06 Jun 25. French Army Trials Mobile Micro Factory Producing FPV Drones on Front Line. According to information published by the French Army on the social network X on June 2, 2025, an unprecedented field trial is underway involving a mobile micro-factory capable of producing drones directly at the front line. This autonomous system, developed by the Périgueux-based start-up Per Se Systems, allows the production of an FPV (first-person view) drone in just three hours per 3D printer. With multiple printers operating simultaneously within the trailer-based facility, the system can deliver up to ten drones per hour, enabling a steady and localized supply without relying on traditional industrial logistics chains. Founded in 2023 by Paul Pelletier and Julian Faraut, Per Se Systems quickly positioned itself within the domain of lightweight combat technologies. Following a demonstration of their drone to the 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment, the two founders were contacted by the 17th Artillery Group to develop a mobile micro-factory designed to produce a target drone for training purposes. The SL450 prototype, developed within a few weeks, is capable of autonomous flight and simulating moving targets for live-fire exercises. The micro-factory, compact and mobile, was designed to operate in complete autonomy. Powered by a generator, it offers 19 hours of continuous operation. It includes features adapted to operational environments, such as integrated air conditioning, a smoke extractor to ensure safe working conditions, and a solar panel providing discreet lighting. The entire system is designed to be towed by a light vehicle, eliminating the need for heavy transport equipment such as trucks with hydraulic arms. Per Se Systems developed this solution with a focus on emergency use and operational resilience, enabling military forces or industrial partners to manufacture drones close to human and technical resources, independent of fixed infrastructure. A civilian version under study could be deployed in vehicles, urban locations, or temporary structures to meet immediate production needs. The company has filed several patents in France and abroad covering integration and guidance systems and states its intention to move away from Chinese-origin components used in initial prototypes by developing a fully modified, domestically sourced version. Currently collaborating with twelve French Army regiments and involved in four confidential development programs, Per Se Systems reflects an emerging trend in field-oriented tactical innovation. Supported by the command of the 17th Artillery Group, this initiative represents a shift in doctrine concerning military production under degraded conditions. It illustrates a strategic move toward mobile, modular, and rapidly deployable tactical manufacturing capabilities within high-intensity operational environments. This approach addresses a growing need in modern conflicts: fast, autonomous, and decentralized production of tactical drones, particularly FPV models considered single-use or expendable on the battlefield. The ability to print and assemble a drone within three hours, without dependence on vulnerable or saturated industrial supply lines, provides a clear operational advantage by ensuring continuity in action. It also shortens the gap between tactical need and equipment availability while enabling forces to respond to rapidly evolving conditions. The war in Ukraine has highlighted the scale of this phenomenon. In certain frontline sectors, forces reportedly consume several hundred FPV drones per day, reaching up to 10,000 units per month according to some estimates. Used for low-cost precision strikes against vehicles, personnel, or entrenched positions, these drones have become an essential tool in close combat. However, the intensity of their use has also revealed a structural limitation: the inability of centralized production systems to meet sustained demand. In response, many actors on the ground have turned to local, flexible, and improvised production methods, like the concept now being tested by Per Se Systems. In this context, the French micro-factory concept aligns with a distributed warfare model, where the ability to produce rapidly, anywhere, and independently becomes as strategically important as technological superiority. Nevertheless, if this solution were to be sustained long-term, production capacity would need to be significantly scaled up to meet the actual requirements of the armed forces. (Source: UAS VISION/Army Recognition)
06 Jun 25. Lockheed Martin and IBM’s Red Hat Team to Develop Smart Drone Swarms. When seconds matter, real-time software updates can make or break a mission. That’s why Lockheed Martin teamed up with Red Hat to accelerate the rapid deployment of swarm autonomy technologies, enabling software updates to make unmanned aerial systems smarter at scale in tactical environments. Lockheed Martin, using technologies from Red Hat, is creating swarms that can detect and respond to emerging threats in real-time with an open architecture approach that allows the best of commercial, defense, and non-traditional suppliers to build game-changing solutions into the system as new technologies become available. Lockheed Martin is combining Red Hat Device Edge’s (RHDE) containerization capability and lightweight modular architecture with Lockheed Martin autonomous swarm operations on the Skunk Works’s Indago 4 Uncrewed Aerial System, a tactical quadcopter that provides 360-degree reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities. By adding new AI and machine learning to this trusted platform, customers can now deploy smarter swarms capable of multi-step tasking and mission re-tasking in complex environments. This work helps enable Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles to receive updated software modules on-the-fly, transforming the way we manage and update edge devices like UAVs. This approach allows the UAS swarms to travel farther and faster, strengthening deterrence and ensuring the security and best capabilities for the warfighter. By leveraging open architecture, Lockheed Martin can integrate capabilities from a wide range of collaborators, including Red Hat, to deliver a robust and adaptable defense system. Lockheed Martin’s advancements in UAS technologies, combined with the ability to deliver autonomy at scale, demonstrates the successful integration of multiple systems to provide our customer with solutions that are ahead of their need. (Source: UAS VISION)
