Author Archives: The Editor

MAXAR Launches Raptor Drone Software to Beat GPS Jammers

Maxar Intelligence, a provider of secure, precise geospatial insights, has launched Raptor, a powerful software suite that enables autonomous drones to navigate and extract accurate ground coordinates in the absence of GPS. This technology transforms the resilience and reliability of unmanned systems, enabling autonomy at scale across warfighting, humanitarian and commercial operations for customers across the world. Continue reading

10 Ukrainian Drone Makers to Watch

In the three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Ukraine has almost certainly become the largest producer of drones in the Western-aligned world. Early workshop tinkering on mainly commercial Chinese drones evolved into steadily more professional and massive production of domestic unmanned aerial systems (UAVs). The industry’s rapid growth has given Ukraine a fighting chance against a much bigger enemy, making drones a source of national pride. Continue reading

US Department of State Offers Reward for Information on Chinese Nationals Supplying Technology to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp

The U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program, which is administered by the Diplomatic Security Service, is offering a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the disruption of the financial mechanisms of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its various branches, including the IRGC-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), which are designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). Continue reading

Miles M.20 – Britain’s Bargain-Bin Emergency Spitfire

The Miles M.20 was an all-wood lightweight fighter and interceptor from Britain during World War II. This video looks at the idea of an emergency fighter, and the more technologically advanced examples from Germany in WW2, and some more simplistic examples from America. It then moves over to Britain’s example in the M.20, intended to supplant the Supermarine Spitfire and the Hawker Hurricane in an emergency. Continue reading

Airbus Defence Launches LOAD – a Low-Cost Drone Capable of Autonomously Countering Kamikaze Drones

Airbus Defence unveiled a European-made anti-drone drone concept with elements of autonomy this week, piggybacking on a training dummy design from 20 years ago. With LOAD — short for Low-Cost Air Defence — the European aerospace giant seeks to address one of the main challenges in modern air defense: the massive cost of intercepting cheap threats. Continue reading

GA-ASI Completes First Flight of Belgium’s MQ-9B SkyGuardian

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. and the Belgian Ministry of Defence completed the first flight of a new MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) that will be the first SkyGuardian delivered to Belgium as part of a four-aircraft purchase. The flight was based out of GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon Flight Operations Facility in El Mirage, California and took place on February 20, 2025. Continue reading