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17 Oct 24. RTX Demonstrates Launched Effects Autonomy at EDGE. RTX businesses, Collins Aerospace and Raytheon, collectively showcased new capabilities at the U.S. Army’s Experimental Demonstration Gateway Event (EDGE). These capabilities enabled launched effects to team and execute a mission, merging collaborative vehicle autonomy with human on-the-loop command. Launched effects is a capability term that describes small, uncrewed aircraft that can be launched from the ground, air platforms, or other vehicles.
The RTX team demonstrated two collaborative autonomy solutions to find, fix, track, target, engage, and assess a broad spectrum of threats:
- Collins demonstrated its RapidEdgeTM mission system and software toolset as the “brains” enabling the collaboration between a team of uncrewed aerial vehicles with various payloads that flew as launched effects surrogates.
- Raytheon deployed autonomy capabilities previously developed through the Collaborative Operations in Denied Environment government program and showcased Launched Effects capabilities developed for the combat-proven Coyote family of unmanned aircraft systems.
Both solutions were able to share data, seamlessly demonstrating the utility of modular open system architectures and mesh networks.
“RTX’s demonstration at EDGE showed how autonomous sensing and effects can extend the Army’s reach, delivering sensing and effects in anti-access or area denial environments,” said Ryan Bunge, vice president and general manager for Collins’ C4I&A portfolio. “Leveraging capabilities across RTX, we were able to show interoperability between our collaborative autonomy solutions, demonstrating the power and long-term benefits of open system architectures.”
This mission system translated the human operator’s primary intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance goals for the team to act on and outline behavioral parameters according to the Army’s playbook for mission execution. The team executed the threat detection mission and decided how best to proceed in real-time, even when command links to the ground operators were severed, validating autonomy for launched effects to help the Army advance this critical capability.
The demonstration was sponsored by the U.S. Army Futures Command Future Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team to expand the U.S. Army’s targeting, reconnaissance and lethality capabilities through manned and unmanned teaming. EDGE is part of the U.S. Army Future Command’s campaign of learning to drive transformational advancement across the Army’s modernization priorities. (Source: UAS VISION)
18 Oct 24. China unveils large tiltrotor UAV prototype. Private Chinese technology group United Aircraft has revealed a prototype large tiltrotor vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capable uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) called the R6000 Lanying. Its name is directly translated into “Lanthanum Shadow” and apparently inspired after the rare-earth element.
United Aircraft released imagery of the full-scale R6000 prototype in an 11 October social media post, with company staff assembled in front of the aircraft holding a banner which stated: “The first United Aircraft R6000 Lanying rolls off the production line”.
The R6000 is being developed by its subsidiary Wuhu United Aircraft Technology – which specializes in research and development, production, flight testing, maintenance, training and technical support of advanced aircraft – located at the Wuhu Aviation Industrial Park in China’s eastern Anhui province. It was first introduced to the public as a concept at the Singapore Airshow in February 2024.
The R6000 appears to be inspired greatly by the Bell V-280 Valor design with high-mounted wings and wingtip-mounted engine nacelles and three-bladed proprotors. It also adopts similar VTOL to conventional flight conversion arrangement, where the engines remain in place and only the forward section of the nacelle along with the proprotors pivot – unlike the in-service V-22 Osprey where the entire nacelles pivot.
According to specifications released by United Aircraft, the R6000 features a maximum takeoff weight of 6,100 kg and is capable of carrying a payload of up to 2,000 kg. The company also claims that it is capable of attaining a cruise speed of up to 550 km/h in conventional flight mode and can operate out to a maximum range of 4,000 km. Its service ceiling is stated to be 25,000 ft.
“The R6000 offers the take-off and landing versatility of a helicopter while offering up to twice the speed,” the company stated, noted that it is envisioned to transport cargo or even between seven and 10 passengers.
United Aircraft also offers more conventional rotary-wing VTOL UAVs such as the proven coaxial TD220 UAV via its Zhong Hang Zhi Science and Technology Company (ZHZ) subsidiary. (Source: AMR)
17 Oct 24. Red Cat Unveils Arachnid Family of Systems at AUSA. Red Cat Holdings, Inc., a drone technology company building hardware and software for military, federal, and commercial operations, has introduced its ARACHNID family of unmanned intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and precision strike systems.
Red Cat unveiled the Family of Systems at AUSA 2024 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington D.C.
The ARACHNID family of systems is purpose built for the U.S. Army’s roadmap to integrate UAS and long endurance aircraft in a combined arms fight with synchronized fire and maneuver across various command levels. Red Cat currently addresses the needs of warfighters at the platoon and company level with drones that span capabilities and endurance for short and medium-range operations in air, land, and maritime environments. Future potential partnerships will enable long-range reconnaissance.
Red Cat redefines the future of sUAS for defense applications by combining the capabilities of portable, low-cost, and recoverable ISR drones with precision strike payloads. The company is enabling a shift away from legacy, high-cost UAS to highly interoperable systems that can adapt to a rapidly evolving battlefield. This shift includes layered UAS/LE deployment to shape fires and maneuver, extended reach via networks and autonomy, and reduced cognitive burden with increased safety and survivability for warfighters.
