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02 May 25. Prime Minister hails game changing UK-made RAF drones.
Hundreds of highly skilled jobs are being supported by the RAF’s new cutting-edge UK made drones.
- New British-made ‘StormShroud’ drones are at the cutting edge of defence combat air, taking advantage of learnings from countering Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine
- Brand new tech supports hundreds of jobs and shows investment in UK defence is driving economic growth, making communities better off, and bolstering national security by delivering on the Plan for Change
- Getting from the factory to the frontline at an unprecedented pace, the drones will fly alongside crewed aircraft as part of crucial RAF frontline missions, to knock out enemy air defences
- Tekever, who manufacture the drones, announce a further £400 million investment in the UK
Hundreds of highly skilled jobs are being supported by the RAF’s new cutting-edge UK made drones, known as ‘StormShroud’, which come into operation today (Friday 2 May), as the Prime Minister further bolsters UK national security.
It is the latest boost to the UK’s defence capabilities as the armed forces reap the benefits from Ukraine’s battlefield experience, and comes as the UK continues to play a leading role in peace negotiations, including building momentum in talks between leaders in Rome last weekend. The UK is also driving forward Coalition of the Willing planning as well as accelerating UK-Ukrainian defence industrial cooperation. The StormShroud drone is a groundbreaking first-of-its-kind drone that will make the RAF’s world-class combat aircraft more survivable and more lethal. The drones offer a step change in capability by using a high-tech BriteStorm signal jammer to disrupt enemy radar at long ranges, protecting our aircraft and pilots. In revolutionary new tactics, the drones support aircraft like Typhoon and F35 Lightning, by confusing enemy radars and allowing combat aircraft to attack targets unseen. This means for the first time, the RAF will benefit from high-end electronic warfare without needing crew to man it, freeing them up for other vital frontline missions. The RAF is investing an initial £19 million into the cutting-edge drones, which are made in the UK and directly support 200 highly skilled engineering jobs at multiple UK locations already from West Wales to Somerset, with further opportunities expected in future. StormShroud is just the first of a family of next-generation drones – known as Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACPs) – being delivered to the RAF. The Tekever AR3 and AR5 have had extensive use on the frontline fighting Putin’s illegal war, racking up more than 10,000 hours of flight for Ukraine’s forces. The RAF is taking the next step by integrating best-in-class signal scrambling technology into the drones to boost the UK’s defences at home, as the Prime Minister steps up UK defence capabilities to counter complex threats in the face of global instability. In a further vote of confidence in Britain’s defence industry, British-Portuguese tech company Tekever, who manufacture the drones in the UK, plan to invest a further £400 million over the next 5 years across the UK and create up to 1,000 more highly skilled jobs. The Prime Minister will visit to a Leonardo UK site in the South East today to see first-hand the expertise that goes into manufacturing the drones, and meeting the staff involved in delivering it, including many engineering apprentices representing the next generation of British defence industry excellence. As well as stepping up to protect our interests on the world stage, this government’s commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 means more secure, well-paid jobs for a generation that’s proud to keep our country safe. Just last week, the Carrier Strike Group launched its eight-month deployment and will join exercises, operations and visits with 30 countries across the Mediterranean, Middle East, south-east Asia, Japan and Australia – led by the Royal Navy’s largest and most powerful aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales. The deployment sends a powerful message that the UK and its allies stand ready to protect vital trade routes in the Indo-Pacific region.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Investment in our defence is an investment in this country’s future. Putting money behind our Armed Forces and defence industry is safeguarding our economic and national security by putting money back in the pockets of hard-working British people and protecting them for generations to come. Together with our allies, this government is taking the bold action needed to stand up to Putin and ruthlessly protect UK and European security, which is vital for us to deliver our Plan for Change and improve lives of working people up and down the country. It is a privilege to meet and learn from the young minds driving innovation in defence technology, and we will continue to invest in the industries of the future to deliver security and opportunity for the British people through our Plan for Change.” (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
01 May 25. Baykar and Leonardo Partnership Officially Exchanged at Turkey – Italy Intergovernmental Summit. The strategic cooperation agreement signed in March between Baykar, the leading company in the global UCAV market, and Leonardo, one of the world’s largest defence companies, was officially exchanged today at a ceremony held as part of the 4th Türkiye-Italy Intergovernmental Summit in Rome. The ceremony at Villa Pamphili Residence took place in the presence of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Agreement Documents Exchanged
At the ceremony, the agreement documents concerning the memorandum of understanding signed on March 6, 2025, in Rome — aimed at combining the two companies’ capabilities in high technology — were mutually exchanged by Baykar Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar and Leonardo CEO and General Manager Roberto Cingolani.
