Intel is bringing the first drone light show to the Las Vegas Strip this week with nightly performances at the iconic Fountains of Bellagio during CES 2018. Audiences will experience the magic of Intel technology as a fleet of 250 Intel Shooting Star drones light up the sky, integrated with the Fountains of Bellagio to a licensed rendition of the song “Stargazing” by artist Kygo. Continue reading
Materion’s Aluminum Beryllium AlBeMet Selected for MS-177 Sensor
Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk
Materion Corporation has been awarded a contract by UTC Aerospace Systems for AlBeMet metal matrix composite parts for its MS-177 long-range, multi-spectral imaging (MSI) sensor. The sensor is currently undergoing integration testing and qualification for the Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global Hawk Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). Continue reading
UVision Successfully Demonstrates Hero-400EC Extended-Range Loitering System
UVision Air Ltd. has successfully demonstrated the Hero-400EC extended-range loitering system for a strategic customer. The demonstration, which took place in southern Israel in December 2017, proved the tracking and lock-on capabilities of the system using a moving vehicle and a human target in various operational scenarios as well as its mission-abort capabilities. The ability to strike a target with exceptional precision was also demonstrated. Continue reading
Drones Attack Russian Air Base, Naval Facility In Syria
Russia says 13 armed drones have recently been used to attack its air base and its naval facility in western Syria. The Russian Defense Ministry said on January 8 that there were no casualties or damage as a result of the attacks on the Hmeimim air base and Tartus naval facility. Continue reading
Kittyhawk Announces Automated Flights for Enterprise Drone Operations Platform
Kittyhawk, a supplier of commercial drone operations software, has announced new features to its best-in-class platform. Kittyhawk is adding an automated flight system to their Flight Deck feature set to work in conjunction with its recently released secure live streaming feature.
The new automation features allow operators to plan missions in the Kittyhawk mobile application and then execute the entire flight from takeoff to landing with unlimited waypoints. Like all Kittyhawk features, great care has been taken to create a safe and useful user experience. The app has incorporated safety features to ensure that operators are not able to initiate an automated flight to a place beyond the range of the radio and drone; like trying to launch a mission in California when you’re currently in New York. The Kittyhawk software uses the geolocation of the operator to show only flights that are possible to complete — avoiding potentially expensive and dangerous mistakes. Continue reading
Pentagon Seeks Laser-Powered Bat Drones
Raytheon Partners with Department 13 on Anti-Drone Technology
Department 13 chief executive Jonathan Hunter
Australia’s Department 13, has teamed up with major global defence contractor Raytheon Company to market and support Department 13’s MESMER counter drone solution and co-develop new technologies. A counter drone solution, Department 13’s patented MESMER product can be integrated into security and surveillance systems to detect and mitigate dangerous drones which may be used in malicious acts including war and espionage. Continue reading
General Atomics Gets $14M USAF MQ-9 Datalink Contract
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, has been awarded a $14,151,324 cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price undefinitized contract action modification (P00021) to a previously awarded contract (FA8620-16-C-3003) for the MQ-9 Block 5 kits, to include extended-range kits, beyond-line-of-sight kits and Barrett Asymmetrical Digital Datalink Computer Routers. Continue reading