Sponsored by BCB INTERNATIONAL
http: https://www.bcbin.com/
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20 Mar 25. Edge reveals Shadow 3 UAV test. The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE’s) Edge defence group released a video on 19 March showing the recently unveiled Shadow 3 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) being used as a ground-attack weapon. The promotional video was made up of a combination of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and footage of an actual Shadow 3 flying and hitting two stacked shipping containers, but not taking off. The Shadow 3 was unveiled during the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) held in Abu Dhabi in February, where a model was displayed partially protruding from one of three vertical-launch canisters mounted on the back of an Ajban tactical vehicle. While the entire munition could not be seen, the Edge website has images showing it has two sets of cruciform wings. Unusually, electrically driven pusher and puller propellers are mounted on the ends of the smaller forward wings, enabling the UAV to take off vertically. The video included close-up footage of what appeared to be an actual Shadow 3 that showed that these wings are mounted on pivots to steer the UAV. The video also used CGI to show the larger rear wings folding back into flight position after launch. (Source: Janes)
19 Mar 25. China’s Large Cargo UAV TP1000 Completes Maiden Flight with One-Ton Payload. A large unmanned cargo aircraft, independently developed by Yitong UAV System Co, completed its maiden flight on Saturday at Laixi Dianbu Airport in Qingdao, East China’s Shandong Province, with a payload capacity exceeding one ton, marking another significant breakthrough for China in the field of high-end unmanned aviation equipment, Science and Technology Daily reported. Following the TP1000‘s successful maiden flight, the company has expanded its product portfolio to include two primary series: the TP (fixed-wing) and TR (tilt-rotor composite wing) models, as seen on a post from the company’s WeChat account. The TP1000 surpasses its predecessors with a payload capacity of up to 1,000 kilograms and an extended operational range of 1,000 kilometers. Weighing in at 3.3 tons, with a cargo hold volume of up to 7 cubic meters, this new model enhances the company’s comprehensive large cargo portfolio, specifically tailored to meet the rapidly growing demand for low-altitude freight transportation. With a spacious rear cargo hold, the TP1000 supports intelligent airdrops and enables fast loading and unloading of standard cargo pallets. Its design seamlessly integrates with land transportation systems, providing a comprehensive solution for extended logistics operations. In comparison to traditional air cargo planes, the UAV delivers enhanced flexibility and safety, positioning it as a versatile solution for both commercial and specialized applications. Its innovative design aligns with modern logistics needs, positioning it as a key player in the future of aerial cargo transport.
“Beyond cargo transportation, the TP1000, with excellent flight performance, payload capacity, and cost efficiency, allow for quick modifications to support ocean monitoring, scientific research, resource development, and regional infrastructure projects,”
said Jin Ge, general manager of Yitong UAV System Co.
The TP1000 has already received 30 orders from companies including ZTO Express and Asian Express Aviation. The aircraft’s certification configuration for airworthiness is scheduled to begin test flights by the end of 2025, with expectations to receive the Type Certificate (TC) for the aircraft from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in 2026, according to the post. China’s low-altitude economy is expected to reach 1.5trn yuan ($209.09bn) by the end of 2025, potentially expanding to 3.5trn yuan by 2035, according to the CAAC. (Source: UAS VISION/Global Times)
18 Mar 14. Breakthrough technology delivers mission-critical command and control—even under relentless electronic warfare attacks. As electronic warfare escalates, Rampart Communications today introduced the Rampart StrataWave™ UAS Radio—the industry’s first drone communications radio engineered to operate without GPS, to resist jamming, and to enable virtually-undetectable transmissions in contested environments. Developed for Group 2 and 3 uncrewed systems, StrataWave™ UAS radio overcomes traditional vulnerabilities by ensuring persistent, secure connectivity even in the most hostile environments. Unlike conventional radios, which rely heavily on GPS and are highly susceptible to jamming, StrataWave™ UAS radio prioritizes stealth, resilience, and survivability—allowing UAS operators to maintain unwavering command and control (C2) even under direct electronic attack.
