U.S. Military Contracts, Counter-Drone Tech, Drone use in Prisons, and more!
BLOS Update Week 44: 28 Oct – 03 Nov
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Hello readers!
Happy Monday — I have 60 stories for you in this edition.
Enjoy! (or let me know if you don't; I’m all ears)
Defence & Security
Ukraine – Russia
Ukraine is bringing together key industry experts to evaluate drone swarm technology, aiming to strengthen its defence capabilities through coordinated drone operations. Meanwhile, Lithuanian company RSI Europe has delivered $4 million worth of FPV drone kits to Ukraine, designed for explosive targeting, and will provide training to Ukrainian and Lithuanian forces.
A report reveals Russian drones shown at exhibitions appear more advanced than battlefield models, which are often simplified for rapid deployment; a Ukrainian scientist from Kharkiv is accused of aiding Russian forces with Shahed drone enhancements, raising espionage concerns; and Russia’s new Privet-82MK2 kamikaze drones are reportedly effective, completing 100 missions with a 60% success rate.
Capability / Tech Development Trials and Exercises
In the Emerald Flag exercise, U.S. Marines deployed the XQ-58A Valkyrie "Loyal Wingman" drone to support F-35B jets by sharing real-time targeting data, showing its potential for future missions. The Marines are also testing the ZeroMark system, a counter-drone rifle aiming technology using AI and sensors for precise targeting, which could transform how they engage aerial threats.
Raytheon’s GhostEye MR radar showed its surveillance capabilities in the Gray Flag 2024 exercise.
China held combat drills near Taiwan following a U.S. arms sale to the island, including missiles and radar, escalating regional tensions.
Contracts and Partnerships
QinetiQ won a $95 million U.S. Army contract to provide advanced aerial targets for training, and Kraus Hamdani Aerospace received a $20 million DoD contract for its K1000ULE drones.
Keeping with the drone-launching-drone trend becoming more normal, Turkiye’s Baykar signed a deal with Crotia’s Orqa to carry Orqa’s FPV drones on Bayraktar TB2 drones for ISR and tactical missions. Baykar is also partnering with EDGE Group to integrate EDGE’s payloads with Baykar’s UAS platforms, aiming to enhance UAS capabilities for global defense markets.
Moreover, GA-ASI is collaborating with BAE to upgrade the MQ-20 Avenger with electronic warfare and communication systems.
New Defence UAS
Aurora Flight Sciences is developing a new X-plane with fan-in-wing technology under DARPA’s SPRINT program, combining vertical take-off with high-speed flight.
C-UAS
The UK Ministry of Defence is advancing its counter-drone and directed energy weapon capabilities to strengthen its defences against evolving drone threats.
DroneShield is expanding in Europe with teams in Denmark and Germany to meet rising counter-drone demand, while Rohde & Schwarz introduced the ARDRONIS Detect for versatile drone signal detection.
Meanwhile, Aselsan showcased new counter-drone systems at SAHA Expo, including the Korkut 25 for targeting small drones, to bolster global anti-drone defences.
Defence related Investments
The UK is also assessing domestic combat drone production to enhance national security and resilience.
Bluelight (Emergency Services)
Drone incidents in UK prisons have doubled as gangs use drones to smuggle contraband, prompting officials to consider advanced counter-drone technology. Meanwhile, Canadian prisons are already adopting anti-drone tech to curb contraband smuggling.
In New York, thermal drones helped catch an art thief at Bard College, and San Francisco police are deploying drones to reduce response times amidst privacy concerns.
Faulkner County and NYPD are also expanding drone use for emergency response, with drones aiding search and rescue and rapid medical delivery.
BRINC launched a mobile Drone as First Responder (DFR) program, equipping emergency response vehicles with a specialized drone charging system.
Commercial
Contracts and Partnerships
DJI and Peak3 have partnered to provide insurance for agricultural drones in Thailand, aiming to reduce financial risks for farmers and promote drone adoption.
