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GA-ASI Completes Final Qualification Test for HFE 2.0 Engine

November 21st, 2024

200-HP Heavy Fuel Engine Will Be Used for Gray Eagle 25M

SAN DIEGO – 19 November 2024 – On Nov. 13, 2024, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), completed its final qualification test for its new 200-horsepower heavy fuel engine at its El Mirage, California, flight facility. The Heavy Fuel Engine (HFE) 2.0 is a highly reliable low-maintenance engine with a 40 percent increase in service life providing longer maintenance-free operational periods. The engine will provide the horsepower and electrical power required to meet the demanding performance needs of the new Gray Eagle 25M for Multi-Domain Operations (MDO).

The three-week qualification test of the HFE 2.0 engine is aligned with the Federal Aviation Administration’s endurance test requirements (FAA 14 CFR 33.49) as the FAA’s primary performance standard for engines to be used in commercial aviation. Over the last 18 months, HFE 2.0 excelled in strenuous durability testing that included 2,450 full power cycles simulating high stress conditions during three extensive test profiles of 200, 400, and 651 hours. Additionally, the engine completed 50 hours of flight testing across the flight envelope.

“This test is the culmination of the extensive durability and flight test program for the HFE 2.0 engine,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “It’s been great to see the outstanding test results that have validated the design and development of the HFE 2.0 engine we have worked on so passionately for the past seven years and to bring this world-class engine to the Gray Eagle fleet.”

GA-ASI and its General Atomics Europe affiliate partnered with global leaders in high-performance engines — supported by propulsion technology innovator Cosworth — to develop an engine on the company’s internally funded research and development program. GA-ASI also brought in General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems to design and build the engine’s dual brushless generator, which will dramatically reduce field maintenance and is designed to be a drop-in replacement for the existing generator. The enhanced generator will deliver over 50 percent more electrical power to support newly available payloads for the MDO mission.

After completion of the FAA engine endurance test, next steps call for the U.S. Army certification process to allow authorization of the HFE 2.0 for use on the existing fleet of GA-ASI’s Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE ER) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) as a replacement for the 180-horsepower engine that is reaching its end of life. HFE 2.0 is also the cornerstone of the modernized Gray Eagle 25M (GE 25M) UAS currently being produced under a U.S. Army-funded program to support future MDO UAS missions.

Posted in Aviation, Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on GA-ASI Completes Final Qualification Test for HFE 2.0 Engine

Dimension-Polyant Brings Decades of Textile Innovation to the Tactical Frontier

November 21st, 2024

Trust only X-Pac® – developed to elevate your mission and redefine what’s possible
For decades, Dimension-Polyant, the global leader in high-performance sailcloth manufacturing, has set the gold standard in advanced textiles.

Its journey began over 50 years ago with a team of passionate sailors and textile pioneers driven by a shared mission: to create materials that defied convention and elevated performance. Today, that same spirit of innovation propels the company forward, solidifying its position as a leader in cutting-edge textile solutions.

Building on this legacy, Dimension-Polyant created the X-Pac® brand of innovative pack fabrics designed with the same precision and performance required for racing sails. Engineered to endure extreme environments, X-Pac® fabrics have conquered Everest, braved the Arctic, and endured millions of miles of rugged exploration. With an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, remarkable durability, and 100% waterproof technology, these fabrics deliver unparalleled reliability, no matter the challenge.

The heritage of innovation meets the future of tactical performance

Upon visiting the SHOT show four years ago, the Dimension-Polyant team was struck by the sheer number of soft goods suppliers and brands catering to enthusiasts, first responders, and professional military operators.

“It was eye-opening to see a market that demands high-performance, quality gear—but much of the equipment was made from commodity-grade, unsophisticated materials, said Taylor North, Dimension-Polyant Global Head of Technical Fabrics. “This revealed a clear opportunity for X-Pac® to make a meaningful impact, Our technology is a perfect fit for the tactical market, offering solutions that add value and address the unique challenges these brands face.”

