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Archive for the ‘Drone’ Category

Oak Grove Technologies’ UxS Store Is Now Open

Monday, October 13th, 2025

Oak Grove Technologies’ new UxS Shopify storefront is open, featuring tactical drone equipment, Chimera kits, and mission-ready parts built for real-world operations.

Engineered by industry professionals for defense, security, and tactical applications, because reliability and performance aren’t optional.

Explore the full lineup: www.oakgrovex.com

US Marines and Sailors Train and Experiment with Emerging Drone Technology in Okinawa

Monday, October 13th, 2025

CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA, Japan —

From Aug. 11 to 22, 2025, U.S. Marines and Sailors with 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division, trained with, integrated, and expanded their use of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). For the first time, Marines flew untethered sUAS over an Okinawa-based, Marine Corps installation.

This aligns directly with the Secretary of Defense’s drone modernization guidance, released July 10, 2025, which prioritizes training with autonomous capabilities, leaning into adaptability, and pursuing joint-force integration with these emerging technologies.

“The Marines and Sailors with 4th Marine Regiment are getting use to utilizing and innovating with technology that we haven’t used in the past,” said Capt. Wesley Pond, Regimental Assistant Air Officer, 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division and lead planner of the sUAS and autonomous, unmanned ground vehicle (A-UGV) training on Camp Schwab. “We are helping them to see new things, new ways to find an adversary and new ways of moving about the battlespace.”

The Marines and Sailors attended a course with the Skydio X2D sUAS to sustain their proficiency with the system. This in-depth training allowed some servicemembers to receive an additional Military Occupational Specialty as sUAS operators after they completed all the required training objectives. The Marines in the course were able to take their increased proficiency in sUAS employment back to their unit to better integrate the systems in future training evolutions.

“Marines of any rank are encouraged to participate in the courses in order to receive the qualifications to operate group one UAS,” said Pond. “This in total increases the Marine Corps’ combat effectiveness by having capable Marines, of any MOS, at the ready to operate drones in any situation.”

“We will continue to push the metaphorical football down the field and keep getting better. We are going to field the Marines with the weapons and the systems they need to enhance their lethality, to go confidently into the next battlespace and know they are walking into a fight that they are well prepared for.”

– said Capt. Wesley Pond, Regimental Assistant Air Officer, 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division and lead planner of the sUAS and autonomous, unmanned ground vehicle (A-UGV) training on Camp Schwab.

The Marines and Sailors with 4th Marine Regiment refined shared procedures for experimental methods of extracting an emergency casualty via the Mission Master. This A-UGV platform can assist with tactical transport, resupply, and casualty evacuation, reducing danger to dismounted troops across a wide range of missions, including high-risk situations.

“This is the first time our corpsmen in the 4th Marines Regimental Aid Station have had the opportunity to train with and use an autonomous system as a CASEVAC platform,” said U.S. Navy Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman David Long, senior enlisted leader, 4th Marines Regimental Aid Station.

In this training scenario, the Mission Master was used to carry wounded servicemembers out of harm’s way on the battlefield, enabling the Corpsmen to quickly and tactically bring the casualty behind friendly lines.

“This takes a huge load off the humans that would previously have to physically carry that casualty on a litter a long distance or we would have to use a large, loud tactical vehicle,” said Long. “It also allows us to provide treatment enroute to the casualty collection point for follow-on care. This capability has the potential to help us save lives and quickly return more Marines back to the fight.”

As the future of warfighting continues to evolve, 4th Marine Regiment continues to modernize as well.

“This training demonstrates the 4th Marine Regiment’s commitment to train as we fight and to compete with adversary capabilities now,” said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard Barclay, commanding officer, 4th Marine Regiment. “Training isn’t just about preparing for a future fight but maintaining a decisive edge in the current operating environment. What Capt. Pond, the 3d Marine Division, and Marine Corps Installations Pacific team have achieved is just the start of much more work to be done within the realms of sUAS and UGV training.”

Cpl Joaquin Carlos Dela Torre

3rd Marine Division

Motorola Solutions Showcases Counter-Drone Defense at the AUSA 2025 Annual Meeting & Exposition

Thursday, October 9th, 2025

Comprehensive airspace defense and military security technologies – including drone, counter UAS, long-range cameras and communication solutions – help keep troops and bases safer

CHICAGO – Oct. 9, 2025 – Today’s militaries operate in high-intensity, dispersed and contested spaces across land, air, sea, space and cyber domains, where the ability to analyze, visualize and disseminate vast quantities of data is essential to the mission. At AUSA 2025, Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) will showcase data-driven technology solutions that support stronger decision making and combat readiness across each phase of the mission, from security on bases to operations at the tactical edge.