Expansion into the European Market
The agreement, signed last month and officially exchanged today, brings together Baykar’s battle-proven unmanned platforms and superiority in artificial intelligence technologies with Leonardo’s expertise in mission systems, payload design, and European aviation certifications. The joint venture to be established by Baykar and Leonardo aims to seize opportunities in the European unmanned aerial vehicle market.
Strategic Synergy in Technology
The strategic cooperation between the two companies covers not only unmanned aerial vehicles but also areas such as electronic systems, payloads, C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence), artificial intelligence, and integrated mission systems. Baykar and Leonardo aim to create synergy in European and international markets by ensuring the seamless integration of multi-domain ecosystems. The joint venture is poised to operate at several facilities across Italy –Ronchi dei Legionari, Torino, Roma Tiburtina, and Nerviano.
(Source: UAS VISION)
01 May 25. A British-made stealth plane has claimed a new world record for the longest continuous flight, spending 67 days in the stratosphere. The unmanned Aalto Zephyr, which was built in Farnborough, Hampshire, flew for more than two months from Kenya to Australia, before ditching in the Indian Ocean. The flight beat a record that has stood for more than 50 years for the longest duration plane flight. It bested a record set in 1959 when American pilots Robert Timm and John Cook flew a Cessna Skyhawk continuously for 64 days and 22 hours in Nevada. The Zephyr has a wingspan of 85ft, but weighs just 75kg and flies using solar power. The plane can operate as a spy plane, offering Earth observation and reconnaissance capabilities. It can also provide 4G and 5G communications, acting like a mobile mast in the sky. The aircraft’s longest previous mission was a 64-day flight in 2022. (Source: Daily Telegraph)
01 May 25. The CCA program represents a groundbreaking new era in combat aviation, and we remain on schedule to test and fly YFQ-42 in the coming months. Over the past three decades, GA-ASI has pioneered more than two dozen different unmanned aircraft types for the U.S. and its allies, including multiple unmanned combat jets flying today, and logged nearly 9 m total flight hours. Our work on YFQ-42 will further expand the field of unmanned aviation, and we remain excited for the future.
We congratulate the Beale AFB community on its selection to support this new era of air dominance, and we look forward to partnering with you as the program progresses. To that end, I’m pleased to announce that GA-ASI will give the Beale community a sneak peek later this summer, with an exhibition of our full-scale YFQ-42 model on display at the Beale Air and Space Expo beginning June 7.
01 May 25. British advanced maritime technology company SubSea Craft (SSC) has unveiled a new Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) capability, MARS, marking the company’s second product offering following the success of its VICTA diver delivery platform. Taken from concept to on the water in only 100 days, MARS offers a low-signature, mission-configurable design to maximise autonomy, survivability and operational disruption in contested environments. Its launch comes at a time of growing international demand for USV capabilities – something SSC has sought to respond to at pace to address the evolving requirements of the UK and its allies in distributed maritime operations. MARS encompasses the latest innovations in USV technology, with multi-role applications for a variety of force objectives including:
– Wingman support to minimise risk to manned deployments and provide a force multiplying effect at the vanguard of the fleet.
– Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities including long-range surveillance to increase the recognised maritime picture in environments with degraded communications.
– Multi-domain payloads and modular integration, allowing for both kinetic and non-kinetic effects on target. This includes the integration of Anduril’s ALTIUS.
Following its manufacture in the UK, MARS has undergone extensive testing and validation with AUKUS partners, including open water tests with the Australian Maritime College – which signed an R&D partnership with SSC in 2023.
The company has a growing series of multi-domain platforms offering high configurability, autonomy and ease of maintenance and MARS is a continuation of this, using the same open architecture digital control system as SSC’s dual-domain craft, VICTA.
Camilla Martin, CEO of SubSea Craft, said: “There is a clear global need for the responsive development of advanced maritime platforms that can meet evolving force requirements and objectives. At SubSea Craft we are proud to be representing the UK on the international stage in creating scalable technologies. These can be built and serviced in-country to boost both domestic maritime capabilities and the agility of our allies. The development of MARS represents another milestone on our international journey. Having been developed in the UK, tested in Australia and the US, we have been able to showcase our ongoing dedication to AUKUS objectives of interoperability and technological synergy between nations.”
Penny Mordaunt, Chair of SubSea Craft and Former UK Secretary of State for Defence, said: “MARS has emerged as a disruptive force for the modern battlespace. Its successful testing following an impressive turnaround from its ideation is testament to SubSea Craft’s cutting-edge approach to accelerated research, development and delivery.”
