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05 Jul 24. EDA Autonomous Systems Community of Interest. Autonomous Systems Community of Interest (ASCI)
The EDA’s Action Plan on Autonomous Systems (APAS), approved on 11 January 2024, aims to support the Member States (MS) to speed up the development of highly effective, efficient, and reliable autonomous systems (AS) for land, air, maritime, and cross-domain operations.
A key advantage of the APAS is its reliance on the establishment of an Autonomous Systems Community of Interest (ASCI). This community will ensure the engagement of diverse governmental and non-governmental experts, employing a cross-functional and cross-Directorate approach. The objective is to facilitate cooperation, promote the exchange of perspectives, experiences, and knowledge, thereby maximizing EU efforts on Autonomous Systems (AS) and expediting their development in a unified and coordinated manner.
The ASCI will be granted visibility into key AS activities through a dedicated EDA webpage – currently under development. Additionally, it will actively participate in thematic events such as conferences, seminars, workshops, where sectoral topics, emerging challenges, opportunities, critical factors, and potential solutions will be discussed. Moreover, the ASCI will be offered the opportunity to provide insights for future reviews of the APAS. (Source: EDA)
04 Jul 24. Italian Authorities Seize Chinese War Drones Bound for Libya.
Italian customs police have intercepted and seized a shipment of Chinese-made military drones destined for Libya, marking a significant violation of the United Nations arms embargo on the country. The drones, disguised as wind turbine components, were discovered in six containers at the port of Gioia Tauro in Calabria, following a tip-off from United States intelligence.
The seizure involved the disassembled parts of two Wing Loong II drones, each weighing over 3 tons, with a length of 32 feet and a wingspan of 65 feet. These components were concealed among replicas of wind turbine blades to evade detection. The shipment originated from the southern Chinese port of Yantian and was en route to Benghazi, a Libyan port controlled by warlord Khalifa Haftar.
Libya has been under an international arms embargo since the fall of Moammar Gadhafi in 2011, aimed at preventing further destabilization of the country’s fragile political landscape. Despite this, both factions in the Libyan civil war have increasingly relied on drones for military operations, with foreign powers supplying various military equipment.
The components’ Chinese origin points to Beijing’s potential involvement in supplying military equipment to Libya’s eastern administration, alongside other state actors like Russia and the United Arab Emirates. Photographs of the seized components matched the specifications of China’s Wing Loong II drones, previously exported to several countries, including the UAE, which has supported Haftar’s forces in the past.
(Source: https://www.sofx.com/)
03 Jul 24. Nova tests anti-mine drone capability. New AI-enabled drones
that are capable of detecting landmines from above have been trialled by Nova Systems in the Latrobe Valley.
The uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) use image recognition technology to differentiate between landmines and other objects having been developed in-house by Nova engineers, the company confirmed.
The AI-enabled UAV system has been undergoing testing at Latrobe Valley at Nova’s deployable UAV testing range, where it will undergo further development and improvement.
It is expected that the drone technology will enable Defence to cover broad swathes of ground quickly while keeping personnel safe, Dean Rosenfield, chief executive officer of Nova Systems, said.
“The integration of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems into the Australian Defence Force is not just a strategic choice, but an imperative,” Rosenfield said.
“Testing UAVs and other complex systems in a real-world environment provides the ability to assess the full potential of the capability.
“The ability to innovate, develop, and test our own AI technology for UAVs in Australia is a strategic advantage.
“It helps secure the nation’s advanced technological capabilities and the long-term sustainability of the Australian specialist workforce through contemporary training and development.” (Source: Defence Connect)
01 Jul 24. Hydrogen-Powered sUAS for Long-Range Reconnaissance Missions.
Aurora Flight Sciences is expanding its SKIRON Expeditionary range of sUAS (small unmanned aerial systems) with the addition of a long-endurance variant.
SKIRON-XLE is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and has been specially designed for long-range reconnaissance missions. While flight testing is still ongoing, SKIRON-XLE is expected to extend flight times to well over five hours.
The SKIRON product line combines the convenience of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) with the longer endurance of a fixed-wing design. The aircraft carries high-resolution EO/IR payloads from Trillium Engineering. Custom payload integration is available, and an optional belly-mount payload space and under-wing payload mounts may be added. With Trillium’s HD55 gimbal, the battery-powered SKIRON-X weighs 49 pounds, while the fuel cell SKIRON-XLE weighs 54 pounds. Either system can be easily transported in a standard truck or SUV, and can be deployed by a two-person crew.