“There were reports of over 350 drone detections at 100 military installations last year alone,” said Joe Balchune, vice president, Federal Markets, Motorola Solutions. “Our counter drone solutions provide the operational intelligence to protect against these daily incursions, helping defense agencies outmaneuver adversaries and sustain mission readiness. We design technologies to detect threats early and unify insights for decisive action, because the right intelligence in the moment is critical to success.”

Motorola Solutions’ ecosystem of defense technologies enable secure, interoperable and resilient data-driven missions across diverse operational domains. At AUSA, the company will demonstrate:

Silvus MANET radio technology: Provides connectivity across varied geographies without the need for fixed infrastructure to enable highly secure voice, video, sensor and alerting technologies.

Command center technology: Unifies pertinent mission data and video feeds into a single operational view so command decisions are informed with accurate, timely intelligence, notifications and communications about what’s happening on the ground and in the sky.

Long-range thermal cameras: Hosts and connects with a wide range of sensors, radar, lidar and other detection technologies to identify anomalies and ground, naval and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) from up to 20 miles away (30 km).

SaaS platform for drone detection: Offers robust, cloud-based drone detection and airspace intelligence through a strategic alliance with SkySafe that streams live insights – like the real-time and historical flight path of a drone and its operator’s location – into the command center.

Radio frequency (RF) drone detection: Uses networked RF sensors to give a reliable early warning of RF emissions and out-of-the-ordinary electromagnetic pulses from drones and delivers real-time, forensic signal analysis to help identify signals’ sources and geolocations.

Drone operations: Offers an AI-enhanced, automated drone-in-a-box solution, in collaboration with Nokia, that provides enhanced situational awareness, streamlined remote operations and faster decision making in mission-critical settings.

These technologies, as well as Motorola Solutions’ extensive portfolio of mission-critical land mobile radio products, can be seen at AUSA 2025 in Washington D.C., Oct. 13-15, in booth #6721 for Motorola Solutions and booth #3645 for Silvus Technologies, a Motorola Solutions company.

Learn more about our commitment to innovating for a safer future for us all at www.motorolasolutions.com.

Red Cat Introduces FANG — A Low-Cost, NDAA-Compliant Line of FPV Drones for Defense and Security Operations

Thursday, October 9th, 2025

THE FIRST SYSTEM IN THE FANG LINE IS THE FANG™ F7, A 7-INCH RETRIEVABLE FPV DRONE OPTIMIZED FOR TRAINING AND TACTICAL USE, NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE BY DEFENSE AND SECURITY OPERATORS

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Oct. 08, 2025 — Red Cat Holdings, Inc.?(Nasdaq: RCAT) (“Red Cat” or the “Company”), a U.S.-based provider of advanced all-domain drone and robotic solutions for defense and national security, today announced the launch of its FANG™ line of NDAA-compliant First Person View (FPV) drones, starting with the 7-inch FANG™ F7. Initially developed through a U.S. military lab program, FANG has progressed from concept to field-ready, providing secure, retrievable FPV systems that meet federal procurement requirements.

The FANG line, part of Red Cat’s Arachnid Family of Systems, provides operators with secure, American-made FPV drones that combine performance with significant savings. The FANG™ F7 features a 7-inch carbon fiber frame engineered for durability and stability, paired with a retrievable design that makes it reusable and cost-efficient. This balance of rugged construction and affordability ensures the drone is equally effective as a training tool and as a mission-ready asset.

The FANG line was created to strengthen domestic drone production by reshoring manufacturing and replacing components traditionally sourced from China. Built to meet federal purchasing requirements, FANG offers NDAA-compliant solutions for defense, public safety, and other government agencies. All critical components are independently certified and listed on the DIU Blue UAS Framework, with the full system pending inclusion on the Blue UAS cleared list.

“With FANG, we set out to deliver something the market hasn’t seen before,” said Jeff Thompson, Red Cat CEO. “Working with key partners, we now have an NDAA-compliant FPV drone that’s both high-performing and low-cost. By focusing on retrievability, American manufacturing, and real-world mission needs, we’re giving defense and security teams a smarter, scalable option optimized for both budget and effectiveness.”

Setting a New Standard for FPV Drones

Unmatched Affordability: The FANG line is designed as the lowest-cost family of NDAA-compliant FPV drones on the market, addressing demand for attritable systems for training and practice.

Retrievable & Reusable: Unlike one-time-use loitering systems, FANG drones are recoverable, reducing total cost of ownership.

Training Advantage: Enables operators to build proficiency and mission readiness through repeated, cost-efficient practice.

Precision Effects: Dual-use design supports ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) and precision effects missions, broadening tactical flexibility.