“Electronic Warfare is disarming battlefield drones at alarming rates, creating an urgent need for next-generation connectivity,” said Matt Ball, Chief Executive Officer at Rampart Communications. “StrataWave UAS is the first drone radio built to survive the most hostile electronic warfare—enabling mission-critical drones to stay connected and operational when adversaries attempt to disable them with sophisticated EW systems.”
Why StrataWave™ UAS radio is a technological leap forward:
* GPS-Independent Communication – Immune to GPS jamming attacks, ensuring uninterrupted mission connectivity.
* Unparalleled Electronic Warfare (EW) Resilience – Exceptional low probability of detection (LPD) and anti-jam capabilities for enhanced survivability in contested environments.
* Proven Core Technology – Our innovative physical layer technology is independently validated by over 10 technical and operational tests from top defense research institutions
Shaping the Future of Defense and Aerospace
As the U.S. military and allied nations rapidly expand their drone operations, StrataWave™ UAS radio fills a critical gap in resilient and secure battlefield communications. For defense leaders and their warfighters, it ensures uncompromised command and control (C2) in contested and/or GPS-denied environments. For drone manufacturers and system integrators, StrataWave™ UAS radio offers seamless integration and a distinct competitive advantage with its unique signature reduction capabilities, making their drones nearly impossible to fingerprint or identify.
StrataWave™ UAS radio is now available for purchase by defense and intelligence partners. To schedule a demo or interview with Matt Ball, contact Megan Wenholz at .
About Rampart Communications, Inc.
Founded in 2016, Rampart Communications, Inc. is a privately held, U.S. owned and operated, wireless technology company, based in Linthicum Heights, MD. Rampart has achieved fundamental breakthroughs in the mathematical and engineering foundations of communications technology, building a robust intellectual property portfolio in wireless communications and a growing base of independent third-party validations and customers in the defense sector. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
18 Mar 14. Booz Allen and Shield AI Partnership Brings New Autonomous Airborne Solutions to U.S. Military. Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH) and Shield AI announced today that the companies are partnering to deliver a new era of AI-enabled, software-defined autonomous solutions for the U.S. government. The partnership will combine Booz Allen’s deep mission engineering expertise with Shield AI’s Hivemind Enterprise platform, initially focused on building solutions for the Department of Defense. The resulting collaboration will accelerate the development and integration of advanced AI control systems and autonomy into a wide variety of uncrewed systems, enabling their rapid deployment into threat scenarios to give the U.S. military essential decision advantage. The capabilities will give armed forces an edge over adversaries and help protect troops in complex, dynamic operational environments. Shield AI’s Hivemind software can pilot autonomous vehicles ranging from one-way attack drones to F-16s, and support swarming operations – even when GPS and communications are jammed. The technological collaboration also has potential applications across other high-priority national security missions.
“Our adversaries are evolving faster than ever, and Booz Allen is building, scaling and investing in autonomous systems to redefine how America fights and wins,” said Steve Escaravage, president of Booz Allen’s Defense Technology Group. “Shield AI is pioneering AI-powered autonomy, and this partnership catalyzes the capabilities of both teams to support our nation’s no-fail missions.”
“The best technology is useless unless it can be quickly and seamlessly deployed in real-life, high-stakes environments,” said Brandon Tseng, president and co-founder of Shield AI and a former U.S. Navy SEAL. “That’s why we chose to partner with Booz Allen. They know the technology, they understand what warfighters need, and they can see to it that we swiftly accomplish this mission — maintaining superiority over adversaries and protecting service members.”
Booz Allen recently made its largest corporate venture capital investment to date in Shield AI’s F-1 strategic funding round, designed to help expand the deployment of Hivemind Enterprise and empower the industrial base to build more autonomy products.
As the leading provider of AI and cyber to the federal government, Booz Allen moves rapidly to bring exceptional tech superiority to help the government drive results, save money, and ensure efficiency. The company invests and partners across the commercial technology ecosystem to jointly build and scale solutions that are essential for maintaining America’s security and technological supremacy.
Shield AI develops and deploys autonomy solutions and intelligent aircraft to help the U.S., and its allies maintain a decisive edge in contested environments. Operational since 2018, Hivemind Enterprise has powered AI-driven flight across Shield AI’s aircraft and other platforms. It enables developers and organizations to build, test, and deploy autonomy at scale, offering a multi-year head start with platform products and AI-driven toolsets.
