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USAF Flies with Angry Kitten Jamming Pod

Tuesday, July 25th, 2023

SAN DIEGO – 20 July 2023 – The U.S. Air Force flew a remotely piloted aircraft equipped with an Angry Kitten® ALQ-167 Electronic Warfare Countermeasure Pod for the first time on April 27, 2023. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. integrated the pod onto the aircraft.

The Angry Kitten EW Pod is supplied to the U.S. Air Force by the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) and has flown on other Department of Defense systems, including F-16s. GA-ASI integrated the EW pod in less than nine months at no cost to the U.S. Air Force by using a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement.

“It was great to see the Angry Kitten Pod on an Air Force platform for the first time,” said GA-ASI Vice President of DoD Strategic Development Patrick Shortsleeve. “Flying this EW capability on an MQ-9A demonstrates its possible use on future aircraft.”

The Air Force plans to continue flying with Angry Kitten Pods over the next 12 to 24 months to develop the best Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) to leverage EW capabilities in support of the Joint Force and partner nations.

Posted in Air Force, Aviation, EW, Guest Post, UAS | 2 Comments »

GA-ASI’s Unmanned Aircraft Cross 8 Million Flight Hours

Monday, July 17th, 2023

>New MQ-9B SkyGuardian®/SeaGuardian® Models Add More Than 4,000 Hours

SAN DIEGO – 14 July 2023 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA?ASI) today announced that its family of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), which includes the Predator®, Reaper, Gray Eagle, Avenger®, and MQ-9B SkyGuardian®/SeaGuardian® lines, has surpassed eight million flight hours. GA-ASI aircraft have completed 566,000 total missions in nearly 40 countries around the world.

Adding to the total are 13 MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian UAS that have flown more than 4,000 flight hours, including the new Protector RG Mk1 being delivered to the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force. The first three Protectors are currently undergoing Integrated Test, Evaluation, and Acceptance trials. In addition, MQ-9Bs are being operated by the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) and Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF), as well as supporting various U.S. Navy exercises.

“GA-ASI continues to be a leader in developing reliable, cost-efficient, and sustainable unmanned aircraft systems that perform advanced operations for our customers around the world,” said GA-ASI CEO Linden P. Blue. “Eight million flight hours is another achievement on our list of historic firsts, which demonstrates our relentless commitment to quality.”

The exact aircraft and customer that achieved the milestone is unknown, as it’s estimated that more than 50 Predator-class Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) RPA are airborne worldwide every moment of every day.

GA-ASI aircraft average 40,000 hours per month, supporting programs with the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, NASA, the Italian Air Force, the UK Royal Air Force, the French Air Force, the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, the Spanish Air Force, the Royal Netherlands Air Force, the Indian Navy, the Polish Air Force, JCG, JMSDF, and others, with more customers coming online soon. Missions include helping protect ground units on the battlefield, supporting first responders in the wake of natural disasters, and providing critical ISR around the world. These aircraft systems continue to maintain some of the highest mission-capable rates in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army aircraft inventories.

GA-ASI has produced more than 1,000 aircraft and nearly 500 Ground Control Stations (GCS) in more than three decades of business. In addition to UAS and GCS, GA-ASI produces Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (PED) systems, as well as sensor payloads that deliver radar and video imagery, detect moving targets on the ground and over water, and provide Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) on signals of interest. GA-ASI has also developed a Detect and Avoid (DAA) system to facilitate the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems into civil airspace in addition to combat environments.

The Predator-series family includes Predator A and Predator XP, Predator B/MQ-9A Reaper, Predator B Extended Range (ER), Guardian, Gray Eagle, Gray Eagle ER, Predator C Avenger/ER, and MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian.

Posted in Aviation, Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on GA-ASI’s Unmanned Aircraft Cross 8 Million Flight Hours

DroneShield Assigned NATO Stock Numbers

Friday, July 14th, 2023

• DroneShield assigned with NATO Stock Numbers (NSNs) for RfPatrol Mk2, DroneGun Mk3, DroneGun Mk4, and DroneSentry-X.

• This follows up on the earlier assignment of NSN for DroneGun Tactical.

• NATO militaries, which are the largest existing customer segment for DroneShield, now able to purchase these additionally listed products “off the shelf”.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX:DRO) (“DroneShield” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that several of its products have been assigned a NATO Stock Number (NSN) as follows:

This follows up on the earlier NSN assignment for DroneGun Tactical (5865661650137) in February 2019, which significantly contributed, and continues to contribute, towards that product becoming one of DroneShield’s best-selling items.

An NSN is a 13-digit numeric code, identifying all the “standardised material items of supply” as they have been recognised by all NATO countries including United States Department of Defense, and allows for any of the 31 NATO militaries to purchase the items on a “military catalogue” basis, significantly simplifying the procurement process.

