Caspian Sea attacks, $1.7 Billion drone infrastructure, saving a Corgi, and more!
BLOS Update Week 45: 04 Nov – 10 Nov
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Happy Monday!
Here we are again. You have probably wondered at some point in the last week what the Trump presidency will mean for you, me, and the world.
Whatever happens, drone use and adoption won’t be slowing down!
Read on — I have 52 stories for you + 2 further recommended reading.
Defence & Security
Ukraine – Russia
Ukraine is investing heavily in drones, purchasing over 1.6 million units in 2024 alone to its meet military needs. France delivered its first ever loitering munitions (100 OSKAR drones) to Ukraine, U.S. supplied them with Shield AI’s EW-resistant V-BAT drones that have been effective against Russian EW tactics, and Lithuania and Ukraine signed a memorandum to jointly produce drones, EW systems, and related components.
Last week, Ukraine carried out a strike on Russian naval vessels at a Caspian fleet base 700 miles from the front lines using a modified Aeroprakt A-22 sport plane as a drone. The strike damaged several Russian warships, potentially affecting a third of the Caspian Fleet's capabilities.
Russia’s drone campaign against Ukraine reached record levels in October 2024 with 2,023 attacks, and Russia reportedly acquired images of NATO drones and ships stationed in Latvia, adding tension to its surveillance dynamics with NATO forces.
Russia’s S-70 Hunter drone downed in Ukraine has also been found with dozens of Western components.
Capability and Tech development Trials and Exercises
In the UK, the Royal Navy's Wildcat helicopter successfully tested the Martlet missile for an air-to-air counter-drone, downing a Banshee drone during trials.
The U.S. Navy and Boeing simulated an MQ-25 Stingray carrier landing with the F-35's Joint Precision Approach Landing System (JPALS), developed by Raytheon, advancing towards deploying autonomous refuelling by 2026.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy and General Atomics tested complex autonomous control of the MQ-20 Avenger over long distances to support future integration of autonomous aircraft into Navy operations.
Contracts and Partnerships
In the U.S., General Atomics and BAE Systems are upgrading the MQ-20 Avenger with advanced EW features using a secure Link-16 network to bolster the U.S. Air Force’s EW capabilities and support CCA initiatives.
In and around Europe, Thales Belgium is collaborating with Ukraine to produce anti-drone missiles to counter Russian drone attacks, and Turkiye’s Baykar will partner with Kazakhstan to manufacture UAVs, strengthening regional defence production.
New Defence Tech and UAS
Insitu launched new SATCOM capability for its Integrator UAS, extending its operational range for global military missions, extending the Integrator UAS’ range of up to 2,000 nautical miles and 27.5 hours endurance.
The Greek military unveiled the ATLAS 8H "Kerveros" anti-tank drone equipped with Akeron MP milssiles.
China
China’s AVIC unveiled a 10-tonne MTOW drone dubbed Jiu Tian (or ‘High Sky’), designed for a variety of missions, including reportedly to act as a ‘drone swarm mothership’. Another Chinese company, CASC, unveiled images of its CH-7 UCAV, which resembles the U.S. B-21 Raider.
China also unveiled the ‘Red Wing Vanguard’ laser system, a counter-drone system capable of targeting small, fast-moving UAVs at a 1 km range.
C-UAS
MARSS demonstrated its AI-powered NiDAR CUAS at the Saudi-US Red Sands 2024 exercises, quickly neutralizing drone threats.
The Spanish "Crow" counter-drone system deployed by the Columbian Air Force for the UN Biodiversity Summit (COP 16) in Columbia neutralised 90 drones.
The need for C-UAS for critical infrastructure is at an all-time high, as the FBI thwarted an explosive drone attack on Nashville’s power grid.
Bluelight (Emergency Services)
Drone-assisted law enforcement is going strong in the U.S. – a Maryland case marked the first drone-supported conviction after police drone footage captured a man committing a stabbing. The NYPD have used drones to prevent over 100 subway surfing incidents, and plan to deploy drones from police vehicles for emergency response.