Dimension-Polyant has now brought its expertise from sea to summit to the tactical market. X-Pac® Tactical fabrics are purpose-built to meet the intense demands of tactical operations, offering operators the lightweight durability, strength, and versatility needed to succeed in mission-critical scenarios.

X-Pac® Tactical range of rugged materials are made in Putnam CT, USA, many of which are Berry Compliant showcasing Dimension-Polyant’s commitment to US-based sourcing and production. They include:

• MANTA FABRICS: A revolutionary advancement in tactical textiles. Engineered with a structural core, Manta delivers exceptional strength, stability, and laser-cut precision. Ideal for demanding applications like structural packs, plate carriers, and MOLLE panels. Available in two innovative constructions: woven Dyneema core and Tyra Technology® spread filament core, in Multicam and black.

• WX21 – USA-sourced 200d nylon face fabric with an added polyester wrap insert for enhanced low-stretch and rip-stop properties. Ideal for lightweight packs, gear pouches, rucksacks, and every day carry applications. Available in black.

• X33 MULTICAM – Tightly woven 330d traditional Multicam® Nylon face-fabric with black post-consumer recycled polyester X-PLY® reinforcement and shiny polyester film backing for a highly abrasion-resistant, tear-resistant, waterproof material.

• X50 TACTICAL – The workhorse of the X-Pac® Tactical line-up. X50 Tactical utilizes a rugged 500d CORDURA® face fabric with a 400d aramid X-PLY® which is lighter weight, stronger, than a traditional polyester X-PLY® reinforcement. The result is a highly abrasion-resistant, tear-resistant, waterproof material. Available in black, stealth grey, coyote brown, ranger green, khaki, and woodland camouflage.

• X50 MULTICAM – Rugged X50 features a 500d CORDURA® face fabric in a traditional Multicam® pattern for a highly abrasion-resistant, tear-resistant, waterproof material. Available in Multicam Black, Multicam Alpine, and Multicam Tropic.

Dimension-Polyant will be exhibiting at SHOT Week Supplier Showcase in Las Vegas, January 21-22, 2025, to present its new X-Pac® Tactical collection. For more information on X-Pac® Tactical – the ultimate tactical pack fabric – please visit: www.x-pactactical.com

Posted in Materials, Multicam, Press Release | No Comments »

Prometheus Design Werx – SPD CAS OTF v2

November 21st, 2024

Special Projects Division CA.lifornia S.pecial O.ut t.he F.ront Auto Knife in MagnaCut

PDW releases their v2 CA.lifornia S.pecialO.ut t.he F.ront automatic knife featuring MagnaCut steel, under their sub-label of Special Projects Division. Compact and legal to carry in the state of California, this knife is precision made from aerospace grade T6061 AL, 6AL4V titanium, Crucible MagnaCut, and Hyperglow.

Details make the design. We produce some of the only OTFs on the market with a milled contoured handle, which requires 3x longer on the CNC to achieve. We designed this OTF handle where the machine screws are in blind holes for an unclutteredand clean presentation side. A titanium pocket clip, and a titanium slider with Hyperglow dot round out the finer details.

The SPD Edition CAS OTF v2 will be available with a 2-tone finished blade and dark gray, OD green, and orange or purple anodized or DLC handles.

PDW Founder and Chief Designer PDW states:

“The CA.lifornia S.pecial OTF exemplifies my design and production ethos. Its functional design strength comes from its simplicity. There are no racing stripes, randomly ground contours, garish decorative elements, superfluous swooshes and silly lines. Despites its diminutive ‘California Special” size, this compact out the front knife is very versatile and highly usable for your daily cutting chores. From opening boxes, stubborn plastic packages, to envelopes, and much more, this knife will easily tackle the job. The action is crisp and satisfying to fire and close. I chose the highest level of materials and held steadfast to our stringent attention to details and highest quality of make. For those who adhere to the philosophy of form follows function, find beauty in finely made edged tools, and demand precision made mechanical objects, the CAS OTF is made for you.”