30 Apr 25. U.S. Army takes delivery of Valiant aircraft system, advancing future tactical programme. The U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office (PEO) Aviation has officially received the Valiant uncrewed aircraft system from Griffon Aerospace, marking a key milestone in the Future Tactical Uncrewed Aircraft System (FTUAS) programme. This delivery concludes an extensive development and testing phase, including technical, ground, and flight acceptance trials. The handover, formalised under the DD-250 process, transfers ownership of the Valiant system from Griffon Aerospace to the U.S. Government (USG). It represents a collaborative achievement between the vendor and the USG in the progression of rapid prototyping efforts. With the system now in government hands, New Equipment Training (NET) will begin to qualify instructors and operators from the Redstone Test Center. Following this, the FTUAS team will commence government-led developmental testing as the final stage of the prototyping programme. This testing phase will run alongside the evaluation of production proposals, with a contract award expected in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025. The FTUAS initiative aims to equip Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) with an organic reconnaissance and surveillance capability. The Valiant system is designed to enhance intelligence gathering, enabling BCT commanders to maintain operational advantage during Multi-Domain Operations. Its advanced features include vertical take-off and landing, on-the-move command and control, and field-level maintenance conducted by soldiers. The aircraft also utilises a Modular Open Systems Approach, allowing for rapid updates to match evolving technology. “The successful delivery of the Valiant system is a testament to the close collaboration between Griffon Aerospace and the U.S. Government,” a spokesperson for the UAS Project Office stated. PEO Aviation, based at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is charged with modernising the Army’s aviation fleet, encompassing both crewed and uncrewed platforms. (Source: Google/DIE)
30 Apr 25. Flying Heavy: How DASA-funded UAS Revolutionises Military Logistics. With the help of DASA funding, ISS Aerospace developed a 600kg heavy-lift unmanned aerial system (UAS) capable of carrying 250kg payloads.
- The innovation features a unique hybrid turbine generator power system that eliminates the need for complex electrical recharging infrastructure in the field
- DASA’s Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP) provided critical funding that enabled ISS to create this technology
- Successfully trialled in 2025, this project represents the first completed DTEP project
From Ship to Shore in Minutes
On naval vessels around the world, the same time-consuming scene plays out daily: crew members transfer supplies between ships or from ship to shore using small boats, manual labour, and helicopter support. This process can be slow, resource-intensive, and vulnerable to disruption from weather conditions.
Now picture a different scenario: an unmanned aerial system takes flight from a ship, automatically lands on a waiting pallet of supplies, autonomously secures its load without human intervention, and lifts off – delivering cargo to shore in a fraction of the traditional time – and then – heads back to the ship for more supplies.
With the help of DASA funding, this vision of automated logistics is becoming reality thanks to Newbury-based ISS Aerospace and their revolutionary heavy-lift drone system, funded through DASA’s Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP).
The Innovation: Power and Payload
ISS Aerospace’s system represents a significant leap forward in unmanned aerial capabilities. At 600kg total weight, it can carry a remarkable 250kg payload – equivalent to two fully-equipped soldiers – with flight times currently at 35-40 minutes.
“The innovation is three-pronged,” explains Ryan Kempley, CEO, and founder of ISS Aerospace. “First, it is a super heavy-lift UAS, which itself is quite unique. Second, we’ve brought across our heritage of super reliable, super safe systems. Third, and the main reason DTEP funded this project was because of our unique turbine power plant that powers the system”.
The innovation’s standout feature is its hybrid turbine generator power system. Rather than relying on traditional battery packs that require complex and frequent recharging infrastructure, ISS Aerospace developed a system that uses efficient aviation fuel.
“Our UASs fly around at 100 to 120 kilowatts, so they need a lot of power,” Kempley explains. “You can buy auxiliary power unit (APU) turbine generators off the shelf, but they’re extremely expensive – in the hundreds of thousands of pounds – and very heavy, around 100+ kilos.”
ISS’s solution repackages high-end micro gas turbines with hybrid battery technology to create their own 100-kilowatt generator at a fraction of the cost and weight of conventional systems.
Engineering Challenges and Breakthroughs
Creating this power system required solving complex engineering challenges. The team developed sophisticated control systems to maintain perfect balance between turbine power generation and battery usage.
“If we charge the battery too fast, problems happen. If we deplete the battery too fast, problems happen,” notes Kempley. “But we came out with something that essentially means if all the turbines die, we still keep flying. If the battery dies and the turbines are running, we still keep flying. If one or two turbines die, we still keep flying. It’s very robust in terms of resilience.”
This level of reliability is crucial for military logistics operations where failure could compromise mission-critical supplies.
