defence, a defence procurement specialist, headquartered in Indonesia, to be the exclusive provider of UAS technology for the Indonesian defence ministry for two years.
The partnership, signed at the Eurosatory 2024, will see TEKEVER provide first and second-line support, deploying its UAS for immediate assistance and monitoring for potential threats and risks. Under the MOU, BTI defence will have access to the full suite of TEKEVER’s systems including the AR3, AR4, AR5, and from 2025, the ARX as well as ATLAS, the interface that presents intelligence and data insights. The UAS systems feature cutting-edge AI, machine learning, edge computing and high-precision sensors, revolutionizing intelligence gathering and surveillance with unparalleled accuracy and efficiency.
This latest collaboration with BTI Defence marks TEKEVER’s expansion into Indonesia where it will drive the development of the country’s UAV market, among the armed and security forces, as well as private and state-owned entities. It highlights TEKEVER’s growing global footprint with the company also retaining contracts in Europe, Africa, and North America.
TEKEVER’s CEO, Ricardo Mendes, said, “We are delighted to partner with BTI Defence who share our commitment to promoting stability and security. Our cutting-edge technology, agile operating model and relentless innovation will prove critical in enhancing security in the region. This partnership is further evidence of our reputation as a trusted partner for governments and security agencies across the globe.”
Director of BTI Defence, Mr Peter Tjahjono, said, “This agreement between BTI Defence and TEKEVER comes at a time when Indonesia is expanding its investment in tactical and strategic UAVs as part of its national surveillance and border control operations. TEKVER’s market leading performance and reliability is the perfect match to Indonesia’s operational requirements.”
18 Jun 24. Arkeocean, the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI), Lanego and SignalGeneriX Ltd have signed a research and development agreement to co-develop a solution called ‘EONIOS’, a micro-AUV swarm system with AUV docking stations integrated in nature-based artificial reefs. The EONIOS system will explore and protect designated underwater areas including marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
The agreement was signed at Eurosatory, the global defence exhibition in Paris, during a ceremony at the Cyprus Pavilion, in the presence of government officials representing both France and Cyprus This agreement follows the recent signature of a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the same parties to establish cooperation in marine and maritime research and innovation and to cultivate proficiency and knowledge in the marine and maritime sectors.
The signature of ‘EONIOS’ showcases the commitment of Arkeocean, CMMI, Lanego and SignalGeneriX to contribute to the advancement of the marine and maritime industry in the Mediterranean and beyond, while strengthening the bilateral relations between France and Cyprus in areas of paramount importance such as research and innovation in marine and maritime science and technology.
18 Jun 24. Red Cat Introduces New Family of Low-Cost, Portable Unmanned Reconnaissance and Precision Lethal Strike Systems.
Red Cat Holdings, Inc. , a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations, has introduced its new family of unmanned Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and precision lethal strike systems.
The announcement, made on the first day of Eurosatory in Paris, comes on the heels of Red Cat’s LOI to acquire FlightWave Aerospace Systems Corporation.
Red Cat’s family of ISR and precision strike drones will provide the industry with an alternative to conventional ISR/strike systems on the market that are high cost and non-retrievable. Red Cat’s sensor-to-shooter (S2S) system for identifying targets with optional precision strike capabilities is differentiated from other systems with its low cost portable drones. The objective of this new family of systems is to meet the increasingly urgent need of the Pentagon’s Replicator Initiative for swarms of low-cost “attritable” ISR and surgical strike drones deployable in air, land, sea, and sub-sea environments.
Red Cat’s mission is to redefine the role of sUAS for defense applications by combining the capabilities of ISR drones with precision strike payloads. The company is an established leader in the sUAS (Group 1) space with its flagship Teal 2 aircraft. As part of the new family of systems, Red Cat is introducing FANG, a new First-Person View (FPV) drone with precision strike payload capabilities. The FPV drone is currently undergoing Blue UAS certification. The acquisition of FlightWave’s Edge 130 rounds out the family of systems, which will include all current and future Teal models.
“The entire nature of warfare and use of drone technology is undergoing a fundamental shift, and this new family of systems will completely disrupt the traditional ISR and loitering munition systems market,” said Jeff Thompson, Red Cat CEO. “Warfighters will be able to choose the right combination of drones and payloads for their specific missions and have access to an ecosystem of tactical AI, computer vision, and machine learning software that can positively identify threats and then have the option to engage and eliminate those targets.”
