Skyports Drone Services has partnered with Australian drone manufacturer Carbonix to scale beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations across the country using its long-range vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. Continue reading
Is China’s Kamikaze Drone Clone Headed to Russia?
New video shows the test launch of a Chinese made kamikaze drone, the Sunflower-200. The footage shared on Twitter shows the drone taking off with the assistance of a rocket booster, and (presumably) hitting a target some distance away. Continue reading
AI-Enabled XQ-58 UAV Accomplishes Tactical Test
The US Air Force demonstrated artificial intelligence-enabled air combat during a successful launch of an XQ-58A Valkyrie here Aug. 22. This flight helps develop a trained tactical autonomy algorithm from simulation through flight test on a high-performance, uncrewed air vehicle. Continue reading
NATO Set to Adopt British MOD Standard for C-UAS Technology
NATO wants to open new lines of communication—but not between its member nations. Rather, the organization is exploring a new way for counter-uncrewed aircraft systems (C-UAS) to talk to each other. Open-source intelligence company Janes reported NATO will adopt the U.K. Ministry of Defense’s (MOD) Sensing for Asset Protection with Integrated Electronic Networked Technology protocol, or SAPIENT, as a “C-UAS standard.” Continue reading
Iran Parades Lines of Drones on Army Day
Iran’s armed forces paraded multiple drones, missiles and other military hardware on September 21st, as the country marked the national Army Day that falls on the anniversary of its 1980s war with Iraq. Continue reading
UAS Denmark Test Center: Now with Arctic Test Facilities
UAS Denmark Test Center, Denmark’s national drone test center, and Mittarfeqarfiit A/S, Greenland Airports, are now establishing a collaboration that will contribute to the development and testing of drones under Arctic conditions at Kangerlussuaq Airport. Continue reading
Taiwan to Acquire 160 Turkish Jackal Drones
Taiwanese company GEOSAT Aerospace and Technology has inked an agreement with British firm Flyby Technology that paves the way for the purchase, technology transfer and production of 160 Turkish-made Jackal drones. Continue reading
GAO Science & Tech Spotlight on Drone Swarm Technologies
This GAO Science & Tech Spotlight report explores drone swarm technologies, which use algorithms and local sensors to coordinate drones with minimal human intervention. Swarms could range from a few drones to possibly thousands. Advances in artificial intelligence and drone components have made swarms possible—even if they’re limited to simpler missions like aerial light shows for now. Continue reading