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SOF Week 25 – Anduril Industries Pulsar-L EW System

Tuesday, May 6th, 2025

No larger than a 3kw portable generator Anduril Industries’ new Pulsar-Light is a software-defined Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) system designed primarily for counter drone operations, combining detect, ID, track, and defeat all in one box.

Deployable in two minutes, Anduril is fielding two configurations of Pulsar-L:

– Airborne, designed for airborne EW missions

– Expeditionary, built for every warfighter

Like other versions, Pulsar-V (vehicle), Pulsar Alpha (airborne) and the fixed-site emplacement, this new Light model can be operated independently or integrated with Lattice. It is also compatible with other C2 and Common Operating Picture solutions, including TAK.

Posted in EW, MDM, UAS | 1 Comment »

US Army, Philippine Air Force Test Counter-Drone Systems at Balikatan 2025

Tuesday, May 6th, 2025

SAN ANTONIO, Zambales, Philippines — The 1st Multi-Domain Task Force recently conducted tests of their Integrated Fires Protection Capability High-Powered Microwave, or IFPC-HPM, and Fixed Site-Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aerial System Integrated Defeat System, or FS-LIDS, in a combined joint integrated air and missile defense live-fire exercise at Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui, April 28, 2025.

The 1st MDTF Soldiers were joined by members of the Philippine Air Force, 960th Air and Missile Defense Group — who participated as part of the Subject Matter Expert Exchange program — and by U.S. Marines with the 3rd Littoral Anti-Air Battalion’s Ground-Based Air Defense Battery who employed the Marine Air Defense Integrated System during this multi-day live-fire event.

“This is a great opportunity for joint training alongside our short-range air defense counterparts from the U.S. Marines,” said U.S. Army Capt. Bray McCollum, battery commander of 1-51 ADA’s Integrated Fires Protection Capability battery.

This is the first time the Army’s IFPC-HPM has been employed in the Indo-Pacific and tested in a tropical environment. This advanced equipment supports the U.S.-Philippine alliance through enhancing combined military cooperation and advancing our shared commitment to a secure, stable, and free Indo-Pacific region for all.

The IFPC-HPM is a directed energy weapon system that emits a beam of microwave energy that can disrupt, disable or destroy unmanned aerial systems. The IFPC-HPM is the first material released directed energy weapon system specifically designed to counter groups and swarms of drones. The 1st MDTF was the first unit to field the HPMs in February 2024 and has since been conducting tests across a range of environments.

In another first for the Indo-Pacific region, the IFPC-HPM and FS-LIDS were used together in a complementary system. FS-LIDS is another counter-UAS capability that has been operationally deployed in the Middle East for the past decade. Together with the IFPC-HPM it can be used for the sensing, tracking, and disabling of UAS while allowing IFPC-HPM operators to gain positive identification of the UAS target using its electro-optical infrared camera. Both systems can be used to disable the targets. This creates a layered defense of non-kinetic effects to defeat small UAS.

“During this test, we were able to demonstrate that we can successfully defeat drone swarms in a tropical environment using layered effects,” said McCollum.

The results of the test will be analyzed by the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office who manage the development, prototyping and testing of the Army’s Directed Energy weapons. The results will be used to improve the effectiveness in countering UAS swarms and help inform the Army’s future force requirements.

Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines learned about the IFPC-HPM and FS-LIDS as part of the Subject Matter Expert Exchange program, strengthening their partnership with the U.S. and giving them the skills that could enhance their role in national defense.

“This is a great opportunity to show our Philippine allies the cutting-edge capabilities that the U.S. Army has in development,” said McCollum, “This training demonstrates our commitment to strengthening our ties with our Indo-Pacific allies and partners.”

As a theater-level unit and joint force enabler, assigned to the Indo-Pacific, the 1st MDTF plays a vital role in synchronizing long-range precision fires layered with long-range precision effects to create multiple dilemmas and neutralize adversary anti-access and area denial networks. The MDTF’s proven innovation, agility, and lethality have led the Army to direct five full MDTFs in strategically significant locations worldwide.

Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the U.S. and Philippine armed forces designed to strengthen the alliance, showcase the capable combined force, and demonstrate the commitment to regional security and stability.

By MAJ Ian Sandall

Posted in Army, Guest Post, UAS | Comments Off on US Army, Philippine Air Force Test Counter-Drone Systems at Balikatan 2025

GA-ASI Statement on USAF CCA Program Updates

Monday, May 5th, 2025

SAN DIEGO – 01 May 2025 – The CCA program represents a groundbreaking new era in combat aviation, and we remain on schedule to test and fly YFQ-42 in the coming months. Over the past three decades, GA-ASI has pioneered more than two dozen different unmanned aircraft types for the U.S. and its allies, including multiple unmanned combat jets flying today, and logged nearly 9 million total flight hours. Our work on YFQ-42 will further expand the field of unmanned aviation, and we remain excited for the future.

We congratulate the Beale AFB community on its selection to support this new era of air dominance, and we look forward to partnering with you as the program progresses. To that end, I’m pleased to announce that GA-ASI will give the Beale community a sneak peek later this summer, with an exhibition of our full-scale YFQ-42 model on display at the Beale Air and Space Expo beginning June 7.

David R. Alexander

President

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

Posted in Aviation, Industry, Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on GA-ASI Statement on USAF CCA Program Updates

Palladyne AI and Red Cat Announce Successful Completion of Cross-Platform Collaborative Drone Flight

Thursday, May 1st, 2025

New testing milestone leverages three autonomous heterogeneous drone platforms for the first time

SALT LAKE CITY–Palladyne AI Corp. (NASDAQ: PDYN and PDYNW) (“Palladyne AI”), a developer of artificial intelligence software for robotic platforms in the defense and commercial sectors, and Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT) (“Red Cat”), a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations, today announced a significant testing milestone in their ongoing collaboration—the completion of an autonomous, cross-platform collaborative flight involving three diverse heterogeneous drones.

During this most recent testing, which leveraged Red Cat’s Teal 2 and Black Widow drones and the Palladyne™ Pilot AI software, each platform operated using onboard edge computing and constrained communication protocols without reliance on centralized infrastructure to communicate. The system enabled real-time, distributed detection and tracking of multiple dynamic and static ground objects—including humans and vehicles—in different regions of interest, providing a single operator with comprehensive situational awareness. The two companies previously announced a successful two-drone flight operation in January 2025, and Palladyne AI announced a single-drone testing scenario in December 2024 to autonomously identify, prioritize, and track terrestrial targets.

“This new testing milestone represents significant progress in our joint mission with Red Cat to enable multi-drone interoperability and autonomous collaboration for the defense sector,” said Matt Vogt, Chief Revenue Officer, Palladyne AI. “We are proud to have successfully completed this three-drone flight and believe our joint, cross-platform, autonomous solution will be a game changer for U.S. military personnel and drone operators. With this major step forward, we are excited about what Palladyne Pilot will bring to our government and defense customers as well as to our target non-defense civil customer base.”

“Successfully expanding from single to three-drone operations reflects not only the reliability of our drones and Palladyne’s AI software, but also the capability of onboard systems to independently handle complex missions,” said Geoff Hitchcock, Chief Revenue Officer of Red Cat. “For warfighters, this provides greater situational awareness while requiring fewer operators in the field to manage multiple assets. This latest test is a meaningful step toward making multiple, collaborative autonomous systems more practical and effective in real-world defense scenarios.”

The Palladyne Pilot software is commercially available. For more information, please visit www.palladyneai.com/pilot.