The SPD CAS OTF v2 is available now for $195.00 via their website, prometheusdesignwerx.com.

Posted in Advertiser, Knives, Press Release | No Comments »

Red Cat Announces Production Selection for U.S. Army Short Range Reconnaissance Program

November 21st, 2024

Red Cat’s next generation Teal system will be the Army’s Program of Record SRR sUAS, concluding the rigorous, multi-tranche competitive process

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Nov. 19, 2024 — Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCAT) (“Red Cat”), a leading American drone technology company, has been selected as the winner of the U.S. Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) Program of Record. The production selection was made after a test and evaluation process of Teal’s next generation sUAS, completed by the Army Project Management Office for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, Army Maneuver Battle Lab, Army Test and Evaluation Command, and Army Operational Test Center.

“This is a powerful moment in time, coming after five years of blood, sweat, and tears put into SRR by our incredible team. The long-awaited production selection marks a new era for our company and the future of American drones,” said George Matus, founder of Teal and CTO of Red Cat. “We were selected based on soldier feedback, technical performance, volume manufacturability, and system cost. Our top priority now is to start ramping production of the next generation system, recently announced as the Black Widow and WEB, and give warfighters the tools they need to be successful on the modern battlefield.”

“Warfare has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past two years, with a significant shift towards drone technology, exemplified by the SRR Black Widow. It is an honor to support the U.S. Army by delivering the Black Widow to our warfighters. We believe this advanced technology will enable the Army to shape the battlefield, save soldiers’ lives, and serve as a powerful tool in their arsenal,” said Jeff Thompson, CEO of Red Cat. “This long-term contract will give us the capability to continue to improve the Black Widow, scale production and improve margins.”

“Both the operational and tactical levels of war and maneuver of combat elements have evolved significantly over the past couple of years,” said Paul Edward Funk II, retired Four-Star Army General and Red Cat board member. “Operational success today depends on the ability to seamlessly move data across the battlefield. From a tactical perspective, small unmanned aerial systems that are rucksack portable are playing a vital role in Intelligence Surveillance & Reconnaissance, as well as surgical strike capabilities based on the real-time needs of the warfighter.”

The SRR contract selection builds on significant momentum for Red Cat, with the acquisition of FlightWave Aerospace, the announcement of the ARACHNID™ family of systems, and the creation of the Red Cat Futures Initiative. The company is focused on ramping production of Teal’s next generation system to meet the Army’s currently stated acquisition objective for 5,880 systems, which is subject to change over the 5 year period of performance. Red Cat is also preparing to meet increased demand across the rest of the U.S. DoD, federal government, and allied countries, to support operators and warfighters globally.

For more information about Red Cat and the U.S. Army’s Short-Range Reconnaissance Program of Record, please visit www.redcat.red.

Posted in Army, Contracts, Press Release, UAS | No Comments »

Radical Defense BAD-21 Suppressor

November 21st, 2024

After successfully suppressing the M2A1 and M2A2 .50cal Machine Guns, RD (Radical Defense) began pursuing the next evolution of the original 50 FVS suppressor. The design intent was a modular, more streamlined, lower weight, higher flow suppressor with a reduced form factor. What followed was the 50 GPS (General Purpose Suppressor) Program.

50 GPS utilizes one suppressor with multiple mounting options via taper lock mount muzzle devices. Each muzzle device is designed with specific internal geometries and thread pitches per use on each intended weaponsystem while using the same, standard external geometries; for example,making the same suppressor useable on a Barrett M107, a McMillan TAC-50, and an M2A1.

Using a 50 GPS muzzle device designed to thread into a barrel shroud, RD mounted and performed limited function testing of 50 GPS on an M3Pwith the eventual goal of adapting 50 GPS for use on the GAU-21.Utilizing customer feedback, in an effort to simplify the system, RDmoved away from a specialized muzzle device and modular suppressor design. Instead, RD developed the BAD-21 specifically for use on theGAU-21, with a primary focus of reducing Blast Overpressure exposure to the warfighter, air frames, and sensitive electronics.

