With the completion of the U.S. Navy’s Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) flight operations on July 28, 2024, the MQ-9B SeaGuardian® Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) supplied by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., self-deployed back to its home base in El Mirage, Calif., but only after introducing an array of new capabilities.
Grand Forks-based iSight Drone Services is the first commercial drone operator to regularly conduct flights outside pilots’ line of sight, a significant milestone for unmanned flight in the U.S. Using Vantis, the statewide system of sensors and radar supporting unmanned, the company will be able to fly beyond pilots' sight without needing to seek the FAA’s approval each time.
uAvionix announced that the ping200XR Mode S ADS-B transponder with integral aviation GPS, has received Technical Standard Order certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This milestone is the latest major TSO certification for uAvionix and offers the lowest certified Size, Weight, and Power solution for worldwide airspace compliance.
The North Dakota UAS Council is announced that Bismarck State College (BSC) has joined the Council as its newest member. This strategic partnership marks a significant step forward in advancing UAS education, research, and industry collaboration in North Dakota.
Censys Technologies, a leader in BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) solutions, announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval of an expansive waiver. This waiver allows operations over people (OOP) and moving vehicles (OOMV), with Sentaero 5, an eVTOL fixed-wing drone, marking unparallel permissions that significantly widen operational scope for UAS operators across the United States.
Anduril Industries announced it has secured $1.5 billion of funding for its Series F round to hyperscale defense manufacturing. Anduril is also investing in Arsenal, the manufacturing platform for modern warfare. With Arsenal, Anduril’s goal is to manufacture and produce tens of thousands of autonomous weapons systems addressing the urgent needs of the United States and our allies.
U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer announced tech billionaire and defense entrepreneur, Palmer Luckey, will be his guest at this year’s UAS Summit and Expo in Grand Forks, Oct. 8 and 9. Luckey is best known for founding Oculus VR when he was 20 years old. At age 22, he sold the company to Meta for $2 billion in cash and stock. In 2017, he founded Anduril Industries, a defense technology company focused on autonomous drones and sensors for military applications.
GrandSKY announced membership in the North Dakota Unmanned Autonomous Systems (UAS) Council. This decision marks a significant step in their commitment to expanding the UAS industry not just regionally, but statewide. By joining this influential council, GrandSKY aim to contribute to and benefit from the collective growth and strategic insight it offers.
A group of researchers from Oklahoma State University’s (OSU) Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education – along with biology researchers from Stephen F. Austin State University and members of Dolphin Quest used an unmanned aerial system (UAS) to collect dolphin exhalation.
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) will run a prize challenge to identify platforms, components, and capabilities for Blue UAS. The challenge will consider First Person View, Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3 platforms, as well as components, capabilities, and software for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
AutoFlight and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. announced an exclusive strategic investment and cooperation agreement, valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars, bringing together pioneers in electric vertical take-off and landing and battery technology in a unique partnership.
BlueHalo, the company transforming the future of global defense with actively deployed and operationally proven Counter-Uncrewed Aerial System (C-UAS) solutions, announced the successful completion of critical milestones in the development of its agile and disruptive new Next-Generation C-UAS Missile: Freedom Eagle (FE-1).
The Northern Plains UAS Test Site has successfully assisted the Grand Forks Fire Department in obtaining a Tactical Beyond Visual Line of Sight (TBVLOS) waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration. The granting of this waiver that took effect on July 19, marks a significant advancement in public safety and emergency response capabilities in Grand Forks, ND, and East Grand Forks, MN.
The program will unite stakeholders to develop a model framework for integrating AAM systems and technology to help serve all communities during times of critical need.
Northrop Grumman Corporation joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to welcome its first MQ-4C Triton uncrewed aircraft during a ceremony at RAAF Base Tindal, Northern Territory. The arrival of the high-altitude, long-endurance Triton enables Australia to deploy the most advanced maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting capability available today.
