Sponsored by BCB INTERNATIONAL
http: https://www.bcbin.com/
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
25 Mar 25. Saronic aims to scale USV production with Port Alpha shipyard. Saronic Technologies has announced plans to construct an advanced shipyard to build unmanned vessels following a successful Series C funding round. Series C funding is typically focused on scaling a company and is commonly the last round of startup equity funding. The USD600m funding will support the development of the Port Alpha shipyard, which is intended to deliver “new classes of unmanned ships at the speed and scale needed to protect and defend the maritime domain”, according to a Saronic statement on 18 February. It will also enable the expansion of Saronic’s autonomous surface vessel (ASV) fleet into medium and large classes for defence missions, the statement said. The project will expand Saronic’s workforce, machinery, facilities, and manufacturing capabilities to support its existing family of ASVs and develop larger vessels, a Saronic spokesperson told Janes on 24 March. Saronic is actively looking for a US location for the shipyard, with plans calling for it to be operational within five years, the spokesperson said. The move will help address US shipbuilding capacity shortfalls as well as investing in the infrastructure needed to supply the range and volume of autonomous ships required by the US Navy’s planned hybrid fleet, according to Saronic. (Source: Janes)
26 Mar 25. US greenlights potential $1.96 bn MQ-9B drone deal for Qatar. The US government today approved a potential $1.96 bn sale to Qatar of eight MQ-9B unmanned aerial vehicles, which, if completed, would mark the first sale of the General Atomics-produced drones to the Middle East. The potential deal also includes hundreds of bombs along with scores of missiles, several radars, radios, satellite communication ground systems and related equipment, along with US technical support.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East,” the State Department said in its public notification. “The proposed sale will improve Qatar’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing timely intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, target acquisition, counter-land, and counter-surface sea capabilities for its security and defense.”
A spokesperson for General Atomics, C. Mark Brinkley, told Breaking Defense, “We’re very excited by the news, and ready to support Qatar in any way. MQ-9B strikes the perfect balance of affordability, versatility, and capability for airborne ISR missions worldwide. There’s nothing else like it anywhere.”
Qatari officials first requested armed drones in 2020, but became frustrated with the then-Biden administration for slowrolling the request, according to an October 2021 report by The Wall Street Journal. Today’s announcement comes just weeks after GA-ASI President David Alexander spoke to Breaking Defense at a defense conference hosted by Qatar’s neighbor, the United Arab Emirates, where he said he expected previously delayed arms sales would likely see a renewed push under a new Trump administration.
“They mean business now, and they want to see the business deals happen and where we’ve been, maybe stuck in policy and bureaucrats,” Alexander said Feb. 19 during the IDEX 2025 conference. “I think it’s going to move out quick, so I predict a lot of action in this area, and a lot of business growth for General Atomics
In the same interview, Alexander said he expected a long-stranded deal for MQ-9Bs for the UAE “to move” as well. That deal has been in limbo for years due to complications with a larger F-35 controversy. The MQ-9B, which comes in the SkyGuardian and maritime-equipped SeaGuardian variants, is designed to fly for more than 30 hours and as high as over 40,000 feet. (The announcement doesn’t say which variant Qatar could be acquiring.) As with any Foreign Military Sale, the dollar and unit figures involved are subject to change as negotiations progress, and it’s always possible a member of Congress could step into put a hold on the deal. (Source: Breaking Defense.com)
26 Mar 25. Airbus announces missile-slinging drone for air defense. Airbus unveiled a European-made anti-drone drone concept with elements of autonomy this week, piggybacking on a training dummy design from 20 years ago. With LOAD — short for Low-Cost Air Defence — the European aerospace giant seeks to address one of the main challenges in modern air defense: the massive cost of intercepting cheap threats. Executives announced the drone design at an unmanned systems trade show in Bonn, Germany, on March 26. It will be based on a platform from the early 2000s, the Do-DT25, an unmanned aerial system used for target practice. Because of that use case, it was designed to be both cheap and disposable, according to the manufacturer. The modified UAV will be able to carry three guided missiles. According to Airbus, its operational range will be 100 