AeroVironment Inc., Simi Valley, California, was awarded a $500,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of commercial counter-unmanned aerial systems and counter small-unmanned aerial systems capabilities. Continue reading
Pentagon Establishes Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems
The Pentagon has announced the comprehensive consolidation of all Unmanned and Autonomous Systems (UxS) under a newly established, direct-report position to the Deputy Secretary of War. This strategic priority aims to rapidly accelerate the development, procurement, and fielding at scale of autonomous capabilities, which are essential to maintaining the United States’ decisive military advantage. Continue reading
Airbus and Brave1 Partner to Boost Ukrainian Defence Innovation
Airbus Defence and Space signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Brave1, Ukraine’s central government-led defence technology coordinator. Functioning as a joint innovation platform for the country’s ministries, military, and private tech sector, Brave1 serves as the main hub to fast-track cutting-edge battlefield technologies from concept to combat deployment. Continue reading
Quantum Systems Raises $1.2Bn Series D Raising Valuation to $8Bn
Quantum Systems has announced the signing of its $1.2 billion Series D financing round, valuing the company at ~ $8 billion on a post-money basis. The round was co-led by Blackstone, Noteus, Airbus and Advent, and supported by a high-calibre syndicate of crossover and long-term institutional investors including BOND, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Wellington Management, A.P. Moller Holding, and Elephant Lake Ventures, as well as existing shareholders such as Balderton and HV Capital. Continue reading
The Crew That Vanished: Doolittle’s Most Mysterious Aircraft – North American B-25 Mitchell
The Doolittle Raid is remembered as America’s first strike against Japan after Pearl Harbor, but one of its sixteen bombers followed a path unlike any of the others. Plane #8, commanded by Captain Edward York, never reached the Chinese airfields that were supposed to receive the raiders after the attack. Continue reading
Honeywell Aerospace Launches as Standalone Firm
Honeywell Aerospace began trading as an independent publicly traded company under the ticker HONA on the Nasdaq on June 29, marking the latest milestone in Honeywell International’s plan to separate into three standalone businesses focused on aerospace, industrial automation, and advanced materials. Continue reading
SOCOM Seeks a Long-Range Kamikaze Drone
U.S. Special Operations Command is looking for a small but long-range kamikaze drone. The goal is to develop an air-launched loitering munition “with an extended range and capabilities beyond the current SOPGM [Stand-Off Precision Guided Munition portfolio],” according to a June 26 SOCOM Request For Information. Continue reading
MBDA and Ukrainian Armor Announce Strategic Partnership to Develop Deep Strike and C-UAS Capabilities
MBDA and the Ukrainian defence company Ukrainian Armor have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), launching a strategic partnership discussion aimed at developing advanced defence capabilities in the fields of Deep Strike and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS).