Defense tech startup Shield AI has expanded its latest funding round with another $300 million in equity and debt, bringing its total Series F to $500 million, TechCrunch has exclusively learned. Continue reading
Buddhist Priest in Japan Organises FPV Drone Races Through Temple
Drone technology has advanced significantly in recent years, with uses ranging from transportation to military operations. Drones are also increasingly popular among leisure users. This report highlights a Buddhist priest who hopes his love of drones will help revitalize his community Continue reading
Russia’s Zala Aero Unveils Izdeliye 55 Kamikaze Drone Invulnerable to Electronic Warfare Systems
On January 2, 2024, the Russian-based ZALA Group unveiled their latest development, the “Izdeliye 55” loitering munition or kamikaze drone for deployment in Ukraine. Continue reading
AeroVironment Gets $65M US Army Switchblade Contract
AeroVironment Inc., Simi Valley, California, was awarded a $65,402,691 modification (P00036) to contract W31P4Q-20-C-0024 for the Switchblade weapon system. Continue reading
NASA Collaborates with JAXA to use Drones for Disaster Recovery Drill
NASA has partnered with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, to successfully demonstrate the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems on a use case to support emergency response and disaster recovery activities. Continue reading
What Happened to Drone Delivery and What Can We Learn From It?
Despite all of the excitement and all of the big investment in drone programs, we still don’t have drone delivery in most places. Food’s still being dropped off by gig drivers, and nobody’s getting a new iPhone 18XXL dropped onto their lawns. If anything, packages and deliveries happen slower than they did before. Continue reading
Anduril Gets $31M US Air Force SkyFence Contract
Anduril Industries Inc., Costa Mesa, California, was awarded a $31,115,802 firm-fixed-price delivery order for Wide-Area Infrared System for Persistence Surveillance SkyFence. Continue reading
Drastic Increase in US Army Coyote Drone Interceptor Purchase Plans
The U.S. Army plans to substantially increase its arsenal of Coyote counter-drone interceptors, as well as associated launchers and radars, in the next five years or so. The service says it wants to buy 6,000 jet-powered Block 2 variants, which carry an explosive warhead to destroy their target, and 700 more Block 3 versions that utilize an unspecified “non-kinetic” payload.