$988M Aid Package, OpenAI x Anduril, drone banner advertising, and more!
BLOS Update Week 49: 02 Dec – 08 Dec
Happy Monday folks,
Welcome to week 49 2024 BLOS newsletter!
Today is a long one: 83 news stories and 4 recommended reading articles.
Defence & Security
Ukraine – Russia
Ukraine’s AI-powered drones achieve an 80% success rate in precision strikes.
Two Ukrainian missile drones were unveiled this week, the Peklo and Palianytsia; and an unmanned surface vehicle equipped to launch explosive FPV drones. In other news, a NEMESIS heavy attack drone destroyed a Russian Tor-M2 air defence system.
U.S. announced a $988 million aid package to Ukraine, which includes air defence systems, drones, and other advanced weaponry. The U.S. is also testing "Hitchhiker" drones to intercept incoming threats to help bolster Ukraine's defences against Russian attacks.
Russia’s overnight attacks on Kyiv and beyond were largely neutralized by Ukraine’s air defences, though power infrastructure sustained serious damage. These are causing widespread power outages.
Middle East
Syrian rebels are deploying advanced "Shaheen" drones, modelled on captured Iranian and Russian designs, to target government forces with precision, altering battle dynamics and raising concerns over insurgent technological advancements.
Capability and Tech development Trials and Exercises
At Europe’s largest defence tech hackathon in Paris, teams showcased breakthroughs in drone detection and navigation, including automated UAV detection in challenging conditions and submarine drone navigation without GPS.
Leonardo's Falco Xplorer completed testing of the EUDAAS collision avoidance system, a milestone for integrating large military drones into European airspace safely and advancing drone safety certifications.
Piasecki Aircraft’s ARES VTOL aircraft achieved its first stable hover, demonstrating its potential for defence missions like cargo delivery, with advanced flight controls ensuring adaptability.
Contracts and Partnerships
Two U.S. Navy contracts: Kratos Defense secured a $35M contract to advance its XQ-58A Valkyrie program, and General Atomics was awarded a contract to develop next-gen HF modem for secure comms in satellite-denied environments.
Meanwhile, Hoverfly Technologies won the U.S. Army's Variable Height Antenna program with its Spectre TeUAS, boosting surveillance and communication capabilities.
Two high profile U.S. based partnerships announced: OpenAI and Anduril Industries partnered to develop AI tools to counter weaponized drones, integrating OpenAI’s models with Anduril’s Lattice platform; Shield AI and Palantir are expanding their collaboration to integrate AI platforms for smarter, scalable military solutions.
Elsewhere, Poland announced plans to build a comprehensive unmanned military force by 2025; Taiwan launched a drone supply hub with over 100 companies; the JMSDF (Japan) selected General Atomics’ MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones for maritime surveillance; Elbit Systems received a $40M contract from Israel’s Ministry of Defense to deliver drones for enhanced security and reconnaissance.
New Defence Tech and UAS
Ukraine’s Buntar Aerospace unveiled the Buntar-1 VTOL drone, excelling in electronic warfare resistance and real-time surveillance.
Helsing introduced an AI-powered strike drone for precision targeting, reflecting its focus on cutting-edge defense technologies.
Saab showcased UAV live training systems to enable drones to serve as both training assets and simulated threats during military exercises, and introduced a cutting-edge UAV trainer to help soldiers prepare for modern warfare, with the UK Armed Forces being its first user.
C-UAS
A civilian drone neared HMS Queen Elizabeth in Germany, sparking security concerns over military site protection amid rising tensions.
The U.S. Army is advancing high-energy laser systems to counter Group 3 UAVs, targeting operational capability by 2027, and the U.S. DoD unveiled a strategy to counter growing unmanned system threats, focusing on adaptability and protecting critical assets.
India plans a border anti-drone unit with advanced laser systems to enhance security, particularly along the India-Pakistan border.
Canada announced $19M in grants to develop counter-drone tech.
Bluelight (Emergency Services)
In and around New York: The FBI is investigating mysterious large drones near sensitive sites in New Jersey, New York City’s MTA plans to deploy drones to monitor its bus network, and NYC launched its Drone as First Responder (DFR) program to enhance emergency response with faster, real-time situational awareness.
Moreover, a helicopter transporting a patient to a New Jersey hospital was delayed by unauthorized drones, underlining the need for stricter UAV regulations.
Elsewhere in the U.S., a Fort Myers police drone equipped with night vision helped arrest a violent home invasion suspect, Palm Springs Police are expanding their DFR program to enable radar-supported drone deployments, North Dakota proposed $15M to replace Chinese-made drones with U.S.-manufactured ones.
Temporary flight restrictions are put in place over Trump National Golf Club and a New Jersey military base as a measure against unauthorized drones.
In the UK, during HMS Prince of Wales’ visit to Liverpool, a drone breached security zones, leading to its seizure. HMP Perth in Scotland is exploring counter-drone systems to combat the use of UAVs for smuggling contraband into the prison.
In Spain, the Spanish police dismantled a drug smuggling network using Ukrainian drones to transport hashish from Morocco to Spain, seizing drones, drugs, and cash.
Commercial
Investments and Acquisition
Terra Drone debuted on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market, expanding its global footprint with acquisitions like Unifly and Aloft Technologies.
D-Fend Solutions secured $31M in funding to advance counter-drone technologies, focusing on mitigating unauthorized UAV threats and scaling global operations.
SmartDrone acquired Skytec’s drone operations, enhancing its capacity for data-driven applications in geospatial and environmental sectors.
Spexi, a Vancouver-based aerial imagery innovator, raised $11.5M in Series A funding to extend its network of ultra-high-resolution drone pilots, targeting urban planning, disaster response, and AI model training.
