Xtend Raises $40m after Drone Success in Gaza
Israeli assault and surveillance drone manufacturer Xtend has completed a $40 million Series B financing round after the drones it has developed have proven their capabilities in the Gaza war in dense urban fighting by IDF units. The company has not disclosed its valuation in the financing round but according to industry sources its valuation has risen to $110 million. Continue reading
Police Credit Drone Technology for Retail Theft Clearance Rate
The Bensalem Police Department (Pennsylvania) is now using drones to search for suspects wanted for retail theft. Investigators say it’s giving them a much-needed leg up when it comes to making arrests. Continue reading
Verizon Frontline and NOAA to Partner on Advanced Disaster Response Research
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Verizon Frontline have signed a three-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to explore new strategies to rapidly deploy uncrewed aircraft systems to collect and distribute imagery of damage resulting from severe storms such as tornadoes or hurricanes. Continue reading
GA-ASI Developing New ABAD Pod for Battlefield Awareness and Defense
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. is working with the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to develop a new Airborne Battlespace Awareness and Defense (ABAD) capability. Continue reading
Aurora Flight Sciences Gets $8M DARPA Liberty Lifter Development Contract
Aurora Flight Sciences, Manassas, Virginia, has been awarded an $8,310,000 modification (P00009) to cost-plus-fixed-fee contract HR0011-23-C0013 to extend the current work under the Liberty Lifter program. Continue reading
Skyports Expands in UAE with New Partnership with Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority (RAKTA) and Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) have taken a significant move towards transforming tourism and transportation in the Emirate by signing a future-forward Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Skyports Infrastructure (Skyports), the company developing vertiport infrastructure for electric air taxi services. Continue reading
Flying Wedge Defence Unveils India’s First Indigenous Bomber UAV
Flying Wedge Defence, a Bengaluru-based defense and aerospace technology firm, recently revealed the FWD-200B, India’s inaugural indigenous bomber unmanned aircraft. With a focus on cost-effectiveness and self-reliance, the firm aims to position India as a leader in innovative defense solutions. Continue reading