06 Jun 25. RN Merlin completes ‘hybrid’ teaming trial with Puma UAS. The UK Royal Navy (RN) announced on 30 May that it has completed an initial trial designed to demonstrate manned/unmanned aviation teaming for the interdiction of suspect shipping. Performed from the tanker RFA Tidespring in the Atlantic during May, the trial involved a Merlin HM2 helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) and a Puma AE unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operated by 700X NAS. Puma AE flights parented by 700X NAS are deployed on a number of RN warships but to date have been tasked independently, or only employed with other unmanned assets. For the purposes of the trial, the Merlin helicopter switched off its Blue Kestrel surveillance radar and instead relied on the Puma UAS and its controllers onboard Tidespring to ‘silently’ close on ‘suspect’ vessels. Manufactured by AeroVironment, the Puma AE is able to gather and relay electro-optical/infrared imagery for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). RFA Tidespring is part of the UK’s CSG25 carrier strike group deployment (Operation ‘Highmast’) to the Indo-Pacific. The trial was the first time that a small UAS had functioned as the ‘flying eyes’ for an RN helicopter on operations, the service said. (Source: Janes)
06 Jun 25. Kratos and General Electric formalise deal to build future UAV engines. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) builder Kratos and engine manufacturer General Electric (GE) signed an agreement to build engines for “the next generation of affordable unmanned aerial systems and Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)-type aircraft”, according to a 3 June announcement by Kratos. The contract formalises a memorandum of understanding (MOU) announced in 2024.
The contract covers design and manufacture of two engines, the GEK800 and GEK1500, intended to generate 800 lb (3.55 kN) and 1,500 lb (3.67 kN) of thrust respectively. Kratos has produced at least one GEK800 prototype, which underwent simulated high-altitude testing at GE’s engine test facility in Evendale, Ohio.
“We’re thrilled to continue our collaboration with Kratos and accelerate development across various classes of unmanned systems,” said Amy Gowder, president for Defense and Systems at GE Aerospace.
Kratos declined to specify whether the engines were intended to power a specific UAV design. The company is not participating in the ongoing US Air Force (USAF) CCA contest, which was in April 2024 downselected to the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) YFQ-42A and Anduril YFQ-44A, but is likely to submit a design for CCA Increment 2, which is currently in the definition phase. Neither current CCA competitor has disclosed which engine powers their UAVs, but they are likely larger than the GEK series. Kratos told Janes on 4 June that its goal is to produce GEK-series engines for “somewhere in the range of roughly USD200,000 per unit”. Kratos is best known for building the XQ-58A Valkyrie, which is powered by a Williams FJ33 engine that puts out 2,000 lb of thrust. (Source: Janes)
05 Jun 25. PDW Advances Modular FPV Drone Technology for Tactical Operations. PDW has unveiled the AM-FPV, a modular, attritable drone designed to support front-line forces with rapid deployment and multi-mission capabilities. Performance Drone Works (PDW), a developer of rugged autonomous drones, is advancing small drone capabilities from a first-person view with its Attritable Multirotor FPV (AM-FPV). The AM-FPV was developed to meet the growing needs of front-line forces and first responders as they begin to adopt organic FPV assets. The system supports both kinetic and intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) missions in a single flexible platform. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has underscored the importance of drones that can be deployed quickly. In response, the AM-FPV was designed for rapid assembly, under 120 seconds, without the need for tools or soldering. This allows operators to quickly build, repair, and redeploy in the field. Featuring swappable arms and a universal mount, the AM-FPV is a modular system designed for adaptability and mission flexibility. It is suited for precision strikes, with both anti-personnel and anti-material capabilities, even in harsh conditions and contested environments. Optimized for both daytime and nighttime operations, the system includes IR and LED illumination to provide a clear sight picture in various scenarios. The war in Ukraine has illustrated how cost-effective, weaponized drones produced at scale are influencing the battlefield. Many militaries are now seeking similar capabilities. PDW aims to manufacture attritable drone systems at scale and at a lower cost compared to conventional alternatives. This approach supports front-line forces that require reliable and adaptable tools for multi-domain operations.
Ryan Gury, PDW co-founder and CEO, stated, “In this new era of warfare, the name of the game is delivering increased lethality, manufactured at scale for minimal investment. We’re doing just that. As General Fenton recently testified to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Special Operations Forces are prioritizing attritable, affordable uncrewed systems that can be employed at scale. Current conflicts around the globe are shaping the way militaries view and use drones. As a result, drones have become a new form of artillery.
