Russia-China collab, a crash in the Bay, a €100M funding round, and more!
BLOS Update Week 39: 22 Sep - 29 Sep
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Happy Monday,
I have 47 stories from last week in this newsletter.
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Defence and Security
The Ukraine – Russia conflict:
Ukraine recently participated in a major 11-day NATO anti-drone exercise in the Netherlands involving 20 countries. This focused on improving NATO’s drone defences.
Russia plans to 10x its drone production and produce 1.4 million drones in 2024. As part of this push and for technology development, Russia has been reportedly collabing with Russia – Kupol working with Chinese experts on a long-range attack drone and Almaz-Antey developing military drones with Chinese parts, including the Garpiya-3. Chinese parts and engines have also been found in the Russian Garpiya-A1 drones previously. (also covered in last week’s newsletter here)
Russia has also been coating their drones with harmful chemicals which cause severe burns, including white phosphorous.
Russia has also been increasingly violating airspace over the Arctic. NORAD is exploring high-altitude drones to counter this.
Trials for Defence Capability Development:
Last week, Northrop Grumman's MQ-4C Triton successfully demonstrated its ability to navigate and collect data over the Arctic, the Royal Netherlands Air Force completed its first flight of the MQ-9 Reaper, and BAE Systems Australia is preparing to test its STRIX platform with first flight in mid-October.
The UK MoD (Ministry of Defence) announced plans for a £20M facility to test military systems against electronic warfare threats.
New Tech and UAVs in Defence & Security:
In the US, Silent Arrow secured a $1.25M contract from AFWERX to develop a cargo drone capable of traveling 300-500 miles.
The UK has announced Project Brakestop with requirements for a ‘one way’ attack drone designed for targeted strike missions of operating in GPS-denied environment, cost £400k or less, have a range of 500km+, and deliver a 200-300kg payload.
At REPMUS 2024 in Portugal, Tekever showcased its new technology (a sensor package) that allows its AR5 drones to deploy sonobouys to detect submarines.
Iran revealed the upgraded Shahed-136B drone featuring a larger warhead, longer range, and improved stealth.
China introduced a new ball-shaped reconnaissance drone during joint anti-terrorism exercises with Nepal, enhancing urban warfare and disaster relief capabilities.
Contracts:
The U.S. Army's $990 million contract with AeroVironment for Switchblade drones has been paused due to a protest by Mistral Inc.
Kratos won a $79.8 sole-source million contract from the U.S. Air Force to provide 60 BQM-167A target drones for training exercises.
FlightWave Aerospace secured $1.9 million from the U.S. Air Force to upgrade its Edge 130 VTOL drone, enhancing its autonomy, endurance, payload, and comms.
The Brazilian Air Force is purchasing a new Hermes RQ-900 drone for $9 million after losing one during flood relief efforts. The acquisition was fast-tracked without a public tender.
Crash in the Bay of Bengal:
An Indian Navy-leased MQ-9B Sea Guardian drone crashed into the Bay of Bengal earlier this month after a technical failure during a surveillance mission. The drone was safely ditched at sea when the issue couldn't be resolved mid-flight. This incident comes as India plans to acquire 31 MQ-9B drones from the U.S. to enhance border surveillance, especially with China.
Counter-UAS (CUAS):
Advanced Protection Systems introduced an interceptor drone which autonomously tracks and neutralises enemy drones without explosives, and Rheinmetall unveiled the Skyranger 35 anti-aircraft system, featuring a rapid-firing 35 mm cannon and 360° surveillance.
The U.S. and Singapore launched a global challenge to find resilient communication technologies for civilian and military use in disaster and battlefield environments.
Trump motorcade vs drone:
During a recent campaign stop, a drone near Donald Trump’s motorcade triggered a swift response from the Secret Service, who scrambled the motorcade to confuse the drone operator.
Commercial
New Tech and UAVs:
Lots of new tech and UAVs unveiled in the last week:
Teledyne Geospatial and Inertial Labs launched a lightweight UAV LiDAR system for land surveying and infrastructure management
Sierra-Olympia Technologies introduced an infrared camera for UAV surveillance
DELAIR and YellowScan unveiled a fixed-wing drone with LiDAR
Hover UAV and ANRA Technologies launched an automated platform that simplifies drone risk assessments for BVLOS missions
Asylon introduced an aerial security drone that automates perimeter security using battery-swapping tech and 24/7 operations
Pierce Aerospace launched a remote ID sensor, enhancing drone detection and offering a cost-effective solution for airspace management
Wingtra introduced a mapping payload capable of capturing 1,140 acres / flight
Skydio has launched the Dock for X10, enabling autonomous drone missions with instant data capture for safety and inspection
Investment news from Europe:
Quantum Systems secured over €100 million in funding from Porsche SE and others to advance AI-driven drone technology, supporting global expansion in various industries.
Drones for good
Public Safety:
Mansfield, Ohio, is testing automated drones to provide real-time aerial support for 911 calls within a 3-mile radius, starting in November.
The Republic Police Department in Missouri has introduced a $20,000 AI-equipped drone with vehicle tracking and a thermal camera.
California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill to ban armed drones for law enforcement arguing that police may need these tools in high-risk situations despite concerns about misuse and privacy.
Medical:
Zipline and Pfizer are expanding drone deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines and medical supplies across Africa, improving healthcare access in remote and underserved areas.
Drones for safer, more ethical hunting:
Missouri’s Department of Conservation now allows drones for tracking wounded deer and turkeys during hunting season, with permission from local agents, while expanding efforts to combat chronic wasting disease. This change also aims to help ensure safe and ethical practices are followed.
Science:
Drones have detected high mercury levels in Arctic permafrost, particularly along the Yukon River, raising concerns that melting permafrost could release this mercury, endangering local communities.
Drones equipped with AI are being used in Germany to detect forest fires early, giving firefighters crucial time to respond and offering a cost-effective tool against wildfires.
Bad actors:
A Boston man is facing charges for flying a DJI Mavic drone near the 2024 Boston Marathon finish line, violating airspace restrictions and prompting a bomb squad response.
A Michigan man pleaded guilty to using a drone to smuggle contraband into a federal prison, receiving 4.5 years in prison.
Policy and Regulations
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently reported that the Department of the Interior's policies on foreign-made drones have restricted their purchase due to security concerns, limiting the agency's ability to replace aging fleets. This has affected emergency operations like wildfire management, as well as nonemergency missions, reducing safety and data collection capabilities.
PwC recently updated their Skies Without Limits report describing the potential for drones in the UK Economy by 2030. The report finds that the UK drone industry has made strides in BVLOS flights and manufacturing, but growth is limited by regulations and market barriers, with international demand driving expansion. Full report can be downloaded here (PDF link).
That’s it. See you again next Monday!
-Adit