“The U.S. Army has prioritized integrating UAS across military formations from squad to corps and have specific requirements informed by an understanding of emerging real-world threats,” said Jeff Thompson, Red Cat CEO. “We are introducing the ARACHNID family of systems to ensure we can react to the rapidly evolving needs of sUAS for short, medium and long range operations. With future partnerships, our drones can be dropped from long endurance aircraft or integrated into unmanned surface vessels to extend reach and penetration at the battlefield’s tactical edge.”
ARACHNID advances Red Cat’s established leadership in the sUAS space and brings enhanced capabilities and tech integrations to its existing flagship products from Teal. To reflect this technology evolution and the capabilities of the newest model that Red Cat developed for the U.S. Army’s SRR Program of Record, the company has rebranded its flagship within the ARACHNID family of systems:
Black Widow (successor to Teal 2) is a highly capable, rucksack portable sUAS designed specifically for operation in Electronic Warfare (EW) environments. A fully modular architecture enables swift adaptation to mission requirements including short range reconnaissance and secondary payload operation. Black Widow is significantly enhanced from the Teal 2 model with longer endurance, EW resilience, and advanced autonomy.
WEB (Warfighter Electronic Bridge) is a Ground Control Station purpose built to operate Red Cat’s entire ARACHNID family of systems for military operations.
WEB is fully integrated with Kinesis and ATAK to provide seamless integration with platforms and enhance mission effectiveness. WEB can also function as a stand-alone GCS for other non-Red Cat platforms, offering multi-domain versatility.
To address the needs of medium-range reconnaissance and persistent strike systems, Red Cat is accelerating the development of its FANG line of First-Person View (FPV) drones. Additionally, Red Cat’s product roadmap includes TRICHON, which will build upon the FlightWave Edge 130 Blue, a military-grade VTOL tricopter for medium-range mapping, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
“The Pentagon’s Replicator initiative established a bold mission to accelerate the deployment of attritable sUAS to the warfighter. In concert with Replicator’s mission we are accelerating the development of our products that will enhance the effectiveness and safety of military and security operations,” said George Matus, Red Cat CTO. “In many ways, domestic UAS innovation has been spurred by learnings in Ukraine and Israel, where drones have clearly demonstrated asymmetric warfare. The ARACHNID family of systems represents what we believe the future of drones needs to look like.”
The new family of systems will leverage ongoing industry collaboration, underpinned by the Red Cat Futures Initiative. Both through Red Cat’s agile internal research and development, as well as robust partnerships, the family of systems will continually iterate with new capabilities across hardware and software. Red Cat has the ability to manufacture these systems at a high production rate with superior quality to meet the demands of our customers globally. (Source: UAS VISION)
15 Oct 24. As part of the U.S. Army’s Vanguard demonstrations that took place in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, on Sept. 17–18, 2024, a Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) provided by the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) showcased several new capabilities, including the integration of an Expeditionary Cyber Chassis (ECC) for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) and Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS) with Communications Intelligence (COMINT) and Mobile Ad Hoc Networking (MANET) radios from Silvus Technologies.
Sponsored by Col. Danielle Medaglia, Product Manager for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, and operated by U.S. Army Soldiers, the GE-ER successfully demonstrated data relay and voice communication over significant distances, extending the range, quality, and speed of data exchanges for ground units. The demonstration also verified the capability of relaying video and chat messages between ground users equipped with Silvus 4200 MANET radios, highlighting the progress being made in enhancing tactical communications and situational awareness.
While utilizing the COMINT system, Gray Eagle was able to detect stationary and moving targets at significant ranges and provide data for analysis to expeditionary intelligence cells. This expansion of Gray Eagle capabilities is due to its open architecture, which exemplifies the Army’s Transformation in Contact (TIC) concept. The Army benefits by using an existing system to reduce risk and impacts while gaining new capabilities without the prolonged timelines of an acquisition new start.
“We’re excited to work with our Army customer to increase the relevance and capabilities of the GE-ER platform,” said Chris MacFarland, sector vice president of Strategic Development for Army Programs. “These efforts of Vanguard to demonstrate new capabilities hosted on CMOSS hardware will improve the Army’s premier UAS platform in supporting advanced UAS operations.”
Built by GA-ASI and operated by the U.S. Army, the GE-ER participating in the exercise represents the future capabilities of the Gray Eagle 25M’s open architecture design, allowing for rapid integration of vendor-agnostic sensors, radios, and payloads needed for Multi-Domain Operations. The ability to fully integrate internally mounted long-range sensors and launched effects, while controlling them with modernized laptop ground control systems, significantly enhances its survivability and lethality. Along with advanced data links, resilient GPS navigation systems, and an upgraded propulsion system, the GE 25M is resilient to electronic threats when deployed in expeditionary and austere locations.