The system already outperforms competitors in its class, but ISS has identified further enhancements. “We’ve already identified a new supporting turbine that takes us up to around 3-3.5 hours of flight,” Kempley notes.
Transforming Military Logistics
In the competitive landscape of heavy-lift drones, ISS has positioned itself in a unique category. Below their 250-300kg payload capability sits systems carrying 60-100kg, while above them are much larger single-rotor helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft that are around the size of shipping containers.
The potential military applications are significant, particularly for naval logistics. The system can be used for last-mile ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore transport, where Kempley notes “90% of stores between ships or even on last-mile logistics are below 150 kilos.”
Further enhancing its capabilities, ISS recently won another MOD contract under Project Morrigan to develop a universal payload release mechanism, allowing the drone to automatically pick up and deliver cargo without human intervention.
“You just land on top of your package on the deck and then take off again. You’re done. There’s no unloading or loading,” explains Kempley. “When you get to that stage, it’s many multiples quicker than current methods.”
DTEP: Making Innovation Possible
For ISS Aerospace, DASA’s DTEP funding was transformative. Founded ten years ago, the company has evolved from a small commercial business into a growing enterprise with 14 staff, projected to reach 22 by year’s end – all through organic growth.
“Developing that kind of turbine system and UAS is costly – raw materials alone are a couple hundred thousand pounds, plus hundreds of hours of man-time,” Kempley emphasises. “As a small company, we could never have afforded to just go out and decide to develop this UAS. It would have been impossible without DTEP.”
DTEP’s emphasis on commercialisation and post-project success has been particularly valuable for the SME. “There’s a lot more emphasis on commercialisation, what we’re going to do afterwards and how we’re going to make it successful”, Kempley notes.
From Concept to Flight
Funded back in September 2023, this represents the first completed DASA DTEP project, highlighting the programme’s ability to bring innovative concepts to reality quickly. The project recently culminated in successful test flights of the UAS, proving the design, and gaining valuable in-flight data, with a further demonstration planned to showcase the complete system to stakeholders. Next steps also include cosmetic additions to the platform, such as a cowling (a removable engine cover) and testing and improvement to the control and power systems before the V1 system is rolled out to end users later in 2025. For a company that began in commercial applications before gradually expanding into defence, DASA’s support has been instrumental in enabling growth and technological advancement. ISS now balances its business with approximately 60-70% defence work and 30-40% commercial applications. As drones continue revolutionising military logistics, ISS Aerospace’s innovation stands to transform how supplies move between ships and shore – making operations faster, more efficient, and ultimately more effective in supporting forces on the ground. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
29 Apr 25. Brazilian EMGEPRON and TideWise eye Brazilian MCM requirement with the Suppressor 7 USV. The Brazilian state-owned company Empresa Gerencial de Projetos Navais (EMGEPRON) is looking to place the Suppressor 7 multi-purpose unmanned surface vehicle (USV) into a requirement of the Brazilian Navy for a mine-countermeasures (MCM) capability, the company’s special adviser André Gabriel Sochaczewski told Janes. The local USV specialist TideWise Engenharia e Serviços Navais is scheduled to launch the construction of the Suppressor 7 USV for the MCM role in June, Sochaczewski said. EMGEPRON has awarded TideWise a contract worth BRL18.3m (USD3.2m) in February 2024 to build the USV. The basic design project of the Suppressor 7 was carried out in 2024, and the detailed design project is being finalised, Sochaczewski said. As the Suppressor 7 USV is equipped with a range of sensors and effectors suited for the MCM role, it can meet the Brazilian Navy requirement for an MCM system. For more information about Brazilian MCM efforts, please seeKeel laid for first Macaé-class patrol ship with MCM capability . Sochaczewski pointed out that once the USV’s construction and sea trials are completed in 2026, it will be demonstrated to the Brazilian Navy. The 7.20 m-long and 2.4 m-wide USV, displacing 4,800 kg and offering a top speed of 24 kt and a 400 nm range, consists of a hull made of naval aluminium that mounts a mast equipped with sensors for communication, navigation and identification, and bays to deploy mission systems such as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and multibeam sonar systems. (Source: Janes)
