The War Department issued an RFI earlier this week to gauge industry’s willingness and ability to make some 300,000 drones quickly and inexpensively. Continue reading
US Launches One-Way-Attack Drone Force in the Middle East
On Dec. 3, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced a new task force for the U.S. military’s first one-way-attack drone squadron based in the Middle East. Continue reading
Ukraine’s Upsized FPV Drone Built for Heavier, Harder-Hitting Warheads
Ukraine’s drone makers are boosting frontline firepower with a new first-person view (FPV) drone designed for heavier payloads. Developed by Ptashka Drones, the 18-inch (46-centimeter) platform is reportedly the first of its size to enter full mass production in Ukraine. Continue reading
NASA Tests Drones in Death Valley, Preps for Martian Sands and Skies
When NASA engineers want to test a concept for exploring the Red Planet, they have to find ways to create Mars-like conditions here on Earth. Then they test, tinker, and repeat. Continue reading
Refunds Demanded After ‘Awful’ Christmas Drone Show
People who travelled to a Christmas drone show in West Sussex in England are demanding refunds after describing the event as “awful” and “shockingly poor”. Continue reading
NAVAIR Selects 4 Vendors to Compete for Drone ISR Basic Ordering Agreements
The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command’s program executive office for unmanned aviation and strike weapons has revealed plans to issue delivery orders under four basic ordering agreements to support land and sea-based unmanned aerial system contractor-owned, contractor-operated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, services. Continue reading
Russian Shahed-136 Kamikaze Drones now Armed with Air-to-Air Missiles
Russia has fielded a new version of the Shahed-136 kamikaze drone armed with a single R-60 air-to-air missile. In principle, the heat-seeking R-60 would give the one-way attacker a way to engage Ukrainian fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, and creates a deterrent threat, but the effectiveness of this combination is unclear. Continue reading
Croatia’s Orqa Scales Production Capacity to 280,000 Drones, Eliminating Chinese Drone Tech
– Orqa, a leading European developer of FPV (first-person view) and unmanned aerial systems (UAS), has significantly expanded manufacturing at its headquarters in Osijek, Croatia. The facility can now produce up to 280,000 NDAA-compliant drones per year using Orqa’s proprietary components, eliminating dependence on Chinese supply chains. Continue reading