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GA-ASI Completes Final Qualification Test for HFE 2.0 Engine

Thursday, 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

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

Thursday, 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 | 2 Comments »

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

Wednesday, 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 »

Soldiers Provide Input on Microsensor Tech Developed in Partnership with ROK

Tuesday, November 19th, 2024

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — This year, the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center hosted a Soldier touchpoint event at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Edgewood, Maryland to test out new unmanned drones equipped with a set of microsensors developed in conjunction with the Republic of Korea’s Agency for Defense Development, or ROK ADD. Soldier touchpoints are one of the first major milestones in testing a potential technology to be fielded.

The microsensor effort began as a partnership between the Center and ROK ADD in 2018 to successfully meet the stringent form-factor requirements set forth by the customer. Kevin Wan, a DEVCOM CBC chemical engineer and project manager for the microchemical sensor effort, called in ROK ADD for assistance with the 3-gram sensor size requirement while his team focused on suitable use cases. Both centers pushed to complete their collaborative effort in time for this upcoming user assessment.

“The design space was quite limiting to begin with, so we worked with our Korean partners to get this working on a three-gram payload,” said Wan. “The hornet drones are great at intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, but adding chemical-sensing capabilities would further its use cases — this is what we primarily wanted to focus on.”

The effort came to a head on July 31, 2024, when the center hosted Soldiers from the U.S. Army Reserve’s 455 Chemical Brigade, headquartered in Sloan, Nevada, as well as their partners from ROK ADD, which serves as their DEVCOM equivalent, in an exercise where all participants could give concerted feedback on the drones and sensors.

Initial funding for the project came from DEVCOM Soldier Center in Natick, Massachusetts, which had the need for a sensor weighing no more than three grams. This form factor would specifically fit on the Black Hornet III, a currently fielded minuscule drone platform weighing in at 38 grams. The project received funding from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy International Cooperation Office’s Coalition Warfare Program and other organizations.

Wan and his team shifted their focus on the sensor’s early warning detection capabilities against a chemical threat — whether it may be a nerve or blister agent. They then focused their efforts on redundancy and reliability to increase detection. “Having two independent sensors provide the same response would increase the confidence of detection,” said Wan. “That redundancy and reliability coupled with a low limit of detection for early warning is critical to us and our Soldiers.”

To test their prototypes, DEVCOM CBC invited CBRN specialists to learn how to fly these drones and run a simulated scenario involving piloting the Black Hornets into various tents in an enclosed space with one of the tents housing a simulated agent. Cpl. Brittney Batimana, one of the Soldiers involved, said that the new drones would increase Soldiers’ safety and mission success.

“It’s pretty simple — once you get comfortable with the camera’s point of view, it’s easy to identify your targets,” said Batimana. “Our job is to identify and decontaminate hazards: this is just another way for us to always stay prepared if a situation were to ever turn chemical.”

The collaborative effort between the two centers was evident throughout the Soldier touchpoint and mirrored the success of this joint development process. “We love to work together with our partners,” said Wan. “Highly competent and highly intelligent. What we both want to see going forward are more use cases and increasing the library of threats that can be detected.” This sentiment was further echoed by Dr. Myung Kyu Park, Wan’s ROK ADD counterpart and micro chemical sensor project manager: “We do very well together — [they] worked very hard to see that these sensors work.”

Increasing the library of substances to detect would include various explosives, narcotics or industrial chemicals, furthering the drone’s use cases significantly beyond the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance realm. With the success of the Soldier touchpoint exercise, Wan and his team know that the form factor lends itself to an even wider variety of scenarios.

By Parker Martin

Posted in CBRNE, Guest Post, ISR, Sensors, UAS | No Comments »

Allen-Vanguard Collaborates with Metis Aerospace to Deliver Enhanced Counter-Drone Capabilities

Monday, November 18th, 2024

Allen-Vanguard, a global leader in providing customised solutions for defeating Radio Frequency (RF) based terrorist and extremist threats, is very excited to announce a strategic collaboration with the domain knowledge experts in passive RF detection, Metis Aerospace. This collaboration has been established to leverage their respective expertise and proven products to address the growing requirement for a highly mobile counter unmanned air system (C-UAS) capability that delivers a tried and tested baseline capability to detect and defeat an increasing range of threats posed by the nefarious use of drones. Both Allen-Vanguard and Metis Aerospace will be at the Specialist Defence and Security Convention (SDSC) on 18th-20th November 2024 at Telford International Centre, UK to discuss this collaboration and their respective range of existing products and capabilities.

