Category Archives: Business News

Orbital UAV Signs New Contract with Textron / Lycoming

Aerosonde HQ at the US Army’s FTUAS Rodeo in February 2021

Orbital Corporation Ltd announced that it has signed a new engine development and supply agreement with Textron subsidiary, Lycoming Engines. The new agreement includes a 12-month engine development program, which will enable the integration of an Orbital UAV-designed core engine, including proprietary fuel and engine control systems, into Textron Systems’ Aerosonde program. Continue reading

Kongsberg Geospatial and Sentient Vision Partner on AI Sensor Analysis

This video still frame demonstrates how Sentient Kestrel can detect and track multiple targets based on motion

Kongsberg Geospatial, developer of the TerraLens Geospatial SDK, announced that it has partnered with Sentient Vision Systems to enable real-time analysis of sensor video data from drone-based sensors, using Sentient’s Kestrel, an AI–enabled computer vision system that provides automated object detection. Continue reading

Elistair Raises €5M for International Expansion

Elistair, a supplier of tethered drones, has raised €5M from Omnes and Starquest Capital, its historic investor. This Series B round follows an initial €2M funding round in 2018. Since its creation in 2014, Elistair’s solutions have already been deployed by military forces and national security agencies in over 65 countries. Continue reading

Nordic Unmanned Enters European Fixed Wing Drone Market with Textron

Nordic Unmanned has teamed up with Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. company, to enter the fixed wing segment of the European drone market. The first commercial opportunity for the team is already targeted, as Nordic Unmanned is competing for a contract with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) with Textron Systems as its supplier of platform and lifecycle support. Continue reading

Textron Sets Up eAviation Division

Bell Nexus electric air taxi

Textron is formalizing its presence in the electric aircraft market with the formation of a new division called eAviation. The company confirmed that long-time senior executive Rob Scholl has been named to head the unit in a senior v-p role that reports directly to Textron chairman and CEO Scott Donnelly. Scholl previously was the senior v-p of sales and marketing at Textron Aviation. Continue reading

airBaltic and LMT to Collaborate on Drone Innovations

Latvian national airline airBaltic and LMT have signed an agreement for collaboration within the drone industry. The agreement foresees a joined development of various drone solutions overseen by general aviation and the development of LMT’s learning program for drone pilots. Both companies will also collaborate on testing the mobile network coverage in the air space. Continue reading