Posted in AI / ML, Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on Palladyne AI and Red Cat Announce Successful Completion of Cross-Platform Collaborative Drone Flight

GA-ASI Delivers MQ-9A Block 5 Extended Range UAS to USMC

Wednesday, April 30th, 2025

New UAS Delivered to VMX-1

SAN DIEGO – 29 April 2025 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) delivered an MQ-9A Reaper® Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). The new MQ-9A Block 5 Extended Range (ER) UAS was delivered on April 22, 2025, and will be operated by Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 (VMX-1), a USMC operational test squadron based at Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Arizona.

The new MQ-9A UAS will be used by the USMC to perform operational tests and evaluations, as well as create Marine Aviation tactics, techniques, and procedures through experimentation as the Marines fully implement MQ-9A as a critical part of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF).

“The Marine Corps is building out its ISR capabilities with this new aircraft,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “We are excited to see what VMX-1 does in terms of operational test in preparation for pushing new capabilities into the field.”

The MQ-9A ER is designed with field-retrofittable capabilities, such as wing-borne fuel pods and reinforced landing gear, that extend the aircraft’s endurance to more than 30 hours while further increasing its operational flexibility. It provides long-endurance, persistent surveillance capabilities, with Full-Motion Video and Synthetic Aperture Radar/Moving Target Indicator/Maritime Mode Radar. An extremely reliable aircraft, MQ-9A ER is equipped with a fault-tolerant flight control system and a triple-redundant avionics system architecture. It is engineered to meet and exceed manned aircraft reliability standards.

To date, GA-ASI has delivered 18 MQ-9A UAS to USMC. The USMC awaits delivery of two additional aircraft by the end of this year.

Posted in Press Release, UAS, USMC | Comments Off on GA-ASI Delivers MQ-9A Block 5 Extended Range UAS to USMC

Marine Corps to Deploy Counter-Drone Systems Across Units in 2025

Monday, April 28th, 2025

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. —

The proliferation of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems presents a significant tactical challenge for modern military forces. As adversaries across the globe increasingly mature and employ low-cost sUAS for reconnaissance, surveillance, and attack missions, it is imperative for the Marine Corps to enhance its capability to counter these threats in a dynamic, contested, and distributed environment.

This year, the Marine Corps will field dismounted counter-sUAS capabilities across the entire MAGTF, which will allow deployed Marines to effectively conduct self-defense against threat sUAS. The Marine Corps will maintain operational superiority and safeguard Marines, maritime forces, and the Joint Force against this evolving threat in diverse operational environments.

The technologies being fielded will allow Marines to detect, track, identify, and defeat adversary sUAS with both kinetic and non-kinetic means.

These systems will be lightweight, easy-to-use, easy-to-train, military occupational specialty agnostic, and to the maximum extent possible use weapon systems organic to individual units.

Small UAS pose significant risks due to their agility, low signature, and ease of employment. These systems can disrupt operations, compromise security, and destroy critical assets, and result in loss of life. The Marine Corps must therefore prioritize the development and integration of organic CUAS solutions, consisting of both mounted and dismounted capabilities, that provide a comprehensive protection against these emerging threats. Effective countermeasures are essential for safeguarding personnel and critical assets ensuring mission success.

Current Ground Based Air Defense capabilities that are being fielded today predominantly focus on mounted platforms organic to the Low Altitude Air Defense Battalions and the Littoral Anti-Air Battalions, which encompass the entire air defense continuum up to and including defeating manned aircraft and cruise missile threats. Those dedicated air defense assets are not always practical or available at scale to support individual unit operations. The fielding of organic-CUAS capabilities will address this gap by providing essential self-defense equipment while not detracting from the operator’s primary duties.

This decentralization of defensive measures aligns with the Marine Corps’ emphasis on maneuver warfare and dispersed operations, ensuring that all elements of the MAGTF can operate effectively in all environments.

Furthermore, continuous evaluation and adaptation of these systems will be crucial to keep pace with evolving sUAS technologies and tactics. By addressing this need, the MAGTF will enhance its defensive posture, safeguard its operational integrity, and ensure mission success in an increasingly complex threat environment.