Metis has extensive experience in the RF detect domain, with several products that are already the cornerstone of many larger protection systems across a wide range of sectors. For over 10 years, they have been at the forefront of C-UAS detection capability development, advising the MoD and receiving research funding to develop their innovative technologies, such as SKYPERION. Allen-Vanguard is equally an operationally proven subject matter expert in defeating RF threats, including cutting-edge counter-drone solutions, like ANCILE, that are used by militaries, security forces and NGOs globally to protect their personnel and key assets.

In an era where drone technology is rapidly evolving, and how drones are being employed on the battlefield is going through an unprecedented revolution, the Allen-Vanguard and Metis collaboration combines their respective ground-breaking and innovative technologies to provide the necessary expertise, agility and technology to properly mitigate this threat. The operationally proven ingenuity and agility of both companies can be brought to bear on the key subset of the C-UAS market that is demanding increased manoeuvrability and effectiveness at a practical price point. In addition, both companies have built an excellent reputation for enduring customer support to ensure deployed systems are maintained with the latest detection and defeat waveforms as the RF battlespace evolves.

Tony Burnell, CEO of Metis Aerospace said: “We are very excited to be collaborating with Allen-Vanguard to develop this capability that we see meets a growing market demand. It makes perfect sense for us to work together and exploit our expertise in the detect function and then fully synchronise and integrate with an Allen-Vanguard defeat capability. This combination will be a real protection benefit for all our customers.”

Bobby Strawbridge, President of Allen-Vanguard said: “I am delighted to announce this collaboration with Metis that, as fellow SME domain knowledge experts, perfectly complements our own portfolio of products. The ability to combine the detect and defeat functions into one capability will undoubtedly deliver enhanced C-UAS capabilities to better counter modern hostile drone operations.” He added, “We are also pursuing a number of qualified opportunities in the Middle East and Eastern Europe from users who have reached out, seeking a cost-effective and efficient system for a baseline, mobile C-UAS capability. The strength of Metis’ portfolio of offerings also has applicability to domestic and international requirements outside the scope of C-UAS and we’re actively engaged in exploring these exciting opportunities”

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

Saab’s Autonomous Swarm Technology Used in Landmark AUKUS Trial

Sunday, November 17th, 2024

Saab’s Autonomous Swarm technology recently featured in the ground-breaking Project Convergence 2024 trials, consisting of one month in the United States. A large UK team, comprising 40 employees from Saab-owned BlueBear and UK MOD Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) personnel, demonstrated the ability to deploy interoperable AI within Autonomous Swarms of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS).

AUKUS, a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, held trials that demonstrated the pivotal role of BlueBear’s technology in collaborative, networked, swarms of UAS. BlueBear’s AI enabled Centurion™ mission system provided the ability for a single operator to command a diverse swarm of autonomous UAS. 

At the core of BlueBear’s AI-enabled autonomy solution is the ability to ‘hot-swap’ AI from any supplier in an autonomous systems-of-systems. This technology is key to unlocking the game-changing potential of deployed networked sensors and effectors in an integrated multi-domain battlefield.

BlueBear’s RedKite and Ghost UAS, were used in tandem with Centurion™, by the tri-nation AUKUS team to rapidly retrain and deploy AI algorithms, that enabled the payloads and UASs. 

”The AUKUS trials marks a significant increase in our ability to interoperate with allied nations, both at mission and core technology levels. Significant investment from both the UK Government and Saab’s BlueBear have allowed us to collectively mature and de-risk high-value technologies that are imperative in modern warfare,” says Andy Fraser, Group Managing Director, Saab UK.

The AUKUS trial was the culmination of Autonomy and Open Architecture work consistently funded by Dstl over two decades. Find additional details of the trials on gov.uk.

Saab acquired BlueBear in August 2023, as its rapid capability accelerator innovating new technologies and integrating them across Saab’s portfolio. 

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

DroneShield Formally Recognized for Innovation and Recruitment Efforts

Friday, November 15th, 2024

DroneShield Honored with Prestigious Military and Aerospace Electronics Innovator Platinum Award for Counterdrone Immediate Response Kit

Warrenton, Virginia – DroneShield, a leader in counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) solutions, has been awarded the top Platinum Award for Innovation by Military and Aerospace Electronics for its Immediate Response Kit (IRK) solution. The prestigious accolade recognizes the IRK as a “superb innovation characterized by a groundbreaking approach to meeting a need” in the defense and aerospace sector.

