Russia’s Azimut company, part of the state-owned Rostec defense conglomerate, has begun field testing a new domestically developed reconnaissance drone produced with additive manufacturing technology. Continue reading
Author Archives: The Editor
AeroVironment Unveils Next Generation of Switchblade Loitering Munitions
– AeroVironment, Inc., a leading global provider of loitering munition systems, announced the expansion of its combat-proven Switchblade family of precision loitering munitions with three new systems: the Switchblade 600 Block 2, the Switchblade 400, and the Switchblade 300 Block 20 equipped with a modular explosively formed penetrator (EFP) payload. Continue reading
AOPA Pushes Back on Conditional Right of Way for Drones
While pilots have sought to maintain maneuverability-based right-of-way rules, along with shared responsibility for see-and-avoid, as drones are integrated into the national airspace system, the nascent drone industry has struggled to develop cost-effective ways to enable unmanned aircraft to detect other objects around them. Continue reading
UK Seeks Strike and Refuelling Drone for Aircraft Carriers
The UK’s Ministry of Defence has published a preliminary market engagement notice under Project VANQUISH, seeking industry views on a new “Fixed Wing Short Take Off and Landing Autonomous Collaborative Platform” (FW STOL ACP) for Royal Navy carriers. Continue reading
Ukrainian Solution to Fiber-Optic Drones
The Ukrainian military has begun deploying special engineering barriers to prevent fiber-optic drones from flying behind the front line. The idea behind the simple engineering design, which consists of a stretched barbed wire, is to break the fiber-optic cable that gets on it by rotating the barb around its axis. Continue reading
Ukraine and Netherlands will Co-Produce Drones – Volodymyr Zelenskyy
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the Minister of Defence of the Netherlands, Ruben Brekelmans. Following the meeting, the Defence Ministers of both countries signed the Memorandum of Understanding concerning the Co-Production of drones. Continue reading
Lumberjack Jet-Powered Modular Missile is Possible Armament for XQ-58 Valkyrie Drones
– Northrop Grumman has been doing detailed design work that lays a path to air-launching its Lumberjack loitering one-way attack drone from Kratos’ stealthy XQ-58 Valkyrie uncrewed aircraft. Multiple manned and unmanned aircraft are being eyed as potential platforms for employing Lumberjack, which is already being tested in surface-launched modes and will have the ability to drop its own smaller precision munitions. Continue reading
Rheinmetall to Supply Ukraine with Skyranger 35 on Leopard 1 Chassis Financed by Frozen Russian Assets
– Rheinmetall is supplying Ukraine with further Skyranger 35 air defence systems based on the Leopard 1. The order is worth a three-digit million Euro figure. The systems are being financed by an EU country through the proceeds from frozen Russian assets. The production and integration of the systems will be carried out by Rheinmetall Italia SpA at its headquarters in Rome. Continue reading