In addition to Trillium payloads and a fuel cell from Intelligent Energy, Aurora’s complete SKIRON-XLE system includes a new, ruggedized ground control station featuring Kutta Technologies’ Unified Ground Control Station (UGCS) software. Aurora uses a customized version of UGCS-Defense, which meets international STANAG 4586 standards as well the US Army’s Interoperability standards. With this Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) to software and hardware interoperability, the entire SKIRON-XLE system provides a unique solution for this class of UAS. The long-range system with a 2.4G 10W radio and tracking antenna provides up to 75 km command and control (C2) link range; multiple frequency and output power options are available.
Larry Wirsing, VP of aircraft and product development at Aurora Flight Sciences, commented; “Aurora is excited to extend our SKIRON platform to include a fuel-cell-powered variant that can deliver maximum flight endurance and range. With this new product now in flight testing, we look forward to providing customers such as the U.S. military with an easy-to-deploy solution for long range reconnaissance.” (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)
03 Jul 24. C-UAS Hub said today that Boresight Ships Largest Aerial Target Drone Order to Date. On June 29th, Australian company Boresight announced that it had shipped its largest-ever order of the Boresight BQ400 aerial target drone to an undisclosed US Government customer, reported the Australian Defence Magazine. This significant order includes 350 BQ400s and comes just three months after the Canberra-based company celebrated completing its 1,000th BQ400 UAS.
In April, Boresight stated that its order book indicated it would likely deliver its 2,000th and 3,000th units within this calendar year, with the 2,000th unit expected to be delivered in the coming months.
In addition to the undisclosed US Government customer, the BQ400 has been ordered and operated by EOS Defence Systems and the Australian Army, among others.
The BQ400 can operate independently or as part of a swarm with other BQ400s. The company is also developing the capability for the BQ400 to mimic the command and control signatures of various commercially available UAS systems, providing even more realistic training for end-users.
In April, Boresight announced the creation of a US subsidiary, Boresight US, to serve the US market.
“At the moment, we’re shipping over 500 drones to the US a year,” Boresight CEO Justin Olde told the Huntsville Business Journal in April.
“But that number is accelerating rapidly. Our target to establish a manufacturing facility here is 2,000 to 3,000 drones a year,” he added.
Olde further stated that the new manufacturing facility will be supported by an entirely American supply chain.
“We will do full production–including the 3D printing, sourcing the supply chain, and everything else–through US sources,” Olde told the Huntsville Business Journal.
(Source: https://cuashub.com/)
02 Jul 24. China Reportedly Tested Advanced Fighter Jet with Detachable Drones.
Chinese engineers and scientists have apparently successfully conducted a test flight of a new stealth fighter jet, demonstrating advanced features that could redefine aerial warfare. The event took place at an undisclosed airport on the southern edge of the Mu Us Desert, showcasing a jet equipped with innovative drone integration technology.
The aircraft, distinguished by its blended wing body and delta wing design, is tailored for high-speed stealth operations. During the test, the jet exhibited a novel capability where segments of its wings detached to form two autonomous “flying wing” drones, powered by electric ducted fans. This transformation, however, initially caused a slight tremor in the fighter due to the sudden change in aerodynamics and centre of gravity.
Despite the initial instability, the main aircraft and the drones quickly stabilized, affirming the design’s aerodynamic efficiency and the robustness of its automatic control systems. This test marks a breakthrough in the “new concept” for the Chinese Air Force’s future fighter jets, aiming to enhance manned and unmanned collaborative combat capabilities.
Senior engineer Du Xin from the Aerospace Technology Institute at the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Centre (CARDC) highlighted the test’s success. According to Du, this integration allows for a coordinated operation between the manned jet and unmanned drones, effectively solving issues like speed mismatch and range limitations typically seen in standalone drone operations.
The peer-reviewed findings, published in the Chinese journal ‘Advances in Aeronautical Science and Engineering,’ detail the dual drone attachment at the rear edge of the jet’s wings, a strategic design choice by the CARDC team. This configuration not only aids in achieving aerodynamic stability but also presents a controlled environment even during the drones’ detachment.
According to Du Xin, a senior engineer at the Aeronautical Technology Institute of the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center (CARDC), this successful test flight validates a new concept for the next-generation fighter of the Chinese Air Force. The design represents an advanced mode of collaborative manned/unmanned combat, integrating multiple aircraft with different functions for coordinated flight.