29 Apr 25. Saronic acquires Louisiana shipyard, unveils Marauder MUSV. Saronic Technologies has acquired Gulf Craft, a shipbuilder in Franklin, Louisiana, to serve as the “prototyping and production hub for its medium unmanned surface vessel (MUSV) fleet”, according to a company statement on 16 April. The acquisition has been completed, a Saronic spokesperson told Janes on 28 April, declining to disclose the terms of the deal. The acquisition provides Saronic with a “strategically located shipyard on the Gulf Coast with the infrastructure and workforce needed to develop, rapidly iterate, and scale production of its 150 ft Marauder product for both defence and commercial customers”, the spokesperson said. Gulf Craft has been building 100–200 ft aluminium hull ships for 60 years, including optionally manned vehicles, the spokesperson noted. “We will not continue to build manned vessels at the shipyard, nor does it have an existing backlog of vessels to produce. All capacity will be allocated to Saronic priorities, and the facility will serve as the prototyping and production hub for Marauder,” the spokesperson added. The shipyard will provide the “immediate capacity to meet urgent customer needs for larger autonomous vessels and the flexibility to scale to address emerging commercial and defence applications of these advanced systems”, while the company continues to look for a location for its larger, advanced Port Alpha shipyard, Dino Mavrookas, the CEO for Saronic Technologies, said in the statement. (Source: Janes)
29 Apr 25. Poland’s WB Group debuts unmanned surface vessel. WB Group unveiled a technology demonstrator of its first unmanned surface vessel (USV) during a presentation of ‘Polish-made’ unmanned systems for the Polish Ministry of National Defence on 24 April. A WB Group spokesperson told Janes that the demonstrator will be used as a testbed for the development of further solutions tailored for the Polish Navy’s requirements. The USV was designed for reconnaissance and strike missions. It will be capable of carrying other unmanned systems and exchanging data with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as other manned and unmanned vessels. The WB spokesperson said the final prototype will be 9 m long, 3.2 m wide, and 2 m high to accommodate mission modules and to fit standard rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) hangars on board the ships. The platform will be fitted with a radar, a sonar, loitering munitions, reconnaissance UAVs, remote-controlled weapons (small arms or artillery), and observation sensors. The total weight is estimated to be around 3 tonnes. The operating range is 270 n miles. This configuration will enable the USV to perform long-range patrols and critical infrastructure protection missions, accompanying manned platforms and other WB Group systems. (Source: Janes)
28 Apr 25. Silicon Valley’s Military Drone Companies Have a Serious ‘Made In China’ Problem. Pentagon leaders are calling for thousands of drones to prepare for war in the Pacific. But as Trump’s tariffs escalate tensions with China, they face an uncomfortable reality: Silicon Valley’s drone companies are addicted to Chinese components. It was the day after Mach Industries published a slick promotional video for Viper, its new military strike drone, and CEO Ethan Thornton had a problem. A few eagle-eyed viewers of the video, which Thornton had posted to social media proclaiming “Show, don’t tell,” had noticed that the drone used an engine with an uncanny resemblance to one made by a Chinese manufacturer. He’d vehemently denied that there were Chinese components in any of the company’s drones. But now Palmer Luckey, CEO of defense tech giant Anduril, had asked him a question with far less wiggle room to answer: “What about the airframe in the video?” Backed into a corner, Thornton conceded on X: “We feel comfortable blowing up Chinese components for testing purposes, Palmer,” he replied, confirming the engine’s country of origin. (Thornton told Forbes “all final production units ship without Chinese components”; Anduril and Luckey declined to comment on the exchange.) The conflict in Ukraine, rising tensions over Taiwan and the dominance of Chinese drone companies like market leader DJI have underscored the need for the U.S. military to source cheap and mass-produced drones from American and allied companies. But Thornton’s exchange highlighted an open secret in Silicon Valley: most drone companies answering the Trump administration’s America First mandate have a “Made in China” parts problem. China currently controls close to 90 percent of the global commercial drone market, and manufactures most of the key hardware used to build them – airframes, batteries, radios, cameras and screens, according to market research firm Drone Industry Insights UG. Because of its longstanding reliance on these parts, the U.S. is years behind building the manufacturing infrastructure that could come close to rivaling China’s. “We are almost completely reliant on our major adversary for them, and our ability to make them,” said Josh Steinman, who previously oversaw supply chain security at the National Security Council. It’s a reality that seems almost impossible to escape. When Vice President J.D. Vance attended a U.S. Marines drone demonstration for a photo opportunity at Quantico last month, pictures showed him wearing Chinese-made drone display goggles. (Major Hector Infante, who oversees training at Quantico, told Forbes the goggles “were not military-issued” and insisted they were provided “solely for viewing purposes”; the White House did not respond.) This addiction to Chinese parts has set off alarm bells among military officials. Several American drone companies with Pentagon contracts — including Skydio, one of the largest — are scrambling to rebuild their supply chains after Chinese sanctions cut off access to suppliers.
“China could shut [the drone industry] down globally for a year,”
Trent Emeneker, who leads a team at the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit that approves drones for military use, told Forbes.