Development and Trials
Droniq established the Offshore Drone Competence Center (ODCC) in Germany, enabling BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone flights for offshore inspections, especially wind farms. The center focuses on improving safety and reducing operational costs.
Contracts and Partnerships
Crisalion Mobility adopted IFS Cloud software to streamline operations for projects involving eVTOLs and battery systems.
Alva Industries and RLS partnered to provide motor evaluation kits, integrating Alva's lightweight motors into aerospace and robotics applications.
DJ Byers Security Solutions upgraded its PRESIDIAN system in collaboration with Cambridge Pixel, integrating radar and tracking enhancements to boost UAS threat detection.
Zen Technologies teamed with AVT Simulation to expand its U.S. market presence, focusing on advanced military training systems.
Coptrz is launching Anzu Robotics drones in the UK in January 2025, targeting sectors such as construction, agriculture, and public safety.
Blueflite and Spleenlab partnered to integrate AI-driven features like precision landing and GPS-denied navigation into autonomous drone delivery.
Product Launches
New Service
Itabashi Drone Field Test Facility opened in Tokyo, offering a space for drone innovation in logistics, disaster relief, and inspections.
Sustainable Skylines launched FAA-approved drone banner advertising over Miami Beach, reducing carbon emissions by 90% and noise by 40%, with plans to expand nationwide.
Amazon Drone Deliveries began in Arizona, offering Prime members $9.99 same-hour delivery for items under five pounds, and the first European test flight in Italy.
New Technology
AirData UAV introduced a commercial drone asset management tool to streamline inventory, maintenance, and compliance for scaling drone operations.
DJI introduced FOV Boost Lens for Osmo Action 5 Pro camera to enhance the field of view to 180 degrees.
New UAS
Leaks and announcements from DJI – the O4 Air Unit revealed in leads with better cooling and a larger sensor for low-light conditions, alongside compatibility with Goggles N3; the upcoming Flip Drone prototype showcases ultra-lightweight materials aimed at consumer markets, possibly replacing the Mini series; Mavic 4 prototype leaks suggest advanced camera systems, improved flight performance, and innovative designs like detachable gimbals and upward camera angles.
AAM (Advanced Air Mobility)
Eve Air Mobility secured $35M from Brazil's BNDES to enhance eVTOL development, and signed a deal with Helicopters Inc. to deploy 50 eVTOLs for eco-friendly urban commutes and airport shuttles in the U.S.
PAL-V achieved a milestone with rotor development for its FlyDrive flying car, moving closer to hybrid road-air vehicle production.
AutoFlight showcased its "Prosperity" eVTOL in Japan, capable of carrying four passengers over 250 km, with plans to launch air taxi services by 2025.
SkyDrive partnered with JTB to explore eVTOL tourism in Japan, integrating advanced aerial mobility into the nation's transportation network.
Volant Aerotech unveiled the VE25-100 eVTOL at CIIE in Shanghai, featuring flexible configurations and signing RMB 3B in agreements for low-altitude mobility.
UrbanLink Air Mobility teamed with Traverse Aero to deploy 40 Orca hybrid-electric eVTOL drones for sustainable cargo transport and disaster relief.
UrbanV and Cluster2 are advancing AAM in Saudi Arabia, integrating eVTOL services aligned with Vision 2030 for zero-emission mobility solutions.
CycloTech unveiled the "BlackBird" eVTOL with 360-degree thrust control, targeting urban air mobility and logistics by 2025.
Drones for Good
University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) scientists showcased drones' role in studying Arctic conditions and enhancing remote education.
Embry-Riddle students won a national award for using drones to monitor wildlife at airports, reducing costs and improving safety by providing detailed data on animal populations.
Tokyo launched drone medical deliveries to reduce urban traffic congestion, speeding up access to critical supplies like vaccines and blood while scaling for citywide use.
A thermal drone in Georgia located a missing 79-year-old man and his dog in 23 seconds.
The RAVEN drone being developed combines bird-inspired mechanical legs with flight, enabling takeoffs from uneven surfaces, paving the way for disaster relief and remote delivery solutions.
Legal
U.S. lawmakers proposed a national security review of DJI and Autel drones, aiming to assess potential risks and tighten oversight of Chinese technology.
Policy and Regulatory Updates
ED-271A expanded standards for RPAS Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems, enabling safer non-segregated operations across all airspace classes.
Joby Aviation received FAA certification to train eVTOL pilots, advancing its air taxi plans while emphasizing safety and operational excellence.
DroneUp earned FAA Part 135 certification, enabling drone deliveries beyond visual line of sight in Dallas-Fort Worth and targeting 25,000 households per location.
In other news…
Sustainable Skylines launched eco-friendly drone banner advertising in Miami Beach, offering a low-noise, green alternative to traditional aerial ads.
Quantum Systems participated in German Chancellor Scholz's visit to Ukraine, where both countries discussed plans to localise production in Ukraine.
GA-ASI held the Blue Magic Netherlands event to advance dual-use drone technologies in AI, sensors, and materials.
Fullerton College announced the U.S. West Coast’s first drone technology bachelor’s program for 2025, addressing growing industry demands.
Whale researchers urged ethical drone use, emphasizing stricter regulations to prevent disruptions caused by amateur operators and influencers.
Further Recommended Reading
Countering the Threat: A Comprehensive Review of National C-UAS Programs
Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) Market to Reach USD 4546.1 Million by 2030
Urgent NDAA Developments Could Severely Impact US Drone Industry
That’s all folks!
-Adit
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
This newsletter is authored by Adit Shah, a UK-based independent consultant specialising in helping companies and investors understand, develop and adopt aerospace, drones, and space technologies. If you are interested in Adit’s expertise for your business, please email adit.shah@elantar.com.