DARPA has awarded prime contracts for Phase 2 of Tern, a joint programme between DARPA and the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research (ONR). The goal of Tern is to give forward-deployed small ships the ability to serve as mobile launch and recovery sites for medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
Category Archives: Business News
SAAB Teams with Reliance Defence for Indian Navy UAS
SAAB has tied up with Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence and Aerospace to bid for the ship-borne unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programme of the Indian Navy, valued at 1,000 crore ($160M).
Armed UAV Exports Limited Despite Demand
An arms transfer study from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) claims that only the UK and Nigeria have been the recipients of armed unmanned air vehicles, despite “widespread interest” in their acquisition. Continue reading
Boeing to Conduct Unmanned Systems Demos in Denmark
Boeing will conduct Denmark’s first-ever beyond visual line of sight unmanned airborne system (UAS) flights under civilian authority in May, another aspect of a partnership with Hans Christian Andersen Airport designed to help Denmark become an unmanned aerial systems leader.
Cottonwood Euro Technology Fund Invests €1.6 million in Clear Flight Solutions
The Cottonwood Euro Technology Fund, the American-based seed and early-stage fund who opened its first European fund in Enschede, is investing 1.6 million Euros in Clear Flight Solutions, a robotics drone spin-off company from the University of Twente. With this investment Clear Flight Solutions will focus on becoming worldwide market leader in bird control solutions with their lifelike robotic birds. Continue reading
VC Funding to Drones Tops $100M in 2014
According to CB Insights data, investment in 2014 to the nascent drone industry topped $108M across 29 deals. Year-over-year funding increased 104% as venture firms including Lightspeed Venture Partners, GGV Capital and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers among others jumped into the drone space with sizable bets. Continue reading
DJI Will Hit $1Billion Sales in 2015
Over the last two years Da-Jiang Innovations, better known as DJI, has emerged as the world’s most popular consumer drone maker, at least by revenue. And The Verge has learned that the company is currently in talks with Silicon Valley’s top venture capital firms to potentially raise a new round of funding.
Strat Aero Raises £660,000 for UAV Opportunities
Strat Aero has raised £660,000, before expenses, through the issue of 7,333,334 new ordinary shares at 9p per share. Strat Aero says this funding marks a significant step for the company as it continues to realise its strategy of capitalising on commercial opportunities across the rapidly growing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sector. Continue reading