Red Cat’s new family of low-cost and portable unmanned ISR and precision lethal strike systems includes three aircraft with complementary capabilities and a common Ground Control System (GCS) such as the Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK) for multi-vehicle command and control:
- The Edge 130 Blue, a Hybrid VTOL system, can be assembled and ground or hand-launched in just one minute by a single user to capture high-accuracy aerial imagery with long-range autonomy. Weighing only 1200g, the Edge can fly for over 2 hours in forward flight mode, an industry-leading endurance among all other Blue UAS approved drones available.
- Teal 2 and future variants are cost-effective, man-portable sUAS designed to “Dominate the Night™” that has best-in-class night vision, multi-vehicle control, and a fully modular design. Teal 2 has a flight time of 30 minutes and it is both Blue UAS Certified and FAA Remote ID approved. Used together with FPV strike drones, Teal drones can be used to provide battle damage assessment once a target has been engaged.
- FANG, an FPV drone with a flight time of 10 minutes (under development and undergoing Blue UAS certification), will add surgical strike capabilities. Warfighters can combine and deploy these FPV drones with lethal payloads and ISR drones based on the mission profile for seek and destroy capabilities.
“We are at the forefront of a new innovation cycle for the drone industry,” said George Matus, Red Cat CTO. “Technology integrations and partnerships that connect and optimize this new family of systems will play a significant role in its success. Open architecture and established relationships with some of the leading hardware and software companies in autonomy, AI, machine learning and computer vision will enable us to expand our capabilities over time.”
The new family of systems will require ongoing industry collaboration, underpinned by the Red Cat Futures Initiative. Both through Red Cat’s agile internal research and development, as well as partnerships, there is significant opportunity to optimize the family of systems with higher capacity batteries, C2 links, dedicated Electro-Optical (EO) and thermal payloads, and other accessories and decision support software. Additionally, Red Cat has the ability to manufacture these systems at a high production rate with repeatability to meet the demands of customers globally. (Source: UAS VISION)
17 Jun 24. Latvia-led drone coalition for Ukraine gains more funding, members. The international coalition to supply drones to Ukraine has received almost $600 m in commitments from Western allies, with Italy and France being the latest countries to join the alliance, the Latvian minister of defense said.
The four-month old initiative, which was born in mid-February and now counts 14 participating nations, outlined an ambition to deliver at least one m unmanned aerial vehicle systems to the embattled country.
“The caveat in this goal is to specify that while, yes, quantity is important, so is providing quality systems – so with this number we aren’t only talking about providing one type of drone but the full spectrum of them, including electronic warfare and counter capabilities,” Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds said during a panel at the Eurosatory trade show here.
According to the official, the drone alliance has received over €500 m euros ($590 m) in international pledges, which he expects will increase further in the future.
Spruds added that the coalition, which is spearheaded by his home country and the U.K., recently gained two new members – Italy and France – following a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels.
On a national level, Baltic states have accelerated their drone procurement and training programs, with a special focus on first-person-view types, which have come to dominate the battlefield in Ukraine.
“FPV drones are a game-changer for the current and future battlefield – the most expensive pieces of equipment will be destroyed by these cheaper drones,” Linas Idzelis, Commander of Lithuania’s Riflemen’s Union, a paramilitary non-profit organization supported by the Lithuanian government, told the audience.
The officer said that the country is currently training roughly 6,000 cadets on how to use these cost-effective weapons, with a teaching course taking about 60 hours to complete.
According to Arunas Kumpis, a volunteer soldier in Ukraine who also operates FPV drones, one team typically launches between 30 and 35 of these systems daily to hit assigned targets.
The soldier detailed the usual setup of three-person FPV teams in Ukraine, which hide in concealed and entrenched locations such as bunkers and can operate up to 100 meters away from antennas.
These platforms have proven to be a headache for armored vehicles near the frontlines in recent weeks, with reports that the threat even led U.S. officials to request that donated Abrams main battle tanks no longer be deployed to these areas.