“It’s a national security issue, not just for the United States, but for the global West.”
Some drone companies told Forbes the Pentagon’s bureaucracy has stunted the American industry’s growth. But the presence of Chinese parts has dulled Pentagon enthusiasm to adopt them at scale. For example, military purchases from Orqa, a drone company that pitched itself as “DJI of the West,” were halted after allegedly banned Chinese components were found in its products.
“Most of the western drone companies still rely on Chinese components,”
Orqa’s CEO Srdjan Kovacevic told Forbes. (He said Orqa has moved its manufacturing inhouse.)
It’s the kind of stranglehold that President Donald Trump’s tariffs are seemingly designed to break, theoretically encouraging American companies to reduce their reliance on cheaper foreign supply chains and build their own at home. But doing so will take years of research and development and significant investment. Meanwhile, China’s retaliatory tariffs are set to make components American drone makers rely on even more expensive; plans to redraft a new export system are already halting shipments of magnets, which are essential for drone motors. But regulatory efforts to force the issue, by ending imports of all Chinese drones and parts, have faced strong opposition from Chinese manufacturers and American investors alike. Responding to a proposed Commerce Department measure that is considering banning or restricting Chinese-made drones and components, venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz — which has backed drone unicorns Anduril, Skydio and Shield AI — called for a more considered response with gradual restrictions on drone parts sales from China, while simultaneously allowing for U.S. companies to continue sourcing components from the country.
“Immediately removing all foreign adversary-based sources of supply for critical drone components would have a catastrophic effect on the American drone industry,”
chief legal officer Jai Ramaswamy wrote in response to the Commerce Department last month (the firm declined to comment further).
Such a catastrophe might be what’s needed, national security experts say.
“You are going to have to pull the bandaid off at some point,” said Steinman. “And either you are going to choose or [China] will.”
Troubled by China’s advances in drone tech, the Pentagon made drone acquisitions a major priority in 2023 and announced Replicator, an initiative to fast track production and deliver thousands of mass produced, cheap drones to counter China’s arsenal. But the initiative, which is expected to deliver its first drones by August, faces an uncertain future and is one of several that drone companies say don’t go far enough to spur adoption. The primary on-ramp to drone contracts is the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), which maintains a so-called Blue List of drones that are approved for military use. The list, which is updated annually, is overseen by half a dozen employees who test hundreds of products to ensure they are free of Chinese components banned under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), like cameras, flight controllers, radios and ground control systems — mostly components that transmit a signal and could be tampered with. Companies big (Anduril) and small (Neros) have been included on the Blue List. But some drone manufacturers say it has become another bottleneck that stifles the industry. This year, just 23 companies were approved out of more than 300 submissions. San Antonio-based Darkhive was among the companies expecting to be included. After waiting for months, it learned its quadcopters hadn’t been approved when DIU issued a press release announcing the list in February.
“There was no follow up apart from, ‘try again next year,’”
CEO John Goodson told Forbes. (Darkhive maintains several Pentagon contracts through other mechanisms.)
Another company, BRINC, which has more than 700 law enforcement and public safety customers, and this month announced a $75 m funding round led by Index Ventures, was sanctioned by China last year after it attended a sales trip to Taiwan organized by the U.S. government. It didn’t make the Blue List either, and has now shifted away from its military business to focus on public safety contracts.
“It’s easier to get sanctioned by the [People’s Republic of China] than it is to get on the Blue List,”
said Andrew Cote, BRINC’s head of strategy and growth.
In December, the Pentagon halted use of drones sold by Croatia-based Orqa — which pitched itself as a Replicator solution and a “one-stop shop” for China-free components — after DIU discovered radio modules that were made in China and allegedly ran afoul of NDAA requirements, according to the company and multiple sources familiar with the matter. In addition, DIU was concerned about a Chinese company tied to Orqa through an acquisition in 2022.
“Until DJI is entirely banned, there’s not enough market to stand up a U.S. industrial base.”
Nathan Ecelbarger, U.S. National Drone Association
In response to questions, Orqa CEO Kovacevic acknowledged the modules were assembled in China, but claimed the underlying chips were made in Taiwan and Europe, and disputed that they were critical components; he said the company now makes its own modules. As for the China-based company, he claimed it wasn’t owned by Orqa but a member of Orqa’s leadership, and that its operations were moved to Europe — except for one product unrelated to drones that is still manufactured in China.
Orqa had all of its submissions to the Blue List rejected.
“What we previously thought were transparent rules, are obviously subject to very creative interpretations,” Kovacevic said. “There’s no transparency whatsoever to the process.”