“Our investment in Shield AI expands and accelerates state-of-the-art autonomy for the most important U.S. missions. This directly aligns with Booz Allen’s long-term commitment to using advanced technology to deliver faster, better outcomes for our nation,” said Booz Allen Chief Financial Officer Matt Calderone. “We remain focused on accelerating the next generation technologies that will transform our future.” (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
18 Mar 25. Northrop Grumman outlines Triton pitch to Norway. The MQ-4C Triton is being pitched to Norway for a requirement to deliver a high-altitude long-endurance unmanned intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability over the High North. (Northrop Grumman) Northrop Grumman has outlined its MQ-4C Triton bid to Norway, leveraging existing capabilities and partnerships as the NATO country looks to field a high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capability from 2029. Speaking at an event in the Norwegian Arctic town of Andenes that is set to host the capability at the adjacent Andøya Air Station, Northrop Grumman officials outlined the key capabilities of the Triton as they see them for the HALE ISR requirement within the context of Norway’s Long-Term Defence Plan (LTDP). At the same time, the officials highlighted how Triton interoperability with the newly acquired Royal Norwegian Air Force (RoNAF) Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime multimission aircraft (MMA) in particular, and the proposed establishment of a centre of excellence at the location, will be key selling points for the HALE unmanned aircraft system (UAS).
“When we talk about the long-term defence plan for Norway, there’s a discussion of large, long-range UASs,” Triton project manager Brad Champion said on 11 March, speaking at the event, which was focused on Norway’s aerial- and space-based contribution to the collective NATO security of the High North. (Source: Janes)
17 Mar 25. AV’s Cutting-Edge One-Way Attack UAS Secures DIU Backing Under Project Artemis. AeroVironment (AV), the leader in defense technology, has secured a contract with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to accelerate the deployment of next-generation autonomous precision munitions. As part of its strategic expansion into a new sector of the multi-bn-dollar defense market, AV has been awarded an Other Transaction Authority (OT) award by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) as part of Project Artemis, an initiative launched to rapidly test and operationally evaluate long-range, one-way uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) for the Department of Defense (DoD). This strategic effort, sponsored by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (A&S), is driven by urgent congressional direction to accelerate the deployment of innovative precision-strike platforms in contested environments. This award aligns with Secretary Pete Hegseth’s directive in a memorandum issued on February 18, 2025, which exempts uncrewed systems from broad defense budget cuts and underscores the Pentagon’s commitment to advancing autonomous capabilities as a critical component of modern military operations. AV’s fully autonomous, GPS-denied, precision-strike, one-way attack UAS is engineered for mass production and designed to operate in disrupted, disconnected, intermittent, and low-bandwidth environments, ensuring unmatched resilience against advanced electronic warfare (EW) threats. With a software-defined architecture, scalable manufacturing capabilities, and advanced GNSS-independent navigation, AV’s platform rapidly delivers a next-generation solution for modern conflict. AV’s AVACORE™ autonomy software and SPOTR-Edge™ computer vision are critical components enabling these capabilities quickly and at scale.
“Project Artemis represents a major step in transforming how the DoD identifies, tests, and deploys asymmetric capabilities to the warfighter at speed and scale,” said Jeff Rodrian, AV’s senior vice president and general manager of MacCready Works. “AV’s next-generation software-defined autonomous one-way attack UAS is already in the hands of early adopters and is now part of the Blue UAS ecosystem. Through this DIU contract, we look forward to quickly expanding its deployment to meet the urgent needs of today’s battlespace.”