In an effort to design the most rugged, durable machine gun suppressors possible, RD additively manufactures using Haynes 282. The (Blast Attenuation Device) BAD-21 is a monolithic design, without welds or threaded interfaces, which eliminates potential failure points. Additionally, Haynes 282 exhibits exceptional abrasion and wear resistance, and maintains high levels of strength at extreme temperatures.

The BAD-21 threads directly to the Barrel Jacket replacing the flash hider, and is then secured in place using the factory locking screws. Secondary lock can be achieved with the use of safety wire.

The intent with the BAD-21 is to allow the barrel to move freely and reciprocate as normal, while reducing blast overpressure and sound pressure wave experienced by the gunner, pilots, and/or any crewman operating around the weapon, as well as protect sensitive electronics within the blast radius of the muzzle.

Employing RD’s Breathable Technology, the objective with BAD-21 is to significantly reduce any effects of a suppressor on the kinematics of the host weapon, while also venting high pressure gasses forward of the weapon and not back to the operator. In this particular use case, considering the GAU-21’s high cyclic rate, the goal is to not increase the rate of fire of the weapon, cause reliability concerns, decrease MRBS, or increase long term wear and tear on the weapon, its parts or mounts.

www.RDUSA.com

Posted in Advertiser, Guest Post, Suppressors | No Comments »

Meet the Paratrooper Who Jumped Out of a Plane 100 times — and He’s Just Getting Started

November 21st, 2024

AVIANO, Italy — Jumping out of an airplane is a feat that demands both courage and trust. Now imagine doing it 100 times. That’s exactly what 1st Sgt. Jovon Propst, Spartan Company, 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion, achieved on October 9, 2024, when he made the jump, earning the prestigious title of centurion paratrooper.

“I get asked all the time, ‘How did you make it that far?’ I say, ‘My jumps don’t get scratched. It’s just my luck,” Propst said.

Born in Concord, North Carolina, and raised in the vibrant heart of New York City, Propst’s journey to becoming a centurion paratrooper is as dynamic as his personality.

“When it comes to the weather or a mission, it’s always a go for me,” he said. “I’ve had a very intriguing career.”

Propst’s military career began with the now disbanded 307th Engineer Battalion at Fort Liberty. From there, his dedication and skill led him to 3rd Special Forces Group, where he earned the coveted jumpmaster title.

His journey didn’t stop there; he continued to make his mark in the 425th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 11th Airborne Division, stationed in Alaska. It was in Alaska that Propst served as a drop zone safety officer under Col. Joshua Gaspard, who was a squadron commander at the time. Their time together solidified Propst’s reputation as a calm and dependable leader, especially in high-pressure airborne operations. Propst is now serving under Col. Gaspard for the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Italy.

Propst’s love for adrenaline doesn’t end with the Army. He once volunteered as a firefighter in Bell County, Texas — a role that allowed him to continue serving others while feeding his need for action.

For now, Propst remains committed to the Army, calling it home. However, when the time comes to hang up his uniform, he’s already looking ahead to his next adrenaline-fueled mission. After retirement, he plans on becoming a smokejumper so he can fight forest fires from the sky. Propst’s journey from paratrooper to potential smokejumper shows that for some, the sky isn’t the limit — it’s just the beginning.

By CPT Jennifer French

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Parachuting | 2 Comments »

Forsway Secures 2.3 MEUR Funding from the European Space Agency to Build Xtend 5G, an Independent Satellite Connectivity System

November 20th, 2024

Stockholm, November 13, 2024: Forsway, provider of cost-efficient hybrid satellite terrestrial solutions and equipment for broadband connectivity, secures a major development funding contract from the European Space Agency (ESA) with support from the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA). In the new project, Xtend 5G, Forsway will build a next generation 5G NTN two-way/hybrid satellite connectivity system enabling the combined use of satellite and ground infrastructure to provide seamless connectivity anywhere, regardless of network. Xtend 5G will provide European government, defence, emergency services and critical infrastructure sectors with seamless connectivity anywhere, anytime, in an open or closed network and with full system control.