The DIU’s Emeneker, who oversees the Blue List, isn’t having it.
“Companies don’t get to decide what is and is not legal under the law,” he noted. He added that the results of the recent list refresh were made in accordance with law. “There are always edge cases and hard decisions to make,” he said. “But the process was standardized and designed to provide the best options to the warfighter.”
The Pentagon bans on Chinese components don’t extend to parts like airframes, engines and batteries, but relying on them can still be risky. In October, America got a peek at what a worst case scenario might look like when China sanctioned military contractor Skydio, cutting off the battery supply for America’s largest small drone maker, which has raised more than $850m from investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Accel. The company said it wouldn’t be able to secure new suppliers until this spring, and would be forced to ration batteries.
“If there was ever any doubt, this action makes clear that the Chinese government will use supply chains as a weapon to advance their interests over ours,”
Skydio said in a statement at the time. Six months later, the company has yet to announce a new supplier; it did not respond to a request for comment.
More than a dozen other drone companies vying for Pentagon contracts — including Anduril, Shield AI, Firestorm, CyberLux and Neros — have now been sanctioned by China. Some say it hasn’t impacted their operations. Lily Hinz, a spokesperson for Shield AI, said the company doesn’t use Chinese parts, and isn’t “feeling the impact” of the sanctions. Dan Magy, the CEO of Firestorm, said his company’s drones don’t contain Chinese parts, and called the sanctions “a badge of honour.” Anduril spokesperson Shannon Prior said the sanctions had “no effect on our business” and that the company had eliminated all “direct spend from China.”
But other drone makers have had to make changes. CyberLux CEO Mark Schmidt told Forbes his company was “pro-actively shifting away from Chinese components…and scaling its North American suppliers on the production of critical parts.” He declined to comment on the related costs and timeline. Even California-based Neros, which designs and manufactures most of the critical parts for its $2,000 drones in-house, felt some pain from the December sanctions. Flush with a $35 m funding round backed by Sequoia, the company still relies on some Chinese parts.
“Getting these components has been more challenging,” said CTO Olaf Hichwa. “But this is a good forcing function to become completely free of Chinese parts.”
Military leaders, national security experts and the drone industry all seem to agree on one thing: building a China-free supply of drones relies on expelling DJI from the U.S. The Shenzhen-based company, which became the world’s largest drone maker thanks to heavy subsidies from the Chinese government and funding from American venture capital firms Accel Partners, Kleiner Perkins and the former China-based arm of Sequoia, is the most ubiquitous drone seller in America, and one of the largest suppliers of drones to farmers and police departments.
“Until DJI is entirely banned, there’s not enough market to stand up a U.S. industrial base,”
said Nathan Ecelbarger, chairman of the U.S. National Drone Association, which aims to speed up military adoption of drones.
But DJI has so far mounted a successful campaign to dodge efforts to ban its drones. It has protested the proposed Commerce Department rule to ban imports of Chinese drones and parts, calling it a move that would “significantly harm a number of U.S. stakeholders.” In October, it sued the Defense Department insisting it is not a national security threat, and it lobbied against a legislative measure that would have banned its products from entering the U.S., disclosures show. “DJI has been unfairly targeted due to its national origins,” the company said in a statement to Forbes.
In December, the legislative ban on DJI’s products was dropped from the annual military spending bill. DJI was free to continue shipping. In a statement at the time, the company thanked those who had supported its efforts to kill the ban — top among them, its American customers.
“Your support made a real difference,” DJI said. “Congressional offices paid attention and listened to what you had to say.” (Source: UAS VISION/Forbes)
28 Apr 25. BAHA UAV Officially Inducted into Turkish Land Forces Inventory! The Turkish Ministry of National Defense has announced that the Sub-Cloud Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) BAHA, which was procured in various quantities by the Land Forces Command, has successfully completed its inspection and acceptance procedures and has officially entered into the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces. Developed by HAVELSAN and inducted into the Turkish Armed Forces’ inventory in 2024, BAHA marks a significant milestone through the journey of Digital Troops which was conceptualised first in 2021. Following the earlier induction of BARKAN, the first unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) of the Digital Troops, BAHA’s integration further strengthens the Turkish military’s modernization efforts. Anticipating the requirements of future operational environments, HAVELSAN has begun to deploy its unmanned systems domestically and internationally. BAHA, an important element of this vision, achieved export successes in Africa, Central Asia, and the MENA region in 2023 and 2024 and has now been made available for use by national security forces. Demonstrating its versatility beyond military operations, BAHA was also deployed during a disaster and earthquake drill coordinated by AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Authority) for rubble reconnaissance and surveillance missions.