kilometers or about 160 miles, and it will be launched via catapult. After a successful mission, the drone is designed to return to base and land by parachute, ready to be reused. A prototype with two missiles will fly by the end of the year, the company said, with the final product ready two years from now, by 2027. While no details have been provided for LOAD specifically, the Do-DT25 on which it is built is 3.1 meters long and has a 2.5-meter wingspan. Its top speed is 300 knots, and it can stay airborne for about an hour. From Airbus’ promotional materials, it appears that LOAD will somewhat straddle the line between a loitering munition and air combat drone. The UAV will be “supervised from a ground control station,” the company’s press statement reads. It “coordinates the drones on the basis of radar data or air situation images and can therefore autonomously search for, detect and – following the approval of their engagement – combat enemy kamikaze drones.” For years, experts have raised concerns over growing autonomy in defense and questioned whether provisions to keep a human in the loop when making kill decisions — as Airbus promised in this case — will hold up when push comes to shove. The autonomous capability promised for LOAD likely builds on Airbus’s previous work with the Do-DT25 platform. In March 2023, the company demonstrated the autonomous guidance and control of several DT-25 drones from an A310 MRTT tanker aircraft, showcasing advances in precise relative navigation, in-flight communication and cooperative control algorithms. As a further step, Airbus plans to integrate LOAD with other unmanned airborne platforms, such as the company’s Eurodrone project. According to the company, this would allow LOAD to operate in regions “not yet fully covered by ground-based air defense radars.” In line with Europe’s push to decouple from a dependency on the United States, the new drone contains no U.S. technology, Airbus boasted in its press release. This means it will be ITAR-free, referring to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations imposed by Washington, leaving future export decisions solely to European user nations. (Source: Google/Defense News)
25 Mar 25. HII Tops 700 REMUS UUVs Sold, Strengthening America’s Undersea Advantage. HII (NYSE: HII), America’s largest shipbuilder and all-domain technologies and solutions provider, has sold more than 700 REMUS uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) to customers globally, delivering the undersea advantage and expanding HII’s lead as the world’s largest producer.
“HII’s investment in advanced undersea autonomy is yielding promising returns, most notably in demonstrating to our customers how this technology can be integrated to support their evolving and critical mission needs,” HII President and CEO Chris Kastner said. “From mine countermeasures to anti-submarine warfare, REMUS continues to safeguard strategic waterways and enhance maritime security for the U.S. and its allies. The platform’s longevity and adaptability reflect HII’s dedication to providing reliable, cutting-edge solutions for global partners.”
The REMUS UUV family delivers critical advantages across modern naval operations, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, and electronic warfare. These autonomous systems can operate independently or teamed with crewed platforms — such as Virginia-class nuclear submarines — expanding operational reach while reducing detection risk and personnel exposure. More than 700 REMUS UUVs have been sold in over 30 countries, including 14 NATO members. Notably, over 90% of the vehicles delivered in the past 23 years remain operational, demonstrating the platform’s durability and adaptability to evolving technologies. HII is currently manufacturing small uncrewed undersea vehicles (SUUVs) for the U.S. Navy’s Lionfish System program. The contract, potentially growing to 200 vehicles over five years, is valued at more than $347 m. Based on the REMUS 300, the Lionfish System is a highly portable SUUV with open architecture, and modular payload options. In early 2022, REMUS 300 was the first Defense Innovation Unit competitive selection to transition to a program of record, selected as the U.S. Navy’s Lionfish next-generation SUUV.
Proven Performance in Global Operations
REMUS UUVs have been deployed in diverse operational environments, including mine clearance in the Persian Gulf, NATO exercises in the North Sea, and undersea surveillance in the Indo-Pacific. With advanced sonar and sensor technologies, these systems enhance situational awareness and provide naval forces with a tactical edge in contested environments. As undersea threats evolve, HII remains committed to delivering next-generation autonomous solutions that strengthen operational effectiveness and sustain maritime dominance. The more than 700 REMUS vehicles sold reinforces HII’s leadership in uncrewed systems and its role as a trusted partner in naval innovation.