By CD&I Staff | Marine Corps Combat Development Command

Posted in Guest Post, UAS, USMC | Comments Off on Marine Corps to Deploy Counter-Drone Systems Across Units in 2025

Marines Surpass 1,000 MQ-9A Flight Hours As Capabilities Expand

Friday, April 25th, 2025

SAN DIEGO – 23 April 2025 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. is proud to announce that the U.S. Marine Corps has passed more than 1,000 flight hours with MQ-9A unmanned aircraft in support of service-level training exercises and weapons and tactics instructor courses. This accomplishment involved a combined aircrew of dedicated Marines and GA-ASI personnel, highlighting the seamless integration and operational effectiveness of the MQ-9A platform within the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) and the MAGTF Unmanned Expeditionary (MUX) Program.

These demanding exercises showcased the advanced capabilities of the MQ-9A by integrating cutting-edge technologies such as the SkyTower networking support pod, Automatic Identification System, latest-generation Lynx®multi-mode radar and various other tactical networks and capabilities. The joint teams successfully conducted satellite launch and recovery activities operating out of a strategic expeditionary landing field near Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., further demonstrating the platform’s precision targeting and reconnaissance abilities in realistic training scenarios.

Previously, an uncrewed aircraft required a crew positioned at the airfield where it was operating to fly it for takeoff via direct line-of-site radio link. Then a mission crew could take over the aircraft from anywhere via satellite. Today, satellite launch and recovery means the main Marine mission crew, which can be sited anywhere, flies the aircraft from takeoff via the satellite link. This capability, validated in the Marine Corps operations, enables huge flexibility and expands the locations from which units can operate.

A key element of these exercises also included not only live-fire training but also comprehensive mission planning, networked communications, and multi-domain coordination. These events provided invaluable experience in integrating the MQ-9A into complex, distributed combat scenarios across the full range of Marine Air-Ground Task Force operations. From supporting maneuver elements with real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to validating command and control networks, the MQ-9A consistently demonstrated its adaptability and operational value. This milestone underscores the platform’s critical role in enhancing situational awareness, mission execution, and overall effectiveness across the battlespace.

“Reaching 1,000 flight hours for these rigorous training exercises alongside our Marine Corps and Air Force partners is a testament to the reliability and adaptability of the MQ-9A platform,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “This achievement highlights the power of collaboration and the critical role the MQ-9A can play in supporting the MAGTF’s mission readiness.”

The successful integration of the MQ-9A platform across recent operations represents a major milestone in aligning capability with the MAGTF construct. These events showcased the MQ-9A’s ability to support distributed operations, extend sensor coverage, and provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of dynamic mission sets. The coordinated efforts of Marines and GA-ASI personnel underscored the platform’s high degree of interoperability and its growing role in enabling expeditionary operations in contested environments.

To date, GA-ASI has delivered 17 MQ-9A UAS to USMC. The USMC awaits delivery of three additional aircraft by the end of this year.

Posted in Aviation, Press Release, UAS, USMC | Comments Off on Marines Surpass 1,000 MQ-9A Flight Hours As Capabilities Expand

DZYNE Introduces Dronebuster 4-EU, Expands Production After Securing Multi-Million-Dollar Global Contract

Thursday, April 24th, 2025

European-Tailored Wearable Drone Detection and Defeat Solution Enhances Protection Across Critical Sectors; Growing International Demand Drives Production Boost

April 23, 2025, Irvine, California

DZYNE Technologies, a pioneer in autonomous defense systems, today introduced the Dronebuster® 4-EU, an upgraded variant of its acclaimed handheld counter-drone system that incorporates both fixed site and wearable drone detection and visualization options for European customers. Specifically engineered to operate within European short-range device frequency bands, the 4-EU model addresses the escalating need for region-specific, adaptable counter-drone solutions across various sectors worldwide. In addition to providing users with the option to jam unwanted drones across a variety of EU-specific frequencies, the Dronebuster® 4-EU also incorporates an optional PNT (Position, Navigation, and Timing) attack mode to neutralize satellite-controlled drones across the GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, or BeiDou constellations.