Speaking at the Ministry of National Defense Weekly Press Briefing, Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk emphasized the growing capabilities of the Turkish Armed Forces through indigenous defense industry products, stating, “With our domestically developed defense industry products, which aim to enhance our national and international power and influence, the capabilities of the Turkish Armed Forces continue to grow day by day. In this context, inspection and acceptance procedures for the Sub-Cloud Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (BAHA) procured by the Land Forces Command have been completed, and the systems have been inducted into our inventory.”
General Specifications of BAHA:
- Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW): 28 kg (including payload)
- Wingspan: 4 meters
- Payload Capacity: 2 kg
- Data Link Range: Up to 50 km
- Cruise Speed: 43 knots / 80 km/h
- Propulsion System: Electric Motor
- Endurance: Up to 2 hours
- Ceiling Altitude: 10,000 ft
- Operational Altitude: 8,000 ft
- Wind Resistance Limit: 25 knots
- Operating Temperature Range: -10 °C / +50 °C
Key Features of BAHA:
- Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) and Runway-Independent Mission Capability
- Sub-Cloud Operational Capability
- Transport, Operation, and Maintenance by Two Technicians
- Day and Night Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Intelligence Missions
- Operation in Jamming Environments
- Target Coordinate Estimation
- Telemetry Link Redundancy
- Autonomous Return and Landing in Case of Link Loss
- Integration with Various Mission-Specific Sensors
- Joint Operations Capability with Other Unmanned Systems
Developed with superior engineering solutions to meet the demands of modern armies, BAHA continues to enhance the operational capabilities of the Turkish Armed Forces and stands as a symbol of HAVELSAN’s commitment to technological excellence. (Source: ASD Network)
28 Apr 25. Heven Announces Acquisition of Zepher Flight Labs. Manufacturer of hydrogen-powered drones, Heven, has announced its acquisition of Zepher Flight Labs (ZFL). This acquisition represents a step forward in Heven’s strategy to enhance its technological portfolio and expand its ability to deliver mission-critical capabilities to customers across the globe. The integration of ZFL’s capabilities will add to Heven’s designs, allowing the company to broaden its vision of a drone fleet with 24/7 usability and modular adaptability. The integration of ZFL’s technology will also contribute to Heven’s ongoing commitment to providing highly flexible, durable, and efficient unmanned aerial systems (UAS) solutions.
“This acquisition strengthens our position in the market and underscores our commitment to providing the most advanced and reliable drone solutions,” said Bentzion Levinson, CEO of Heven. “With the addition of ZFL, Heven will be able to offer even more versatile systems tailored to meet the needs of our customers in defense, security, and commercial sectors.”
“We are excited to join the Heven family,” said Adam Stolz, CEO of ZFL. “Our complementary capabilities will allow us to accelerate the development of drone technologies, and together, we will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in unmanned flight.”
The acquisition comes on the heels of Heven’s February launch of Raider, a new hydrogen-powered drone platform engineered to deliver flight endurance in excess of 10 hours and support payloads up to 50 lbs with minimal downtime. This spring, the company established a partnership with Mach Industries to scale its domestic production of drones. It also launched Heven Border Solutions, a comprehensive border security platform. ZFL’s team of engineers and designers will work alongside Heven’s existing team to integrate the two companies’ technologies and ensure a seamless transition. This collaboration will strengthen Heven’s anticipated product roadmap, leading to the creation of even more efficient and capable drones for both commercial and defense customers. (Source: UAS VISION)
28 Apr 25. AEVEX Aerospace announced its selection by the U.S. Army to participate in the Launched Effects-Short Range (LE-SR) Special User Demonstration (SUD). This initiative is designed to refine the Army’s integration of advanced uncrewed systems to enhance battlefield capabilities. During the demonstration, AEVEX will showcase the Atlas Group II launched effect, a lightweight and agile system built for precision missions directly supporting frontline troops. The Atlas system demonstrates AEVEX’s ongoing focus on developing innovative technologies that address evolving threats and mission needs.
“AEVEX Aerospace is honored to collaborate with the U.S. Army in demonstrating the capabilities of our groundbreaking Atlas system,” said Brian Raduenz, CEO of AEVEX Aerospace. “Our participation in the demonstration is a great opportunity to show the ops community the realm of the possible, and it underscores our commitment to advancing the precision, autonomy, and lethality technologies that they need in the fight.”
Soldiers from various Army units, including field artillery, infantry, and aviation, will test the Atlas system to refine tactics and procedures. Their feedback will help shape how the Army uses launched effects in the future, guiding requirements and operational strategies. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
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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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