Uncrewed Systems Enhancing Naval Operations
In mine countermeasures missions, REMUS is instrumental in ensuring safe passage for naval and commercial vessels. The U.S. Navy has deployed REMUS in strategic waterways, including the Persian Gulf, the Baltic and Black Seas, while NATO allies have used the platform in joint exercises across the Mediterranean, the North Sea, and above the Arctic Circle. Additionally, Uncrewed Systems state of the art production facility in Pocasset, Massachusetts utilizes modular and scalable manufacturing methods that will support an increased demand of multiple product lines. From the 300m SUUV to the 600m newly developed REMUS 620, both next generation modular UUVs were designed with ease of maintenance and payload swapping depending on the mission set. As global undersea challenges intensify, REMUS continues to be a force multiplier — enhancing endurance, improving operational effectiveness, and maintaining dominance in the underwater battlespace. These uncrewed systems represent a pivotal shift in naval warfare, ensuring a technological advantage in future conflicts. (Source: ASD Network)
25 Mar 25. China Certifies First Unmanned Helicopter. The TD550D coaxial unmanned helicopter system has received its type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the first of its kind to have obtained such certification in China, its developer said last week. Its certification fills a gap in China’s airworthiness certification for unmanned helicopter systems, setting a reference standard for future unmanned helicopter certifications, said Tian Gangyin, CEO of the helicopter’s developer United Aircraft. The system’s airworthiness certification process began in late 2023. To ensure the aircraft’s safety and reliability, the company conducted testing and verification across multiple areas, including the rotor system, power system, avionics and flight control. The process involved 29 compliance verification tests and more than 2,600 preliminary test flights. According to the company, the TD550D boasts high payload capacity, long endurance, and strong high-altitude performance, making it well-suited for complex environments such as plateaus and islands. The helicopter has a maximum takeoff weight of 640 kg at sea level and 550 kg at an altitude of 5,000 meters. Its maximum payload capacity reaches 200 kg at sea level and 120 kg at 5,000 meters, demonstrating its versatility in high-altitude operations. The aircraft, designed for applications in emergency rescue, firefighting, and smart logistics, features emergency return, automatic landing, and forced landing capabilities in critical situations. The certification comes as the drone industry in China is entering a stage of rapid growth. According to Yang Jincai, chairman of Shenzhen Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Industry Association, the number of drone operating companies nationwide has surpassed 20,000, with an annual output value reaching approximately 210 bn yuan (about 29.26 bn U.S. dollars), reflecting a 39.5-percent increase over the previous year. As a major hub for the industry, Shenzhen is home to nearly 2,000 drone companies, contributing 107 bn yuan in output value for 2024, representing a 12-percent growth rate. (Source: UAS VISION/XINHUANET)
24 Mar 25. Kratos Reveals Secret Hypersonic Drone Program. Kratos is developing a hypersonic drone, adding to a growing portfolio of high-speed vehicles, CEO Eric DeMarco told Aviation Week in a March 18 interview. All further details of the project—including the design, performance and schedule—cannot yet be released, DeMarco said. The mystery vehicle can be supported by the Hypersonic System Indiana Payload Integration Facility (IPIF) that the company broke ground on in Crane, Indiana, on March 18. Asked if the IPIF would support only payloads for hypersonic glide vehicles powered by solid rocket motors, DeMarco said vehicles with air-breathing propulsion technologies also are possible. DeMarco previously has hinted at interest by Kratos in turbine-based hypersonic propulsion. In a 2019 press release announcing the acquisition of Florida Turbine Technologies (now Kratos Turbine Technologies, or KTT), DeMarco included a cryptic statement.
“Beyond traditional turbojet and turbofan engines, we are also focused on developing advanced, affordable engines for a new class of hypersonic propulsion system,” DeMarco said.
DeMarco has never elaborated on that statement. However, as its name implies, KTT specializes in air-breathing, turbine-based propulsion systems, not the solid rocket motors that boost hypersonic glide vehicles to hypersonic speed. Kratos already has built a hypersonic portfolio with a pair of hypersonic glide vehicles called Erinyes and Dark Fury. Both can be powered by Kratos’ new Zeus rocket, an offshoot from the company’s Oriole sounding rocket. Hypersonic technology—and air-breathing propulsion in particular—remains mainly at the developmental stage in the U.S. industrial base, with the operational Lockheed Martin/Leidos Long Range Hypersonic Weapon for the U.S. Army being the sole exception. Despite the advanced nature of the technology, Kratos remains committed to avoid crossing the “bleeding-edge” of capability in new products. The company prefers to work on fixed-price contracts, and the risk of overruns with inventing new technology are too high for Kratos, with its $1.1bn of annual sales, to bear.
“Bleeding edge—something that’s never been done before—those are the types of fixed-price contracts that we tend to stay away from because it’s never been done before,” DeMarco said at the McAleese Defense Programs Conference outside Washington on March 18. “We don’t have the size or the scale like a Boeing to be able to absorb and get the thing done for an amount of money. That’s just crazy. We just can’t do it.” (Source: UAS VISION/Aviation Week)
21 Mar 25. Japanese ground forces to test Elroy Chaparral VTOL UAV. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) will test the US-made Chaparral vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Elroy Air for logistics operations between its islands, the service revealed on its social media accounts. According to the company, the Chaparral is hybrid-eVTOL UAV that is designed to carry a payload of up to 136 kg and travel distances of around 483 km to austere environments. The air vehicle is powered by a hybrid-electric propulsion system with eight vertical and four forward propellers for extended range operations, while advanced perception and robotics enable automated ground navigation and cargo handling for enhanced safety.