“The versatility of Dronebuster® 4-EU empowers security personnel across sectors to effectively counteract unauthorized drones,” added George Schwartz, EVP of Products at DZYNE. “Our commitment to innovation ensures that we continue to meet the diverse and evolving needs of our global customers.”

DZYNE’s growing international impact is underscored by a recent multi-million-dollar contract award for Dronebuster® from an undisclosed allied customer — further validating the system’s global relevance and operational value.

“The proliferation of drones has introduced complex security challenges globally,” said Matthew McCue, CEO of DZYNE Technologies. “The Dronebuster® 4-EU provides security teams and infrastructure operators with adaptable, region-specific protection across diverse environments. To keep pace with surging demand, we have had to significantly increase production and personnel across engineering, production, and business development.”

DZYNE’s Counter-UAS portfolio has rapidly become one of the most trusted and operationally proven defense solutions worldwide. With more than 2,200 Dronebuster® units sold globally—including over 1000 actively deployed with U.S. Armed Forces—Dronebuster® is officially recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense as a Program of Record, further affirming its operational reliability and mission-critical role in counter-UAS operations. Alongside Dronebuster®, DZYNE’s broader C-UAS suite—including Sawtooth, ASP, and the newly introduced Dronebuster-FS—is currently deployed across 50+ countries, protecting critical infrastructure, military bases, borders, and high-threat environments.

The success and widespread adoption of these systems directly inspired the development of the Dronebuster® 4-EU—a region-specific model tailored for compliance with European short-range device (SRD) frequency bands. Building on DZYNE’s global operational footprint, the 4-EU delivers enhanced wearability, flexible deployment configurations, and integrated detection capabilities for mission-critical drone defense across European civil, military, and infrastructure applications.

Key Use Cases Driving Global Demand

A surge in unlawful drone activity has amplified the necessity for robust counter-drone systems for civil and military users alike. The Dronebuster® 4-EU is tailored to support a wide array of applications, including:

Critical Infrastructure Protection – Safeguarding power plants, water treatment facilities, and transportation hubs from unauthorized drone incursions that could disrupt operations or compromise safety.

Stadium and Event Security – Ensuring the safety of large gatherings by preventing potential drone-related threats during concerts, sports events, and public assemblies.

Secure Facility Defense – Protecting sensitive sites such as government buildings, research centers, and military installations from espionage or other malicious drone activities.

Airports – Preventing drone interference with aircraft operations and securing airspace around runways and terminals to protect passengers, personnel, and flight schedules.

Maritime Security – Defending vessels and maritime operations against drone threats, crucial for both commercial shipping and naval applications.

Border Surveillance and Point Defense – Enhancing border security by detecting and mitigating unauthorized drone crossings, aiding in the prevention of smuggling and unauthorized surveillance.

Dronebuster® 4-EU is available for purchase in fixed site, mobile, and handheld configurations, offering maximum flexibility for users to implement a single or networked layered defense solution against unwanted drones. Paired with its Detect, Track, Identify, and Mitigate (DTIM) wearable solution, a single user can detect drones out to 7km away and accurately defeat out to1.5km or more.

Production Expansion to Meet Diverse Needs

In response to the growing demand across these sectors, DZYNE is scaling up operations at its Portland, Oregon manufacturing facility, including:

Increased Manufacturing Capacity – Enhancing production lines to deliver the Dronebuster® 4EU to a global clientele promptly.

Workforce Growth – Creating new positions in engineering, production, and business development to support expanded operations and uphold stringent quality standards.

For more information on DZYNES Dronebuster® DTIM Kit or to request a product demo, please contact us at info@dzyne.com

Dronebuster® is a registered trademark of DZYNE.

Posted in Contracts, Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on DZYNE Introduces Dronebuster 4-EU, Expands Production After Securing Multi-Million-Dollar Global Contract