The assignment of an NSN is also relevant to non-NATO customers in that it is considered to signify that the product has achieved a certain level of acceptance by the world’s most discerning military customers, the members of NATO and NATO’s allies.

The Company expects that the receipt of these additional NSNs for will assist its sales efforts in both NATO and non-NATO countries.

Posted in Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on DroneShield Assigned NATO Stock Numbers

GeoCue Expands European Footprint with New French Distributor, Escadrone

Monday, July 10th, 2023

The new partnership will bring cutting-edge geospatial hardware and software to France.For Release July 10, 2023

Huntsville, AL – GeoCue, a leading provider of advanced geospatial software and hardware solutions, is pleased to announce the addition of Escadrone to its global network of distributors. This strategic partnership continues to extend GeoCue’s expansion into the European market, particularly in France and French-speaking countries where Escadrone will provide advanced-level TrueView 3D Imaging Sensors and LP360 LiDAR Processing Software.

Escadrone, a renowned expert in autonomous robotics integration for professional civilian applications, has been serving its customers since 2014. As a pioneer in the design, sale, and approval of drone technology, along with providing comprehensive training, Escadrone offers personalized autonomous robotics solutions to a growing number of companies. Their wide range of training, drones, equipment, and software covers various professional uses, ensuring their customers have access to cutting-edge technology.

Herbert Nicolas, CEO of Escadrone, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We appreciate working with companies that put customers at the heart of product development, and creating partnerships with their distributors to ensure the customers receive the highest level of support and professionalism. GeoCue’s commitment to excellence aligns perfectly with our values, and we are excited to bring their industry-leading solutions to our customers.”

With this collaboration, Escadrone will now offer TrueView Lidar products and LP360 software to its customers. The TrueView systems enable advanced photogrammetry and LiDAR data collection, empowering customers to enhance their surveying and mapping capabilities. By integrating these powerful tools into their workflows, Escadrone’s customers gain a technological advantage in the highly competitive field of drone mapping.

Abdel Diani, Director of Global Distribution for GeoCue, commented on the partnership, saying, “We are delighted to welcome Escadrone to our global network of distributors. Their expertise in autonomous robotics and commitment to customer satisfaction make them an ideal partner for GeoCue. Together, we can provide innovative geospatial solutions to customers in France and beyond, helping them optimize their operations and achieve remarkable results.”

GeoCue and Escadrone share a common goal of delivering exceptional products and services while adapting swiftly to market conditions. This partnership not only strengthens GeoCue’s presence in the European market but also reinforces Escadrone’s commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions and unrivaled customer support.

Posted in Industry, International, Sensors, UAS | Comments Off on GeoCue Expands European Footprint with New French Distributor, Escadrone

Warrior East 23 – Zenith AeroTech

Friday, July 7th, 2023

I was surprised to learn about Zenith AeroTech which shared a booth with Zenith Firearms. They manufacture tethered aerial systems.

There are two models of tethered drones, the Quad-L can carry up to 8 lbs of payload while the Quad-L will carry a 20 lbs payload aloft. Flight duration is based upon power provided by the ground power unit which also serves as a conduit for the data being collected by the drone. Below you can see the controller.

Units and agencies can procure products seen at Warrior East by contacting ADS, Inc.

Posted in Advertiser, UAS, Warrior Expo | Comments Off on Warrior East 23 – Zenith AeroTech

DroneShield Announces $9.9 million DoD Contract

Thursday, July 6th, 2023

• Five Eyes DoD awards DroneShield a record $9.9 million contract

• The award follows DroneShield successfully completing a $3.8 million contract with the same customer

• Ongoing significant momentum in the business in a rapidly expanding market

Operator with the tablet console of DroneShield DroneSentry-X vehicle counterdrone system

DroneShield Ltd (ASX:DRO) (DroneShield or the Company) has been awarded a follow-on 2-year R&D contract with a total value of $9.9 million by a Five Eyes Department of Defence (DoD). Approximately $4.5 million is due in the September and December 2023 quarters. Five Eyes refers to the defence/intelligence alliance between the US, Canada, UK, Australia and NZ.

The award follows DroneShield materially completing the $3.8 million contract announced 4 June 2021 with the DoD, with a final milestone payment expected this month.

Oleg Vornik, DroneShield’s CEO, commented, “Follow-on contracts are the ultimate customer measure of our performance. As an Australian sovereign industrial capability business, DroneShield is proud and pleased to continue undertaking multi-year contracts of increasing size with this customer.”

“This is the largest long-term contract received by DroneShield to date, significantly larger than the earlier, $3.8 million contract. The 2-year term locks in cash receipts over a period of time. Further larger contracts are anticipated following completion of this phase.”