“We are moving forward with the initiatives necessary for the introduction of various UAVs that can perform missions such as information gathering around Japan’s coasts and transportation of supplies to units deployed on islands,” the JGSDF stated.
The JGSDF has also previously tested domestically developed UAVs for logistical operations in disaster response training exercises such as Nankai Rescue, which aimed to prepare for a potential earthquake along the Nankai Trough, located off the Pacific coast of central-southwestern Japan. These included Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ K-RACER-X2 VTOL UAV. Meanwhile, the JGSDF’s Ground Material Control Command (GMCC) earlier announced competitive tenders for concept demonstrations of two types of cargo UAVs. The GMCC has also actively invited bids for a diverse array of projects including capability upgrades for reconnaissance UAVs, concept demonstrations for a multi-role fixed wing UAV, as well as technical assessments related to communications for disaster response UAVs. The JGSDF is also testing the Fuji IMVAC E-5L fixed-wing UAV supplied by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) for reconnaissance operations. (Source: AMR)
21 Mar 25. HevenDrones and Mach Industries Partner to Manufacture Hydrogen-Powered Drones in the USA. Mach Industries, a leader in advanced defense manufacturing, has announced that it will partner with HevenDrones, a global player in hydrogen-powered drone technology. The partnership will integrate Forge, Mach Industries’ survivable manufacturing network, and HevenDrones’ advanced UAV technology to produce drone platforms. The first of these platforms, HevenDrones’ H100, H2D55, and Raider, will be produced in Forge Huntington, Mach Industries’ flagship factory. Through the production of these airframes, Mach Industries and HevenDrones will partner to further the Forge model with a focus on Heven-developed drones. The two companies will also commit to codeveloping critical UAV components, including avionics, radios, fuel sources, and propulsion systems, for use by HevenDrones and other companies that the partnership will serve In the U.S., the buildout of this ecosystem of vertically manufactured subcomponents will make Forge a critical player in building a secure unmanned system industrial base. Globally, the two companies will expand Forge into other countries, building overseas factories to guarantee sovereign production to U.S. allies. This collaboration leverages Forge Huntington’s state-of-the-art systems and capacity to drive full-scale production of Heven’s hydrogen-powered drones and ensure a resilient and agile U.S.-based defense supply chain. By utilizing Mach Industries’ vertically integrated approach, Heven can now scale production quickly and efficiently to meet growing demand for advanced drone technology. Additionally, Mach Industries will benefit from HevenDrones’ drone-focused technology. Through the partnership, the two companies look to provide an offset to the dominance of Chinese companies in the drone industry.
“We’re not just accelerating production, we’re creating the next generation of defense manufacturing,” said Ethan Thornton, CEO and Founder of Mach Industries. “With HevenDrones as our global partner, together we play a key role in empowering the defense sector with advanced, high-performance drones, strengthening domestic manufacturing infrastructure to keep our military safe and at the forefront of technology.”
This joint effort with HevenDrones will be the first of many fulfillment orders scheduled out of Mach Industries’ Forge Huntington location, where the company is providing a critical advantage to U.S. defense and allied forces. Its decentralized production network ensures continuous output, allowing Mach Industries to rapidly adapt.
“Our customers urgently need thousands, and eventually tens of thousands, of drones to be deployed in-theater,” said Bentzion Levinson, CEO of HevenDrones. “Our goal is to provide quick-turn, full-scale American manufacturing of the most versatile, reliable, and powerful platforms available to the warfighter.”
About Mach Industries
Founded in 2023, Mach Industries is a defense manufacturing company headquartered in Huntington Beach, California. The company is dedicated to ensuring the American advantage in defense technology by vertically integrating its manufacturing processes and accelerating the pace of innovation. Backed by leading venture firms, Mach specializes in the development of lethal systems that deter kinetic conflict and protect global security. Mach Industries is committed to advancing U.S. defense capabilities through cutting-edge technology and resilient manufacturing infrastructure.
About HevenDrones
Founded in 2019, HevenDrones is based in Miami, FL, and is recognized as a global leader in hydrogen-powered drone technology. Its drones are engineered for endurance, adaptability, and reliability in complex and demanding mission environments. Heven’s modular, runway-independent drones support a wide range of defense operations, providing the warfighter with the most versatile and powerful platforms available today. With a focus on innovation and rapid scalability, HevenDrones is committed to transforming the future of defense technology.
(Source: UAS VISION)
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
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.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–