Gremsy and HHLA Sky are integrating stabilized imaging and AI for industrial drone inspections, streamlining large-scale site assessments.
Quickstep and RMIT University are exploring automated braiding technology for eVTOL unmanned systems, and University of Illinois is using SkySafe’s drone detection to secure campus airspace. SkySafe is also collaborating with Fortem Technologies on enhanced drone detection for public safety and defense.
Investments and Acquisition
Delair has acquired SQUADRONE SYSTEM to expand its drone swarming and anti-drone capabilities, supporting its vision to lead in European drone technology.
Beta Technologies raised $300 million to advance its eVTOL aircraft.
Commercial Development and Trials
The EU’s U-SPACE program trial in Zaragoza showed successful autonomous drone management in urban airspace for emergencies, marking progress in safe urban drone operations.
Product Launches
New Services
Flying ZERO, a new drone delivery service in Malta aims to halve the time needed to transport medical supplies between hospitals while reducing CO2 emissions through solar powered drones.
New Technology
Flyability’s Elios 3 drone now includes a flammable gas sensor for detecting hazardous gases in real-time, and Holybro’s Pixhawk 6X Pro flight controller offers triple IMU redundancy and enhanced stability for precision in challenging UAV applications.
DJI’s released new images of its upcoming Goggles N3, and a leak hints at DJI’s compact DJI Mic Mini for high-quality, portable audio recording.
New UAS
China’s Air White Whale unveiled the W5000, the largest unmanned cargo drone with a 5-ton capacity with interest from companies like China Eastern Airlines and China Post.
ZenaDrone is launching the IQ Nano drone, designed for streamlining indoor tasks for warehouses, and Teledyne FLIR’s SIRAS drone debuts in Canada for inspections and law enforcement.
Voliro’s recently launched T Version 5 enhances aerial inspections in tough conditions, Brinc’s new emergency response drone aids first responders, and leaks of DJI’s Mavic 4 show expected upgrades in photography and battery life.
Drones for Good
A Polish start-up has created the first fully autonomous rescue drone to improve emergency response times and reduce risks in remote areas.
Missouri State University is using drones to study silvopasture systems, benefiting farmers and teaching students sustainable land practices.
In Ohio, a thermal drone helped rescuers quickly locate a trapped person in a swamp.
Drone-based lidar has mapped two ancient Silk Road cities in Uzbekistan, revealing city layouts and revising views on mountain trade routes.
A long-duration balloon flight tested advanced weather forecasting and radiation monitoring, promising better environmental research.
Sweden and Colombia are partnering on a climate-focused drone for reforestation and conservation.
Legal
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore is suing H3 Dynamics after a test flight crash in July caused a fire; violations included unauthorized modifications and unlicensed operations, leading to suspension of flight test permissions.
U.S.-based Skydio is grappling with a supply crisis due to Chinese sanctions on battery components, slowing production and prompting the company to seek government support and new suppliers.
Policy and Regulatory Updates
U.S. lawmakers are pressing the FAA to expedite rules for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations, aiming to boost scalability and competitiveness.
The Japan Standards Association introduced new drone service standards, setting guidelines for safety, pilot training, and data management to drive industry growth.
Aloft Technologies received FAA approval to provide B4UFLY services, supporting safe airspace checks for drone users and planning platform upgrades for smoother operations.
In other news…
Norwegian drone company Aviant won $1 million in the GENIUS NY competition for its autonomous delivery drones, while fellow finalist Aerialoop received $500,000, furthering Central New York’s role as a drone innovation hub.
Fox Sports used drones in World Series broadcasts, enhancing coverage through close FAA coordination and setting the stage for more dynamic sports filming.
NUAIR and Syracuse Regional Airport Authority opened a new headquarters, bolstering Central New York’s growth in drone technology and workforce training.
That’s it for this week!
Your friendly neighbourhood consultant,
-Adit