“To put it simply, our customers want quality, hardened, reliable systems at scale. It’s our duty to ensure we exceed these requirements. We’ve continually refined and flown our FPV to its limits to ensure failure isn’t an option when it gets in the hands of our warfighters.”
PDW, also known for the C100 sUAS, is applying its experience to the FPV domain with the AM-FPV, which builds on the design of the Drone Racing League (DRL) Racer Series FPV. With over a decade of design iteration and operational use in contested electronic environments, the AM-FPV reflects the input of experienced FPV engineers and U.S. Special Operations Forces veterans. The result is a tactical system intended to give military operators and first responders a practical advantage in high-stakes scenarios. (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)
03 Jun 25. US DIU’s Project GI targets rapid UAS deployment. The prize pool will be awarded across three design reference missions: FPV Effects, Kill Chain and Emerging problem set. The US Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has launched Project GI, a new initiative aimed at accelerating the deployment of uncrewed systems (UxS) to fulfil immediate operational needs of today’s military forces. This initiative represents a streamlined approach designed to expedite the process of discovering, evaluating, refining, and ultimately incorporating “ready now” uncrewed technologies on a large scale. The focus of this project is primarily on uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and their associated equipment.
DIU director Doug Beck said: “Today, warfighters lack the uncrewed systems needed to train for combat and prevail if called upon to use them. DIU is laser focused on getting best-of-breed technology in the hands of the warfighter today and scaling it for training, adoption, and readiness. Our team continues to partner with military operators for hands on testing, evaluation, and feedback. Doing this at speed will in turn help catalyse the necessary scaling and readiness through major acquisition and training efforts across the Services that will deliver strategic impact – and will simultaneously support the flywheel of American private sector dynamism in delivering against that strategic need.”
Project GI will build on existing acquisition programmes by integrating feedback from end-users and shortening traditionally long delivery schedules. The initiative will leverage high technical readiness level solutions from the small and medium uncrewed system industry, prioritising platforms that are readily adaptable to military requirements. Submissions for Project GI will be accepted until 31 December 2025. A substantial prize pool, totalling up to $20m, is set to be distributed across three design reference missions (DRM) namely, FPV Effects, Kill Chain and Emerging problem set. FPV Effects, the first DRM, addresses the operational need for deploying kinetic effects in environments where access is restricted or denied. The second DRM seeks to expedite the kill chain process for small, agile units operating in contested and denied areas. Details regarding the third DRM are forthcoming and will be published as part of the project’s ongoing development efforts. According to DIU, proposals should include mature, mission-ready capabilities that can undergo live evaluations within three months of this solicitation’s issue date. The DIU plans to conduct a series of evaluations with each “iteration” targeting a distinct DRM. These iterations will consider the particular mission context, operational constraints, and desired attributes relevant to each DRM. To facilitate this process, each iteration will adhere to a three-phase competitive framework. In December 2024, DIU deputy director Aditi Kumar confirmed that the department is on schedule with its plan to deploy a vast array of autonomous systems across various combat arenas as part of the Replicator 1 initiative. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
03 Jun 25. UK SDR 2025: MoD focusing on new Digital Targeting Web. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is in the process of developing a new digital battlefield system called Digital Targeting Web, based on lessons learned from Ukraine, Gaza, and other conflicts, a defence official told Janes on 2 June. The system aims to expand integration across all domains through a secure, cloud-based data system managed by artificial intelligence (AI) and supported by a common synthetic environment, according to the official. The principle behind this is to connect any sensor, whether it be in space, air, on the surface, or below the surface, to a full range of effectors. The UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR), published on 2 June, outlines the system as an integrated force between any “sensors, effectors, deciders, and the common data fabric”. Deciders analyse information including through human-machine teaming, and the common data fabric gathers and sends out information across sensors, deciders, and effectors, according to the SDR. An example of the battlespace system’s operation featured in the SDR describes how a sensor on a ship or in space could be used to identify a threat, then target and destroy it by using an aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicle or via a cyber operation. (Source: Janes)
03 Jun 25. New Technology to Wirelessly Power Drones in Flight. A research group led by Takayuki Matsumuro, a researcher at the Wave Engineering Laboratory of the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) in Japan, has developed a new technology for wirelessly transmitting power to drones in flight. This technology forms a special beam called an “air-core beam” *1 ), which can supply power to drones without affecting their cameras and other equipment (Figure 1). In an experiment, the power transmitted using the air-core beam was converted to direct current, and the group succeeded in lighting only LEDs located away from the center of the drone (Figure 2). The fact that the central LED was not lit confirmed that interference had been avoided. This technology will be the foundation for supplying power to drones in flight while they carry out various missions, and it is expected that wireless power transmission will be put to practical use and applied to a variety of fields in the future. The results of this research will be exhibited at Wireless Japan x Wireless Technology Park (WTP) 2025, which will be held at Tokyo Big Sight from May 28, 2025.
