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DefendTex Launches Domestically Manufactured “VENGEANCE” FPV Long Range Strike Drone

Thursday, September 12th, 2024

DANDENONG SOUTH, VICTORIA – 10 September 2024 – Australian company DefendTex has launched Australia’s first domestically manufactured ‘blue’ First Person View (FPV) combat drone. This drone, designed for the European market, can carry up to 10kg of explosive ordinance over a distance greaterthan 20kms. This FPV drone is one of a series of loitering munitions designed and manufactured by DefendTex Australia for export markets.

DefendTex CEO Travis Reddy said, “it is important for Australia to have a manufacturing capability to produce our own long range precision strike weapons at scale”. This technology is designed so that targets can be reached away from the frontline of the battlefield. Mr Reddy added, “with pressure on defence budgets and global shortages of munitions, the DefendTex Vengeance Drone is a disruptive technology that can be manufactured at scale and at low cost.” The drone has been hardened to operate in an electronic warfare environment and leverages the latest developments in artificial intelligence. The Vengeance drone enables FPV swarm operations from a single pilot with no increase in cognitive burden. DefendTex is an established leader in multi-domain asymmetric warfare solutions and was awarded Innovator of the Year at the Australian Defence Industry Awards in 2023 and 2024. Providing world leading defence technologies, DefendTex’s capabilities include precision guided weapons, energetics, rocket manufacturing and loitering munitions. DefendTex has extensive experience in collaborative research, having commercialised ground breaking defence technologies. DefendTex is headquartered in Australia and has offices in USA and UK.

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CAMCOPTER S-100 Obtains First Ever EASA Design Verification Report For Rotary Wing UAS

Friday, September 6th, 2024

Vienna, 5 September 2024 – The CAMCOPTER® S-100 received the first ever Design Verification Report (DVR) by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for a Rotary Wing Unmanned Air System (RWUAS).

The Design Verification Report (DVR) for the specific category of UAS operations was issued after a rigorous evaluation process, including 300 EASA observed flight hours proving airworthiness, safety and enhanced containment, as well as successfully demonstrating laser safety, cyber security features and HIRF (High Intensity Radiated Fields) resistance.

This EASA report enables the French Navy to issue a “Military Operational Type Authorisation” and facilitates the approval processes for S-100 flight operations in all EASA member states.

“Receiving the DVR is a significant milestone for Schiebel and a major step towards fully certifying the CAMCOPTER® S-100 UAS”, said Hans Georg Schiebel, Chairman of the Schiebel Group.

The DVR process was set in place by EASA at the end of 2021 and aims at ensuring safe drone operations in Europe.

Posted in Aviation, International, Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on CAMCOPTER S-100 Obtains First Ever EASA Design Verification Report For Rotary Wing UAS

AeroVironment Secures $990M Contract to Supply U.S. Army with Switchblade Loitering Munitions

Thursday, August 29th, 2024

AV selected to deliver Switchblade systems for the U.S. Army’s lethal unmanned systems requirement

ARLINGTON, Va.–AeroVironment (AV) has been awarded a contract for the U.S. Army’s Directed Requirement (DR) for Lethal Unmanned Systems (LUS). The 5-year contract from Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground is Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) with a contract ceiling value of $990M. Deliveries of the Switchblade® systems are expected to begin in months.

The LUS Directed Requirement is the Army’s first effort to equip soldiers in infantry battalions with lethal, man-portable loitering munition systems. The combat-proven Switchblade systems will enhance soldiers’ capabilities with precision flight control, greater lethality against fortified targets such as armored vehicles and tanks, and the ability to track and engage moving non-line-of-sight targets. AV was awarded a contract for the LUS Directed Requirement in December 2023 and is currently delivering systems under that contract.

“AV is proud to have been selected to provide Switchblade for this critical and urgent Army requirement,” said Brett Hush, AV’s senior vice president and general manager of Loitering Munition Systems. “This latest contract underscores the unmatched maturity and effectiveness of our system, as well as AV’s strategic positioning to rapidly produce and deliver these cutting-edge solutions to operators in the field.”

Switchblade represents the next generation of extended-range loitering munition systems, providing operators in the field with a multi-mission loitering munition system capable of multi-domain operations. The combat-proven system also features high-precision optics and extended loitering endurance.

“Starting with the LUS Directed Requirement, we are well positioned to meet the Army’s emerging needs, leveraging our robust production capability and supply chain capacity to ensure rapid fielding and enhanced combat overmatch for our soldiers,” continued Hush.

This contract further solidifies AV’s role as a leading provider of innovative unmanned solutions. The company remains committed to supporting the U.S. Army’s mission by delivering advanced technology that ensures operational superiority and enhances the safety and effectiveness of our military personnel.

For more information, visit www.avinc.com.

Posted in Army, Contracts, Munitions, Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on AeroVironment Secures $990M Contract to Supply U.S. Army with Switchblade Loitering Munitions

Hoptic USA – CADIS Shotgun Patterning Drone Targets

Wednesday, August 28th, 2024

CADIS (Civilian Anti Drone Interdiction System) is a complete training regimen which includes shooting clays in non-conventional directions and tracking and engaging drones. The skills begin with patterning your shotgun, ammo and choke selection with the CADIS Patterning Target.

Includes:

Six 36″ x 24″ Drone Patterning Targets (3 of each variation)

Shotgun patterning tips and basic information.