In the UK, a recent inspection HMP Garth prison in Lancashire revealed prisoners easily accessing contraband with drones being using to smuggle drugs through holes melted in prison windows.
In Canada, Arctic Horizons received a $2.1 million contract to test its Piglet mUAS with Canadian law enforcement.
Commercial
Contracts and Partnerships
Tekever and Droneway have partnered in Morocco to boost local drone capabilities with training and assembly initiatives.
FlyFreely has joined the North Dakota Unmanned Autonomous Systems (ND UAS) Council to support the state’s growth in drone operations.
ParaZero Technologies has secured a $187,000 deal with a U.S.-based Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company to enhance the safety of eVTOL air taxis.
Investments and Acquisition
Shenzhen plans a $1.7 billion drone infrastructure project with over 1,200 platforms by 2026, including installing 8,000 5G base stations and launching a Smart Integrated Lower Airspace System.
Lilium, amid restructuring, is pursuing funding to continue developing its electric jet and secure future milestones with a focus on long-term viability and expanding its existing 780-jet order pipeline.
Development and Trials
In Brazil, High Landers’ subsidiary BIRDS will demonstrate the Vega UTM system for enhanced air traffic management, while Eve Air Mobility and Revo have successfully simulation tested eVTOL traffic in São Paulo for urban air solutions.
In Monaco, MC-CLIC completed the first carbon-free luxury drone delivery to a superyacht.
Product Launches
New Services
Drone delivery services starting up in the U.S., with Walmart launching drone deliveries in Fort Worth, Texas, using Wing’s technology for rapid item delivery within a six-mile range; while Amazon is launching its MK30 drones for delivery in the Phoenix metro area following FAA approval for BVLOS operations. Walmart’s drone service will be available for $12.99 to Walmart+ members ($19.99 for non-members), while Amazon’s drone service will be available for $9.99 to Prime members ($14.99 for non-Prime members).
New Technology
A new "nervous system" for drones created using optical sensors and fast-processing tech enhances their ability to detect and respond to conditions, boosting resilience for complex tasks.
CENTUM's updated it’s SAR tool Lifeseeker, which now supports 5G and features improved geolocation for faster SAR operations.
DJI launched a firmware update for its Neo drone, improving tracking speed and FPV compatibility, while its new Goggles N3 offers impressive features for FPV enthusiasts for just $299.
New UAS
Voliro’s new T Version 5 drone enhances industrial inspections with 5G data-transfer, enhanced stability, and advanced durability to handle challenging environments.
China’s Zuhai Airshow 2024 is set to showcase the long-range Twin-tailed Scorpion B and large transport drones for varied missions.
Drones for Good
Drones were vital in Tennessee's post-Hurricane Helene relief, transporting supplies, assessing flood damage, and locating missing persons with thermal imaging.
Washington State's Department of Fish and Wildlife is replacing low-flying aircraft with drones until 2026 for safer, more accurate waterfowl counts.
A thermal-equipped police drone in Lincolnshire, UK, located a lost Corgi named Bea after a car crash, reuniting her with the owner.
Legal
A man in Tulsa was arrested for shooting at a drone, underscoring legal implications as shooting at a drone is federal offence.
The FAA has proposed a $270,000 fine against a real estate developer in Colorado for violating drone regulations over 200 times, including unsafe operations over people.
Policy and Regulatory Updates
La Jolla residents have been worried about drone-aided burglaries, prompting calls for stricter regulations.
Cleveland Police's fleet of ten drones remains grounded pending policy approval by the city's Community Police Commission (CPC), despite the drone program being approved two years ago.
ANRA Technologies received FAA approval to support BVLOS drone operations for critical infrastructure using their traffic management software. This authorization is a first for a non-vertically integrated provider.
In other news…
The Silent Arrow X-Plane, an autonomous cargo delivery glider, has been accepted into the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has suggested that the U.S. military should replace traditional tanks with AI-powered drones, calling tanks "useless" in modern warfare.
Further Recommended Reading
Have a great week ahead,
-Adit