AFWERX, MTSI Evaluate Electric Vertical Takeoff, Landing Aircraft for Military Applications
By Air Force Research Laboratory Public Affairs
August 01, 2024
Since mid-June, experts from AFWERX, the Department of the Air Force’s innovation arm within the Air Force Research Laboratory, have been working with Modern Technology Solutions Inc., (MTSI) to evaluate Pivotal’s BlackFly electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, along with other electric aircraft. This effort is part of the AFWERX Agility Prime program, which focuses on assessing the aircraft and their supporting ecosystem through an operational leasing initiative.
Silvus Technologies, Inc. announced that UVisionUSA and Mistral Inc. have selected Silvus’ StreamCaster SC4400 MANET radios to power C2 and communications for the HERO-120SF. This selection is a critical component of UVisionUSA and Mistral Inc. recent $73.5 million contract award from the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) for loitering munitions.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has been awarded a $98 million contract as Lead Systems Integrator for Project Red 5. The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense Project, run by the Test Resource Management Center, will prototype advanced autonomous air-to-air capability to provide adversary or “red” air training profiles.
Last October Vigilant Aerospace kicked off a groundbreaking project for the Air Force Research Laboratory to develop a detect-and-avoid system for the Air Force’s new long-endurance drone. The company has continued to reach important milestones on the path to bringing FlightHorizon PILOT, our dual-use (i.e. for both civilian and military users) onboard detect-and-avoid product, to the military.
Senator John Hoeven announced that he is working to expand the Space Development Agency (SDA) satellite mission at the Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB). Hoeven made the announcement with SDA Director Dr. Derek Tournear while reviewing progress on the facilities being developed at the GFAFB for the SDA’s low-Earth orbit satellite mission, which will serve as the backbone for all U.S. military communications.
D-Fend Solutions has received additional confirmation from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for EnforceAir2, the award-winning counter-drone technology acclaimed for its ability to provide protection from unmanned aircraft systems, following completion of a series of evaluations related to airport operational continuity.
FlytBase announced a strategic partnership with Pix4D to streamline drone data processing workflows, enabling seamless data upload and automated processing for accurate mapping and 3D modeling.
uAvionix, a leader in aviation surveillance solutions, announced the integration of its FlightLine surveillance services with Volant Autonomy’s advanced ITM (Integrated Traffic Management) system for Agile and Integrated Airspace System, a leading-edge UK Government $5M Future Flight Phase III project.
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has partnered with the Grand Forks Air Force Base, GrandSKY, and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site to successfully conduct test flights of the Kratos Valkyrie UAS and its associated Trolley Launch System. This innovative system enables traditional rocket/catapult launch high-performance jet drones to be capable of traditional runway launch without RATO assist when runways are available at the operational site.
Packet Digital officially secured the location for its future battery cell plant in Fargo, North Dakota. With the location and building in place, Packet Digital will begin construction on the facility and begin acquiring the equipment needed to manufacture its highly reliable, high-performance drone battery cells right here in the United States.
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. announced that GE Aerospace and Kratos Turbine Technologies signed a Memorandum of Understanding to partner on the development and production of small affordable engines that could potentially power unmanned aerial systems (UAS), collaborative combat aircraft, and similar applications.
Through a Memorandum of Understanding, Eve Air Mobility and Siemens Smart Infrastructure are teaming up to evaluate the electrical infrastructure and energy management services needed to support safe, efficient and scalable eVTOL operations.
The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force (RAF) now has two Protector RG Mk1 Remotely Piloted Aircraft operating at RAF Waddington. The second Protector has started its ground trial at RAF Station Waddington with first flight expected in August.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has scheduled its first Blue Magic event in the Netherlands on November 19, 2024. The Blue Magic Netherlands event will bring together Dutch startups, universities, government officials, aerospace leaders, and representatives from other high-tech industries.
Eve Air Mobility, a global leader in manufacturing and providing services for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has announced a significant advancement in the assembly of its first full-scale eVTOL prototype. During the 45th Farnborough Airshow, the company unveiled the aircraft being built in the Embraer test facility of Gaviao Peixoto, Sao Paulo State.
Advertisement
@ Copyright 2025 - BBI International - All rights reserved.