Research Background
As drones are increasingly being implemented in society, they are expected to be used in a variety of fields, including watching sports, logistics, agriculture, and even collecting information and restoring communications during disasters. However, drones have a limited battery capacity and a short continuous flight time (approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour). To solve this problem, this study proposes a wireless power transmission system using microwaves. However, to transmit power wirelessly, a “rectenna” *2 must be installed at the bottom of the drone to receive the power. This causes problems such as radio and physical interference with the drone’s mission equipment, such as cameras.
Solution Method
In this study, we developed a wireless power transfer system that uses a special beam called an “air-core beam” to solve the interference problem during power transfer. First, we designed the amplitude and phase distribution required to form an air-core beam based on the transmission distance and the size of the transmitting and receiving antennas. Based on this design, we developed a transmitting antenna with a diameter of 30 cm that can generate an air-core beam in the 24 GHz band. In addition, we developed a lightweight rectenna with a size of 5 cm square as the receiving side, and placed 19 of them in a flat shape on the bottom of the drone. Each rectenna was equipped with an LED so that the location where power was transferred could be confirmed by light. To evaluate the performance of this system, we installed a rectenna panel 1 m away from the transmitting antenna and conducted an experiment (Figure 4). As a result, we confirmed that the LEDs around the center of the drone were lit up without affecting the center of the drone (Figure 2 above). In the future, it is expected that the development of even larger transmission antennas will enable wireless power transmission over longer distances and with greater power.
Future Outlook
The results of this research showed that it is possible to create an area in the center of the beam where interference can be avoided in a wireless power transmission system. This technology will fundamentally solve the problem of interference between the power transmission and the camera and various mission equipment mounted on the drone. This technology is an important step towards realizing drones that can fly for long periods of time and perform various missions by transmitting power from the ground. It is also expected to be applied to various fields, including long-distance wireless power transmission.
Terminology
*1) Air-core beam: A special beam in which the intensity at the center where the radio waves are transmitted is zero. It has a swirling phase distribution and is also called the orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode or Laguerre-Gaussian mode.
*2) Rectenna: A device that receives microwaves and converts them into DC power. A portmanteau of “rectifying” and “antenna,” it is used as the power receiving side of wireless power transmission systems.
(Source: UAS VISION/Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International)
03 Jun 25. UK/Latvia Led Drone Coalition Allocates $3BN to Support Ukraine – Turkey and Belgium to Join. On Wednesday, May 28, during the Drone Summit, Minister of Defence of Republic of Latvia Andris Sprūds announced that Turkey and Belgium have expressed their intention to join the international Drone Coalition led by Latvia and the United Kingdom in support of Ukraine.
Coalition member states have also committed to allocating €2.75bn (USD 3.1bn) this year to support Ukraine.
“The international Drone Coalition is becoming increasingly stronger – we will be able to deliver more drones to Ukraine while simultaneously strengthening the defence industries of Latvia, the EU, and NATO countries. Our strength lies in unity, so new allies joining the coalition will enable us to provide Ukraine with the much-needed support in its fight against the aggressor,” emphasized defence minister Sprūds.
The defence minister also noted that coalition member states have collectively contributed approximately €180 m to the UK-led joint Drone Coalition procurement fund. Fund is intended for centralized drone technology procurements alongside each coalition member state’s national support measures. Latvia’s planned support within the Drone Coalition this year is €20 m, allocated for drone purchases, with an additional €10 m earmarked for cooperation projects between Latvian and Ukrainian industries. Last year, Latvia also allocated €20 m for Ukraine support, delivering nearly 5,000 combat drones of various capacities. Since the Drone Coalition’s establishment on February 14, 2024, its member states have provided significant support to Ukraine – reaching €1.8bn in 2024 alone. In 2025, a total of €2.75bn is planned to be allocated for Ukraine’s support, meaning that over two years the coalition has allocated €4.5bn to Ukraine. Drone coalition consists of 18 official member states that have signed the Letter of Intent: Latvia, the United Kingdom, Australia, Czechia, Denmark, France, Estonia, Italy, New Zealand, Canada, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Ukraine, Germany and Sweden. According to the Drone Coalition’s memorandum of understanding, the admission of new countries must be agreed upon by existing coalition member states. With Belgium and Turkey joining, the Drone Coalition will encompass 20 countries. (Source: UAS VISION/Latvia MoD)