The Xtend 5G development will be co-funded by ESA’s ARTES 4.0 Space for 5G/6G & Sustainable Connectivity programme line. The Xtend 5G system will be an independent connectivity solution to satellite platforms with the aim of providing a main connectivity source or essential backup for a critical system. The white label solution will enable any security solution being ported on top.

-Tobias Forsell, CEO at Forsway, “We are thrilled to launch this exciting partnership with ESA & SNSA. The new communication system will be a highly beneficial tool for security, government organizations, the energy sector and others demanding secure, robust, and fast communication where full control over the connectivity ecosystem is crucial. Xtend 5G can be employed in an open or closed network format.”

 

“To meet strict requirements of government and public agencies, we will offer a highly customizable and fully secure solution to address their needs. Additionally, Xtend 5G will provide a robust backup connection for critical infrastructure installations that may be vulnerable due to geographical location.”

Antonio Franchi, ESA Head of the 5G/6G NTN Programme Office, “We believe hybrid communication technologies that integrate satellite, 5G NTN and mobile networks will play an important role in future connectivity ecosystems. ESA is interested in supporting private sector companies that can enhance ground segments for future satellite systems in Europe and boost regional capacity with comprehensive, dual-use technology and highly dependable connectivity. We are pleased to support Forsway in this unique project with funding, guidance, and expertise.”

Posted in Comms, International, Press Release, Space | No Comments »

Embracing the Future with Advanced AI and UAV Technology – Made in Wales Dragon Mk3 D-25

November 20th, 2024

Together with our partners, UAVE Ltd, we continue to expand our range of British-designed and manufactured drones.

Consistent with the company policy of CANEI, (Continuous And Never Ending Innovation) we have test flown and confirmed a new heavy lift wing for the Mk3 D-15 to increase payload capacity to 25 kilos.  The D-25.

“The D-25 is identical to the long-established highly reliable Mk3 D-15, which has flown many hundreds of hours. The new D-25 with a larger wingspan of 4.65m has delivered on our expectations.

“Waiting in the wings is also a further spial development from our design and engineering teams, to focus on a twin-enginefurther enhanced D-50 aircraft. This would have a payload capacity of 50 kg and full redundancy across all aircraft systems” explained Philip Slater, MD.

In 1999, BCB in Cardiff designed and made its first VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing) micro drone and patented Sense and Avoid Technology so UAVs could be safely flown indoors.

Separately, in 2007, UAVE conducted its airworthiness demonstration flight of the Prion MK3 for the CAA. Thislong-flight endurance fixed-wing drone aircraft has now been operating BVLOS at West Wales Airport and multiple other UK and international locations as a MALE (Medium Altitude, Long Endurance) UAV, long-range aircraft; the Prion Mk3 or, for defence clients, the Dragon15 (D-15).

 

BCB and UAVE, two sovereign-owned, British manufacturing SMEs, joined forces in 2023 to fully engage with UK defence, border and blue light forces and deliver a platform with a global reach of this sovereign strategic capability

The design brief for the D-15 was to ensure that the aircraft should have a capacity of 55 litres of payload space and 15 kilos of payload, be a long-range effector, 1,000 km one-way, and most importantly be able to adapt and fit multiple sensors and payloads/payload agnostic to integrate with future new technologies which become available as required. To date, this spiral development has now seen over 26 differing payloads, including tracking, laser designators, EW, telecoms rebroadcast, and surveying equipment integrated into the D-15 in addition to routine ISTAR capability. All of the aircraft’s critical supply components are manufactured in the UK.

www.bcbin.com

Posted in International, Press Release, UAS | No Comments »

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