Japan has attained official observer status on the Eurodrone project, the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) announced on 30 November. Continue reading
Lithuania to Receive Switchblade Kamikaze Drones Next Year
American Switchblade 600 combat drones will be delivered to Lithuania next year, the Lithuanian Defence Ministry said on Saturday. Wahid Nawabi, CEO of AeroVironment, confirmed the news to Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas who is currently in the United States. Continue reading
PG&E Hosts Utility Drone Operations Conference
Pacific Gas and Electric Company convened hundreds of certified drone pilots, industry collaborators, community partners, and federal stakeholders in San Ramon, California for a conference exploring the usage of unmanned aerial systems for utility operations. Continue reading
Drones Protect Wind Turbines from Ice
Damp, cold conditions are the enemy of wind power. If a layer of ice forms on the rotor blades, this can result in rotational imbalance and, hence, increased wear. In such cases, the turbines often have to be shut down for several days, leading to massive losses for the operators due to the pause in electricity production. Now, for the first time, a Fraunhofer team has succeeded in using drones to protect rotor blades against ice. Continue reading
Finnish Companies Suspected of Smuggling Drones to Russia
Two Finnish companies are suspected of having exported drones and other military products worth over three million euros ($3.25 million) to Russia in violation of EU sanctions, Finnish customs authorities said Tuesday. Continue reading
Airbus Picks Kenya for First HAPS Drone Hub
AALTO HAPS Ltd. aims to deploy its Zephyr aircraft that can stay aloft for days at a time from four or five bases around the world, starting with the operational hub in Laikipia County in Kenya early next year, Samer Halawi, the unit’s chief executive officer said in an interview in Nairobi. Continue reading
FAA Launches 2023 Holiday “12 Days of Drones” Safety Campaign
The FAA is launching its 12 Days of Drones campaign to educate people about the rules, regulations and best practices of operating a drone. This December, the agency will share important drone-safety information and resources that will help future pilots stay up to date with the latest rules.
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Kratos Gets $23M US Navy XQ-58A Contract
Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems Inc., Sacramento, California, is awarded a $22,913,358 modification (P00006) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N0042123C0010). Continue reading