Ecosystem Integration: Future models in the FANG line will integrate with Red Cat’s Arachnid ecosystem and UAS Tool (ATAK) command-and-control environment.

NDAA-Compliant Components: FANG drones incorporate UMAC-manufactured motors and other key parts, ensuring trusted, U.S.-sourced components.

Availability

The FANG F7 is now available for purchase by defense, public safety, and government agencies operating under NDAA restrictions. Red Cat will fulfill orders directly and through authorized procurement channels. Technical specifications and ordering details are available at redcat.red/fang.

Event Debut

FANG was announced today at the Premier Drone Competition in Cumberland County, North Carolina, hosted by the Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC). The FANG™ F7 makes its public debut at the event and will also be showcased at the AUSA Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Draganfly Enlisted by US Army to Deliver Drones on Heels of Developing Drones for Border Security

Friday, October 3rd, 2025

Tampa, FL. October 2, 2025 – Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) (CSE: DPRO) (FSE: 3U8) (“Draganfly” or the “Company”), an industry-leading developer of drone solutions and systems, today announced its selection by the U.S. Army to provide Flex FPV drone systems.

Under the initial order, Draganfly will deliver Flex FPV drones designed for high-performance operations as well as help establish on-site manufacturing of the Flex FPV (First Person View) within overseas U.S. Forces facilities to accelerate deployment and reduce supply-chain timelines.

The Company will also provide both flight and manufacturing training to enable Army personnel to sustain operations, and will manage logistics to ensure a secure, NDAA-compliant supply chain practice. This marks a significant milestone in evolving critical drone capabilities closer to the theater of operations, reducing logistical vulnerabilities and enhancing force readiness.

Recent exercises have underscored the importance of FPV technology for U.S. forces. During the Swift Response 2025 exercise in Lithuania, paratroopers operated and detonated in-house-built FPV drones against dismounted and vehicle-sized autonomous targets. The unit has also established its own drone lab for design, training, and rapid innovation. In August 2025, the U.S. Army executed the first-ever air-to-air kill with an armed FPV drone, advancing the evolution of drone warfare. Draganfly’s Embedded Manufacturing Program and the Flex FPV Drone systems are in direct support of this strategic shift to decentralized and agile innovation.

“We are honored to support the U.S. Army as it moves critical drone capabilities closer to front lines,” said Cameron Chell, President & CEO of Draganfly. “By combining advanced Flex FPV Drone systems, embedded manufacturing, training and secure logistics, we are helping reinforce operational agility and sustainment for forward deployed forces. This helps ensure personnel have the tools, training and capabilities required when and where they need them most.”

For more information, visit www.draganfly.com

Two Companies Selected to Support DIU’s Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems – NEXT Project

Tuesday, September 30th, 2025

The DOW and tech companies are leveraging commercially derived components and solutions to rapidly prototype and develop Counter UAS interceptors.

Mountain View, CA (September 29, 2025) — The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has started prototyping commercial and dual-use technology solutions to provide Counter UAS solutions that defeat group 3 and above adversarial threats, ensure the sovereignty of our national airspace, and protect our personnel, equipment, and facilities at home and abroad. Focus areas of the Counter NEXT project include providing a deeper interceptor magazine for our forces while preserving exquisite interceptors for exquisite threats, simplifying and accelerating the reloading process, addressing the cost asymmetry of the current threats and interceptors in use, and integrating with the existing combat systems. 

Image taken during flight testing of Zone 5’s interceptor. (Source: Zone 5 Technologies)

DIU and our DoW partners selected Anduril Industries and Zone 5 Technologies to develop prototype solutions for the Counter NEXT program in fall 2024. These vendors were selected from more than 65 commercial and dual-use technology company applicants.

Less than a year later, both vendors completed initial design and developmental sprints and successful baseline flight testing of their proposed solutions. Based on the data gathered, warfighter feedback and knowledge gained during the first sprint, iterative improvements are being made to both systems to ensure the solutions address the capability gap before additional flight testing and safety/qualification testing occur in the months ahead. 

Image taken during flight testing of Anduril’s AAV. (Source: Anduril Industries)

Counter NEXT vendors are incorporating commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components wherever possible to mitigate potential supply chain bottlenecks and keep costs low. The vendors are also leveraging modern air vehicle design concepts, ensuring air vehicles are not over-engineered for their intended mission but that they also minimize the use of expensive materials and enable high-rate production that is not possible with the more exquisite interceptors available today. 

To enable future design improvements and rapid integration of subsystems and components as they improve, the Counter NEXT prototypes are utilizing a modular open systems architecture and being designed for mass production using modern manufacturing techniques. Additionally, all components of the solution will be qualified and certified to some of the most stringent military standards in order to provide an enduring capability to the warfighter wherever the solution is deployed.