In an article published on May 29 in the Chinese journal Advances in Aeronautical Science and Engineering, Du and his colleagues explained that this approach addresses issues such as speed discrepancy and range incompatibility between manned and unmanned aircraft, achieving complementary advantages.
Yang Wei, the chief designer of the J-20 aircraft, mentioned that China’s future stealth fighters will focus on combat alongside drones. The J-20, China’s primary stealth fighter, is undergoing tests for a two-seater variant to enhance interaction capabilities with drones.
The next-generation stealth fighter design includes two drones attached to the trailing edge of the aircraft’s delta wings. Unlike previous attempts to fix aircraft to the wingtips, Du’s team adopted a “rear edge docking configuration,” connecting the leading edges of the drones to the trailing edge of the main wing. This configuration allows for more stable flight but poses significant challenges due to drastic changes in the aircraft’s center of gravity and focal point during separation.
Du’s team developed a new algorithm to accurately analyze various disturbances, including wind changes, during separation. Both the jet and the drones use the FCC-100 flight control computer from Northwestern Polytechnical University, capable of complex calculations and reliable control.
The test flight date remains classified, but the project reportedly demonstrates advances in aircraft stability and control, paving the way for real-world applications. Chinese scientists are also exploring new technologies such as plasma stealth equipment and airflow for future fighters. However, as no official communication has been made public about the test, it is prudent to remain cautious about the veracity of this information, and we must wait for potential additional information from Chinese authorities. (Source: UAS VISION/Dimsum Daily; Army Recognition)
28 Jun 24. New market report says UAS sector will reach USD48.5bn by 2029. A new report from Markets and Markets says the uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) market is estimated to be USD30.2bn in 2024 and is projected to reach USD48.5bn by 2029, at a CAGR of 9.9% from 2024 to 2029.
The global forecast says primary impetus for the expansion of the market stems from “robust business demand and rapid technological innovation”. Key factors include the adaptation of UAS for enterprise solutions, such as inventory management and precision agriculture, coupled with significant advancements in robotics and telemetry.
Markets and Markets lists several major players in its report, including General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Northrop Grumman, Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, SZ DJI Technology, and AeroVironment.
The report notes that the beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) segment is projected to exhibit the highest (CAGR). “This growth is primarily attributed to advancements in UAS capabilities that enable extended operational range. These improvements facilitate a broader range of applications, including long-distance monitoring and automated deliveries, thereby driving market expansion. This segment’s growth underscores the increasing demand for UAVs capable of executing missions over distances beyond the operator’s direct visual range, highlighting a significant shift towards more versatile and autonomous UAV operations.”
(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
28 Jun 24. Mistral Inc. ihas started the manufacturing of the THOR Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) VTOL Group 2 at its state-of-the-art facility in Nottingham, Maryland. Mistral currently manufactures the MTGR ground robot at this facility under a contract with the United States Marine Corps (USMC), as well as the manufacturing of Blast Mitigation Vessels for the government and law enforcement agencies. All activities related to the production of both the MTGR and THOR UAS systems will be efficiently managed from this location.
Mistral offers the THOR, a TRL 9 solution, as part of its US Army’s Medium Range Reconnaissance (MRR) Group 2 UAS effort. The THOR is a commercial off-the-shelf, cost-effective, and domestic production-ready small UAS for company-level use.
Mistral will showcase the THOR’s unique capabilities during the “Edge 2024” experiment on September 16-17, 2024, at Yuma Proving Grounds, AZ.
Additionally, Mistral will be involved in “Project Convergence Capstone 5” from January through March 2025 which will be conducted at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, CA.
Mistral Inc. takes immense pride in declaring that the THOR UAS is a US-made product. Should the US Government require larger quantities of the THOR UAS, Mistral is fully equipped to scale up manufacturing operations to meet these demands.
Our Nottingham facility is staffed with highly skilled professionals and is designed to accommodate increased production volumes without compromising on quality or delivery timelines. We are committed to ensuring that the THOR UAS meets all regulatory standards and performance expectations.
As a leading provider of advanced defense solutions, Mistral Inc. continues to demonstrate its commitment to excellence and innovation. Our strategic approach and robust infrastructure enable us to deliver high-quality products that support the operational needs of our clients.
(Source: PR Newswire)
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