DroneShield’s IRK includes the DroneGun Mk4, a highly effective handheld defeat pistol designed to neutralize unauthorized drones, and the RfPatrol Mk2, an advanced handheld tool that detects, identifies, and locates drone signals in real-time. These devices, packaged in a compact and portable flyaway case, provide military, law enforcement, and critical infrastructure protection teams with rapid, reliable solutions for drone detection and defeat in field operations.


DroneShield’s Immediate Response Kit (IRK)

DroneShield’s IRK is designed to be highly effective in a range of demanding environments and can be body-worn, deployed on ground, or used in vehicle-based operations. The IRK is supplied with omni-directional ISM band antennas with no intentional RF transmissions for quiet and safe wearable operation. Continuing with a user-centric design, the IRK supports integration into existing software systems via existing API and utilizing common open standards. Notably, intuitive, and easy-to-use controls allow for rapid deployment with optimized power from the NATO-standard battery to deliver increased disruption range and effectiveness.

“By integrating state-of-the-art RF technology with user-centric design, the IRK sets the standard for portable drone defense, offering unparalleled ease of use and operational flexibility for those in critical missions and high-stakes environments,” said Matt McCrann, Chief Executive Officer at DroneShield LLC. “We are proud of the team responsible for our innovative technology, like the Immediate Response Kit, and grateful for the recognition of our cutting-edge solution that meets the evolving needs of our customers.”

For more information about the Immediate Response Kit and other advanced C-UAS solutions from DroneShield, view our range of C-UAS products.

Posted in Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on DroneShield Formally Recognized for Innovation and Recruitment Efforts

Gray Eagle STOL Makes Historic First Flight From Ship To Land

Thursday, November 14th, 2024

Short Takeoff and Landing UAS Operates from South Korean Warship

SAN DIEGO – 13 November 2024 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) logged another aviation milestone on Nov. 12, 2024, when its Gray Eagle STOL aircraft took off from a South Korean warship and landed at a ground base – the first-ever such mission for an aircraft of this type. Working with our GA-ASI’s in-country partner, Hanwha Aerospace, Gray Eagle STOL launched from the South Korean navy’s amphibious landing ship Dokdo underway at sea off the coast of Pohang, South Korea. The Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) then flew to Pohang Navy Airfield and landed normally.

Gray Eagle STOL – which stands for short takeoff and landing – is the only medium-altitude, long-endurance aircraft of its kind with the ability to operate from large-deck warships such as amphibious ships and aircraft carriers, as well as short and unimproved fields on land. The test with the South Korean military further validates the aircraft’s capability and versatility.

“We applaud the South Korean navy for its foresight in examining the unique capability of GE STOL for its fleet. This demonstration illustrates the ability of the GE STOL to safely operate on many types of aircraft-capable ships, which opens myriad new ways our allies can use this UAS to support multi-domain naval operations,” said GA-ASI CEO Linden Blue.

Hanwha Aerospace is engaged with General Atomics to support national defense with proven, state-of-the-art technology suited for a multi-domain warfare environment, contributing to global security alongside allied nations in response to rapidly growing threats.

“The demonstration is a crucial step in verifying how the GE STOL can contribute to defense capabilities, and I am honored to witness this alongside the Republic of Korea Navy, to whom I extend my deepest gratitude for conducting the test,” said Hanwha Aerospace CEO and President Jae-il Son. “Hanwha is fully committed to making bold investments, fostering collaboration, and providing steadfast support in the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) business.”

The Ministry of National Defense for the Republic of Korea is initially evaluating GE STOL for its ability to meet its emerging military requirements. South Korean navy, army and other officials were asked to evaluate Gray Eagle STOL and supported the test.

“The demo highlighted the versatility of STOL aboard a warship, in the Dokdo, designed not for fixed-wing aircraft but solely for helicopters. Gray Eagle STOL’s flight proves that navies can add significant new capability without costly major modifications to their existing warships,” said South Korean Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Yang Yong-mo.

Gray Eagle STOL is highly common with the classic Gray Eagle aircraft, substituting a different engine, wings, control surfaces and landing gear. Gray Eagle STOL is General Atomics’ name for the production variant of the historic aircraft demonstrator known as Mojave.

In November 2023, GA-ASI and Mojave performed a demonstration of STOL takeoff and return landing aboard an aircraft carrier in an event with the UK Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales, which is smaller than a typical U.S. aircraft carrier at 932 feet long (284m) and 240 feet wide (73m). The Dokdo class is considerably smaller than the Prince of Wales, only 653 feet long (199m) and 102 feet wide (31m).

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

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