CADIS 2-1/2 “decal.

www.hopticusa.com/product-page/cadis-shotgun-patterning-drone-target

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Japan Buys Two SeaGuardians from GA-ASI

Saturday, August 17th, 2024

SAN DIEGO – 15 August 2024 – The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) has signed a contract for the purchase of two SeaGuardian® Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), scheduled for delivery in 2025. This follows JCG’s ongoing Company-Owned, Contractor-Operated agreement with GA-ASI for operating SeaGuardian, which began in April 2022.

“Since JCG started operating SeaGuardians, they have been used for various JCG missions including supporting search and rescue and disaster response specifically during the 7.6 magnitude earthquake early this year near the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture and maritime surveillance during the 2023 G-7 Summit in Hiroshima, and the system has performedefficiently and effectively,” said GA-ASI CEO Linden Blue.

SeaGuardian is a medium-altitude, long-endurance RPA system that can fly for 24 hours or more, depending on the configuration.

GA-ASI has strengthened its Maritime Wide Area Surveillance (MWAS) for Japan with Optix+, which gathers information from the SeaGuardian sensors, as well as other data sources, displaying the full picture of surveillance information for its operator. This functionality makes it easy to task and direct its Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) information in real time. GA-ASI’s Optix+ software suite rapidly correlates and exploits collected data into an easily shared common operational picture. Having multi-source correlated data enables automatic detection of anomalous behaviors over waters.

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Aeronautics Secures Contract with NATO Member for Advanced Orbiter 3 UAS

Wednesday, August 14th, 2024

Agreement includes the new generation multi-platform system to a repeat NATO customer, enhancing fleet capabilities

August 12, 2024 – Aeronautics Ltd., a global leader in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for defense and HLS markets, announces a significant contract with a European NATO member country to supply advanced Orbiter 3 UAS systems.

This important contract includes the Aeronautics’ new generation multi-platform system to a NATO customer, increasing significantly the customers’ existing fleet. The Orbiter 3 is a small tactical unmanned aerial system, considered one of the leading systems in its class worldwide. It provides superior performance for both defense and HLS applications, making it an essential asset for modern military operations.

The Orbiter 3 stands out with its advanced ISTAR capabilities, runway-independent operation, long endurance, and ability to carry various types of payloads. Its advanced image processing, small logistical footprint, and navigation capabilities in GPS-denied environments further enhance its operational flexibility. The system’s ability to withstand harsh weather conditions ensures reliable performance across diverse scenarios.

The Orbiter 3 offers low life-cycle costs compared to similar systems, a lightweight design and extended endurance, making it a leading choice for many countries seeking to enhance their operational capabilities. The system’s combat-proven reliability, backed by thousands of flight hours, ensures it meets the rigorous demands of military operations. Its multi-platform compatibility allows for communal use of the same launching station and communication across various systems, facilitating seamless integration and expansion.

Dan Slasky, CEO of Aeronautics, stated, “This contract marks another important milestone with a long-standing customer.” He added, “The scalability of our system allows our partners to incrementally expand their capabilities over time, using the same proven infrastructure. This approach not only reduces costs and enables the most cutting-edge systems, but also streamlines operations for our customers.”

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French Navy’s Camcopter S-100 Squadron Secures WATERS During the Olympic Games 2024

Tuesday, August 13th, 2024

Vienna, 12 August 2024 – The 2024 Olympic Games were held in France this year with the French Navy CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS) Squadron securing the waters around Marseille for the Olympic events.

The CAMCOPTER® S-100 are stationed on board the French Navy’s Flottille 36F in Var, and monitored the vicinity of the Olympic Games, a total of 22,500 nautical square miles. Flying from Saint-Mandrier (Var), the S-100s provided the authorities with real-time data of the maritime area towards Marseille, where a number of sailing, kitesurfing and windsurfing events took place.

While conducting these operations, the S-100 was equipped with a high performance EO/IR camera and an Automatic Identification System (AIS) to monitor and detect any suspicious activities at sea.

“It is an honour that the French Navy utilised their S-100 Squadron to monitor the surroundings of the Olympic Games. This is another great use case for the CAMCOPTER® and shows the versatility of applications and capabilities“, said Lubos Sramek, Director of Schiebel Aéronaval SAS in Toulon.

Posted in International, Maritime, Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on French Navy’s Camcopter S-100 Squadron Secures WATERS During the Olympic Games 2024

Introducing The Benelli Armi S.p.A. M4 A.I. Drone Guardian

Tuesday, August 13th, 2024

Modern warfare scenarios show the massive use of small FPV (First Person View) drones, piloted by quadcopters with individual visors and remote controls, attacking enemy troops on the ground, either directly or by firing anti-personnel grenades from above at squads of soldiers below, causing many casualties.

This new scenario paves the way for the first time for the use of the 12-gauge #shotgun in combination with 4/0 buckshot type #ammunition, creating a large enough swarm at distances of 50m or more to easily shoot down the drone at close range.

This is a ‘last resort’ defense that effectively saves the soldier’s life and is not feasible with pistols or assault rifles.

Benelli Armi S.p.A. – one of the world’s leading shotgun manufacturers whose products are in service with government, law enforcement and military users in more than 90 countries around the world- has developed a specific line for this critical application:

The Benelli M4 A.I. Drone Guardian

A.I. stands for “Advanced Impact” a patented system of larger and longer cone inside the barrel able to improve capability to hit targets at longer distance compared to standard shotguns and with a deeper penetration.

Posted in Press Release, UAS | 8 Comments »