As part of this initiative, AV will participate in aggressive testing and integration efforts, to demonstrate prototype success by the end of May 2025. These evaluations will provide critical data to inform procurement decisions for the Services and Combatant Commands, delivering options years ahead of traditional acquisition timelines. The demand for long-range, autonomous precision strike systems has never been greater. AV is committed to delivering cutting-edge solutions that ensure U.S. and allied forces maintain an operational advantage in contested environments. (Source: ASD Network)
13 Mar 14. Janus Marine, Nexus to launch new uncrewed vessel ROC in UAE. The Quarterdeck is designed to serve as a hub for innovation in USVs and UUVs technologies. Janus Marine and Defense, a US-based marine autonomy specialist, alongside Nexus Remote Solutions, has revealed plans to launch a new remote operations center (ROC) for uncrewed vessels in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The centre will be dedicated to the testing, leasing, and maintenance of the vessels. The ROC, named The Quarterdeck, will be situated at the Addax Tower on Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi. It is set to be the first facility of its kind in the Gulf region, accessible to both industry players and small to medium-sized enterprises.
Janus Marine and Defense owner Jack said: “We’re open to small to medium sized companies and surveyors who want to innovate USVs mainly in the oil and gas industry but also naval sector.”
The Quarterdeck is designed to serve as a hub for innovation in uncrewed surface vessel (USVs) and uncrewed underwater vessel (UUVs) technologies, catering to the needs of startups and growing businesses within the commercial and defence sectors. The centre is poised to take advantage of the UAE’s stance on USV operations within its territorial waters. This ROC will function similarly to a research and development facility, where improved equipment can be hired, and vessel trials conducted. The setup will allow companies to manage USV operations not only within the Gulf but also in international waters.
The Quarterdeck will be equipped with soundproof pods, each containing three individual operator consoles, thereby accommodating various roles such as pilots, technicians, and payload operators.
Dougherty added: “Currently the UAE has three ROCs spanning the commercial and defence markets yet all three are privately owned and closed to external contractors. As a result the Quarterdeck will ‘fill a gap in the market’ giving private companies access to the same technology and facilities found in private ROCs.” (Source: naval-technology.com)
14 Mar 14. Saildrone, Palantir partner for advanced maritime AI. The company plans to leverage Palantir’s AI cloud infrastructure for rapid scaling across all areas of its operations. Saildrone has reached a strategic alliance?with Palantir Technologies to focus on quickly expanding the use of autonomous systems for advanced maritime AI solutions. This collaboration comes at a moment when traditional naval platforms are limited and global threats are increasing, alongside a bottleneck in shipbuilding capabilities. Saildrone says that the joint effort signifies a notable change in the approach to maritime security operations. The company is set to incorporate Palantir’s advanced AI cloud framework to facilitate swift expansion across its range of operations. This integration is said to improve Saildrone’s manufacturing, supply chain, and fleet management through the application of Palantir’s Warp Speed and assist in the AI-based coordination of autonomous units in operational settings. Saildrone aims to use Palantir’s AI technology to provide new levels of insight for maritime intelligence, surveillance, and targeting functions. A maritime defence and oceanographic survey company, Saildrone manages an extensive array of actively engaged uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs), delivering essential surveillance of maritime territories for the US Navy, Department of Homeland Security, and allies. The company notes that the autonomous vessels are equipped with advanced, in-house developed AI/ML algorithms for real-time processing, tasked with observing surface and sub-surface activities at sea. They play a role in identifying various threats such as enemy submarines and other illegal activities. Saildrone founder and CEO Richard Jenkins said: “Leveraging Palantir’s sophisticated manufacturing and AI tools will allow us to streamline manufacturing and radically enhance fleet capabilities. While others make promises about tomorrow’s technology, we face complex global threats today.
“This partnership with Palantir ensures we deliver solutions today that outpace tomorrow’s threats.”
Palantir’s Warp Speed is also being adopted by new clients including Epirus, Red Cat, Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), Saronic, and Ursa Major. Red Cat is accelerating the manufacturing and distribution of its products to meet the urgent needs of the US Department of Defense through the implementation of Warp Speed. Saronic is leveraging Warp Speed to enhance its operational capabilities, initially concentrating on optimising material resource planning and refining engineering change processes.
SNC CEO Fatih Ozmen said: “Our partnership with Palantir and the use of Warp Speed brings the same speed and adaptability to managing our most complex programs. This ensures we continue to deliver mission-critical solutions that empower our customers at the speed today’s dynamic environment mandates.”
Ursa Major is using Warp Speed to boost its manufacturing efficiency in the digital space, thereby increasing its output of both solid and liquid rocket motors. (Source: naval-technology.com)
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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.
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