“In the current uncertain geopolitical environment, there is a significant focus by the Five Eyes Governments to procure from defence industrial capability champions within their network of countries. Having deep engineering and research capability, TRL9 products and a track record of working with Defence, places DroneShield in a favourable position for ongoing work.”

Operational Update

• Following a strong $7 million cash receipts 1Q23 quarter, DroneShield is on track for an all-time record 2Q23 quarter and continuing on a trajectory for another record year for cash receipts in 2023. Further detail will be provided in the next 4C quarterly, due to be released later in July.

• Significant progress on manufacturing, operations and inventory scale-up to support additional anticipated orders for remainder of 2023. DroneShield is currently finalizing the location for a larger industrial site to move its Sydney operations to enable the growth.

• With the $11 million contract announced in December now fully delivered and paid for, DroneShield is progressing the inventory build of the second $11 million order announced in January, expected to be delivered later this year.

• Current order book (committed and binding customer purchase orders) of approximately $29 million, an all-time record.

• Over $200 million qualified opportunities pipeline (in addition to the order book), across approximately 80 projects.

• Ongoing record demand for counterdrone / C-UAS equipment, underscored by the events in Ukraine and increasing defence and security budgets globally.

• In addition to military and intelligence communities, significant engagement with critical infrastructure plants, airports and other civilian customers.

Posted in Contracts, Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on DroneShield Announces $9.9 million DoD Contract

DroneShield Releases DroneLocator

Monday, July 3rd, 2023

DroneShield is pleased to announce it has commenced the release of a major firmware update applied to its global fleet of counterdrone (C-UAS) devices.

The introduction of Remote ID legislation globally has seen drone manufacturers develop proprietary remote identification approaches. Remote ID is designed to broadcast critical information about the aircraft, location data, flight information and pilot details. This technology is becoming increasingly important in the management of the low altitude airspace.

DroneShield devices are now capable of detecting a variety of Remote ID signals via the Company’s proprietary DroneLocator technology. These enhancements apply to its man-portable, vehicle/ship and fixed-site products. Most notably DroneLocator can display DJI Remote ID signals previously only available via the DJI AeroScope product.

DroneLocator can display critical information such as:

• Drone location (latitude, longitude & altitude)

• Pilot location (latitude & longitude)

• Drone home location (latitude & longitude)

• Drone serial number (unique identifier)

• Drone speed

In addition to DroneLocator, enrolled devices receive a quarterly update to the proprietary DroneShield RFAI Artificial Intelligence engine. While DroneLocator provides a solution for detecting and tracking compliant and legal aircraft, DroneShield RFAI technology continues to provide a solution for unlawful, unregistered, and hostile drones.

DroneShield RFAI and DroneLocator can be run simultaneously on a single DroneShield device, with DroneShield products running AI processing on edge. RFAI and DroneLocator can operate in a completely air-gapped (no internet connection) configuration.

DroneLocator technology greatly expands the use cases from DroneShield products including an expansion of C-UAS, Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM), Low Altitude Airspace Monitoring, Drone Security and Drone Fleet Management.

In addition, this major update includes:

• Greater Performance in High Noise Environments: Major improvements to the detection algorithms including an advanced convolutional neural network, enhances detection performance in complex, cluttered, high noise environments.

• Maps Available on Embedded Devices: DroneSentry-X devices can now load and display a map for added situational awareness.

• Improved Graphic User Interface: Device detection and logging information can now be expanded to provide end users with additional content.

Angus Bean, DroneShield Chief Technology Officer, commented, “The addition of DroneLocator to our detection technology suite is the continuation of our long-term strategy to offer major enhancements to the existing product range via our software subscription model. We are pleased the technology is available immediately for all our existing end user community. This technology has been heavily requested by the C-UAS and adjacent industries.”

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Rheinmetall Mission Master CXT – Fire Support for Counter UAS Role

Sunday, July 2nd, 2023

Rheinmetall is proud to present the Mission Master CXT – Fire Support, equipped with Dillon dual M134D miniguns. This innovative and reliable countermeasure is specially designed to defeat small unmanned aerial systems (UAS). It can fire an impressive 6,000 rounds per minute and defeat drone targets day and night.

With the ability to autonomously detect and track aerial and land targets, while also prioritizing safe fire engagement by the operator (man in/on the loop), this pioneering technology is set to revolutionize counter-UAS operations. What’s more, it features wolfpack capability, meaning that one operator can manage multiple unmanned ground vehicles at the same time.

Rheinmetall will display its counter-UAS solution for the very first time at DSEI in September 2023.

Posted in DSEi, Guest Post, International, UAS | 2 Comments »