“If armored vehicles are 10-15 kilometers from the frontlines many of these drones can generally hit them – you need to move fast as FPVs have a fast reaction time, around one minute to start, and ten minutes to fly to a target,” Kumpis said. (Source: Defense News)
17 Jun 24. Anduril to build factory to increase Dive-LD unmanned systems capacity. Defense tech company Anduril Industries said it will build a new production facility in Rhode Island capable of churning out as many as 200 of its Dive-LD autonomous underwater vehicles annually.
The company will use its own money, plus some support from the state of Rhode Island, to establish the factory in Quonset Point.
The factory is set to open in late 2025, being operations in early 2026, and then reach full capacity by the end of that year: 50 hulls a year, with the ability to scale up to 200 a year if customer demand calls for that.
Until the facility opens, the company will continue to build Dive-LD hulls in its Quincy, Massachusetts, maritime engineering center. Anduril in February received a contract to provide the Defense Department with Dive-LD vehicles through Defense Innovation Unit’s Commercial Solutions Opening process. The U.S. Navy subsequently awarded the company an $18.6 m award using that contract vehicle.
Anduril’s chief strategy officer, Chris Brose, told reporters June 11 the company proved the maturity and utility of its Dive-LD vehicle during a swim-off event last year that led to the DIU contract. But a remaining and recurring question from the government has been, “can Anduril ramp production to really hit high-rate manufacturing numbers?”
He said the Quonset Point factory will “show the U.S. government that we are ready to and able to deliver on large contracts, if those contracts are forthcoming.”
The standup of the 100,000-150,000 square foot production facility will create more than 100 jobs in the next five years.
It will also allow Anduril to try to realize its vision to build a massive fleet of AUVs. A company statement notes the Dive-LD family of vehicles is “designed from the ground-up for production at scale, with a heavy emphasis on commercial-off-the-shelf components with robust supply chains, a modular design, and advanced, scalable manufacturing techniques that enable rapid iterations based on customer needs.”
The company can build 12 Dive-LD vehicles at the Quincy facility today, or could scale up to 24 a year if needed by adding extra shifts.
“We’re out of space in terms of our ability in the Quincy facility to meet the demand that we’re seeing from the Navy at present, let alone where we believe that’s going in the future,” Brose said.
“This is the challenge that I think all defense companies have in terms of, how much to facilitize in order to meet a demand that is not always crystal clear,” Brose continued. “Our approach to that is, we’re going to lean forward. We’re going to invest in ourselves; we’re going to invest in our ability to produce these kinds of systems in a totally different way. And we’re going to put the facilities in place to meet a demand that that we expect to grow,” rather than wait for the government to award a contract and have to play catch-up in building a larger factory.
As for the location in Quonset Point, Brose said the region is a “phenomenal center of undersea expertise and production.”
“Nav[al] Undersea Warfare Center, other major contractors that are performing on significant undersea programs, access to the water — you just have an enormously rich environment of undersea expertise, talented workforce, and it’s phenomenal for Anduril to be a part of that and plug into that,” Brose said. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
BCB certainly has a rich history (1854) and an impressive portfolio of products designed to enhance the safety and effectiveness of NATO defence personnel in various environments.
The core competency of protecting lives in hostile environments, includes:
LAND:
BCB`s camouflage creams and camouflage nets have been standard issue to conceal generations of British and NATO forces.
Our newly developed MultiSpectral Cam technology, the MK8 Phantom, camouflages and protects people/vehicles/assets in the visual, IR and thermal (SWIR/MWIR/LWIR) spectrums.
FireDragon, our eco field cooking fuel, burns cleanly so can also be used in the confined space of a foxhole or tent. It is waterproof, easy to light, non-toxic and smokeless.
SEA;
Our patented Floating Body Armour is unique, versatile and sensibly protects both you and your life jacket, under the soft and hard armour. Designed to be low bulk, it`s massive 275 newtons of buoyancy is self-righting. We say it will “save your life twice”.
Our range of Boat Stopping Systems, provided a layered non-lethal stopping capability against all sizes of vessels, including unmanned threats. So you can stop and search, defeat pirates from boarding, prevent terrorists from getting near your vessel or close off quickly a waterway, port or maritime borders.
AIR;
BCB`s sister company UAVE have been manufacturing since 2013, the Dragon MK3, large, long range (1,000km) long endurance (12hours), versatile and mission-ready UAV. It is proven and operational from the polar regions to 45deg C heat in the Middle East and Asia. The larger of the 3 models, carries 25 kilos payload.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-