“The Counter NEXT project is focused on leveraging the best-in-breed commercially derived technology and processes to accelerate the development, production, and fielding of these vital Counter UAS interceptors to our warfighters,” said Joshua Zike, Counter NEXT Program Manager for DIU.  “While this solution is focused on a specific, pressing subset of the counter UxS problem set, variants for all domains should be developed and deployed to provide this vital layered kinetic counter UxS defeat capability to all our warfighters.” 

Following Anduril and Zone 5’s recent successful flight demonstrations, both vendors received additional funding to further refine their rapid prototypes, integrate their systems with the mission partner’s combat systems, and conduct the safety testing required prior to a live fire test event in the summer of 2026.

Draganfly Selected by U.S. Army to Supply Flex FPV Drone Systems

Tuesday, September 30th, 2025

Tampa, Florida – September 30, 2025 — Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) (CSE: DPRO) (FSE: 3U8) (“Draganfly” or the “Company”), an industry-leading developer of drone solutions and systems, today announced its selection by the U.S. Army to provide Flex FPV drone systems.

Under the initial order, Draganfly will deliver Flex FPV drones designed for high-performance operations as well as help establish on-site manufacturing of the Flex FPV (First Person View) within overseas U.S. Forces facilities to accelerate deployment and reduce supply-chain timelines. The Company will also provide both flight and manufacturing training to enable Army personnel to sustain operations, and will manage logistics to ensure a secure, NDAA-compliant supply chain practice. This marks a significant milestone in evolving critical drone capabilities closer to the theater of operations, reducing logistical vulnerabilities and enhancing force readiness.

Recent exercises have underscored the importance of FPV technology for U.S. forces. During the Swift Response 2025 exercise in Lithuania, paratroopers operated and detonated in-house-built FPV drones against dismounted and vehicle-sized autonomous targets. The unit has also established its own drone lab for design, training, and rapid innovation. In August 2025, the U.S. Army executed the first-ever air-to-air kill with an armed FPV drone, advancing the evolution of drone warfare. Draganfly’s Embedded Manufacturing Program and the Flex FPV Drone systems are in direct support of this strategic shift to decentralized and agile innovation.

“We are honored to support the U.S. Army as it moves critical drone capabilities closer to front lines,”

Cameron Chell, President & CEO

“We are honored to support the U.S. Army as it moves critical drone capabilities closer to front lines,” said Cameron Chell, President & CEO of Draganfly. “By combining advanced Flex FPV Drone systems, embedded manufacturing, training and secure logistics, we are helping reinforce operational agility and sustainment for forward-deployed forces. This helps ensure personnel have the tools, training and capabilities required when and where they need them most.”

SOFWERX – Computer Vision (CV) Inference Engine and Model Training for Unmanned Systems (UMS) Assessment Event (AE)

Monday, September 29th, 2025

SOFWERX, in collaboration with the USSOCOM PEO-SOF Digital Applications (SDA) Unmanned Systems Autonomy and Interoperability (UxSAI) Program, will host an Assessment Event (AE) to identify technology providers capable of delivering cutting-edge computer vision capabilities for detection and classification for all USSOCOM unmanned systems. This event aims to evaluate whitepaper responses and down-select innovative solutions for a computer vision inference engine and model training solution that can autonomously detect, classify, and adapt to new targets and environments ultimately enhancing the operational effectiveness of UxS in resource-constrained and communication-denied environments to align with the goals and objectives of the UxSAI Program.

Computer vision rarely performs as intended and results in missed detections or improperly classified objects. Challenges exist with obtaining training data, utilizing the models on constrained resources, and deploying models over the air. UxSAI requests computer vision developers to improve our artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities and develop highly effective computer vision inference engines and pretrained models as part of an Enterprise machine learning operations (MLOPS) pipeline. Providers selected for participation will receive additional information and funding to prepare for the AE upon selection. The UxSAI Program intends to evaluate solutions through their Enterprise MLOPS pipeline as part of this event.

The UxSAI Program seeks a computer vision inference engine and model retraining solution that:

  • Demonstrates robust object detection and classification capabilities.
  • Optimizes Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) for deployment on a variety of UxS platforms.
  • Enables training and adaptation to new objects and environments.
  • Offers a modular architecture suitable for seamless integration with existing architectures.
  • Enhances the autonomous capabilities of unmanned systems operating in challenging environments.
  • Informs the necessary interfaces, protocols, and data formats for integration, contributing to the development of an Interface Control Document (ICD).
  • The intent from this event is for UxSAI to work with providers selected from the AE to further develop their model through collaboration with the UxSAI Program

Submit via events.sofwerx.org/uxsai-cvmodeldev NLT 13 October 2025 11:59 PM ET

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