15 Oct 24. ARACHNID™ Family of Small ISR & Precision Strike Systems Introduced at AUSA.
Red Cat Holdings has unveiled the new ARACHNID™ family of unmanned ISR and precision strike systems at AUSA, offering portable, low-cost ISR drones to support warfighters in short- and medium-range missionsBy Sarah
Red Cat Holdings, Inc. a prominent developer of drone technology for military and government operations, has unveiled its product roadmap for the ARACHNID™ family of unmanned intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and precision strike systems at AUSA 2024.
The ARACHNID family of systems is purpose built for the U.S. Army’s roadmap to integrate UAS and long endurance aircraft in a combined arms fight with synchronized fire and maneuver across various command levels.
Red Cat currently addresses the needs of warfighters at the platoon and company level with drones that span capabilities and endurance for short and medium-range operations in air, land, and maritime environments. Future potential partnerships will enable long-range reconnaissance.
Red Cat is working to redefine the future of sUAS for defense applications by combining the capabilities of portable, low-cost, and recoverable ISR drones with precision strike payloads. The company is enabling a shift away from legacy, high-cost UAS to highly interoperable systems that can adapt to a rapidly evolving battlefield. This shift includes layered UAS/LE deployment to shape fires and maneuver, extended reach via networks and autonomy, and reduced cognitive burden with increased safety and survivability for warfighters.
“The U.S. Army has prioritized integrating UAS across military formations from squad to corps and have specific requirements informed by an understanding of emerging real-world threats,” said Jeff Thompson, Red Cat CEO.
“We are introducing the ARACHNID™ family of systems to ensure we can react to the rapidly evolving needs of sUAS for short, medium and long range operations. With future partnerships, our drones can be dropped from long endurance aircraft or integrated into unmanned surface vessels to extend reach and penetration at the battlefield’s tactical edge.”
(Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)
15 Oct 24. Collaboration Formed for Maritime Defense Solutions.
Forcys is set to combine its advanced underwater vehicle systems and sensor payloads with DRASS’ capability to meet the evolving needs of navies, revolutionising underwater operations. Forcys, a global leader in underwater defence technology, and DRASS, a manufacturer of diving systems and underwater vehicles, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at revolutionising underwater operations.
Forcys integrates and brings to the defence market world-changing solutions from leading technology partners Chelsea Technologies, EIVA, Sonardyne, Voyis, and Wavefront Systems. These companies are renowned for their innovative offerings in underwater and maritime operations, making them ideal partners for DRASS.
Under this agreement, Forcys’ advanced underwater vehicle systems and sensor payloads will complement DRASS’ capability to meet the evolving needs of navies.
Both companies are committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the underwater domain, leveraging their combined expertise to deliver state-of-the-art solutions to defence markets worldwide.
“We are thrilled to partner with DRASS, a company that shares our commitment to innovation and excellence,” said Antonio J. Belfiore. “This partnership allows us to combine our expertise and provides customers with state-of-the-art systems that enhance operational capabilities and ensure safety and efficiency in underwater missions.”
Luca Biasci, SDV & LUUV Program Manager at DRASS, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, “DRASS has consistently been at the forefront of technological innovation in the underwater domain.
“With this partnership, Forcys’ robust portfolio of advanced payload technologies will be integrated with our Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (LUUVs), RONDA, expanding our suite of solutions to meet the evolving demands of the underwater sector.” (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)
17 Oct 24. Schiebel CAMCOPTER S-100 demos ASW, MCM and REA. The S-100 demonstrated its uncrewed airborne capabilities during the three weeks of exercise REPMUS 2024. This year, the CAMCOPTER S-100 showed an enhanced sonobuoy dispenser system, deploying both A-size and four G-size sonobuoys to form an ASW barrier.
A second S-100, with Thales BlueTracker communications payload, relayed sonobuoy signals back to the ground station in real time, extending the range of operation.
The Thales M-Cube Mission Management System was used for planning and monitoring, with BlueTracker processing acoustic signals and disseminating underwater target information to the combat management system, demonstrating an integrated ASW capability.
Schiebel equipped the CAMCOPTER S-100 with advanced laser scanners from Riegl, including the VQ-860-G and the VUX-120 LiDARs.
These enabled the S-100 to conduct both bathymetric and topographic mapping, crucial for detecting sea mines for MCM and supporting amphibious operations for REA.
The Thales M-Cube Mission Management System was again used for mission planning and monitoring, with mine clearance divers completing the identification of detected mines, showcasing an end-to-end capability for MCM and REA operations.
Schiebel Group chairman Hans Georg Schiebel said: “Maritime warfare utilising UAS is becoming more and more front of mind for Navies all over the world. Using the latest technology combined with a proven unmanned asset provides an end-to-end solution for ASW that saves valuable time and significantly reduces risks.
“With our 20 plus years of operational experience, especially in the harsh maritime environment flying from ships, and the exceptional technical specifications of the S-100, it is the ideal UAS to showcase the latest unmanned airborne capabilities at REPMUS.”
In 2022, Schiebel, in collaboration with Thales, tested the Camcopter S-100’s ability to relay acoustic buoy surveillance.
(Source: naval-technology.com)
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LAND:
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