Category: Drones

The Boeing Co., General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, and Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems have been selected to produce unmanned aerial vehicle prototypes for the Skyborg program, one of three initiatives under the Vanguard Program of the U.S. Air Force. The three defense companies have each been awarded million-dollar contracts n the research, development, and production of reusable unmanned aerial vehicles in a manned-unmanned teaming mission, which aims to pair a drone guided by artificial intelligence with a human piloting a fighter jet.

Source: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/12/15/air-force-picks-3-makers-skyborg-drone-wingman.html?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EBB%2012.16.20&utm_term=Editorial%20-%20Early%20Bird%20Brief

The Gremlins program is part of a broader effort to incorporate aircraft and weapons swarms into combat operations for coordinated attacks or intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Run by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and with development led by prime contractor, Dynetics, the Gremlins Program is set for another round of demonstrations after a failed third round of test flights. Citing engineering problems that now have been addressed and tweaked in production, Dynetics now leans toward positive results in a soon to be scheduled fourth round of tests.

Source: https://www.airforcemag.com/gremlins-program-optimistic-about-next-tests-after-drones-fail-to-dock/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EBB%2012.16.20&utm_term=Editorial%20-%20Early%20Bird%20Brief

In a bid to move to smaller but smarter armed forces fitted with high-tech technologies, South Korea has announced a series of contracts to develop and deploy indigenous unmanned and robotic systems. Announced in early December 2020, the fast-track acquisition project is aimed at applying the private sector’s fast-evolving new technologies to the military and is expected to be an innovative model in improving the defense capabilities of the nation’s armed forces.

Source: https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2020/12/10/south-korea-accerlates-deployment-of-unmanned-systems/

The Dinamika Center for Scientific and Technical Services within Technodinamika Group have been completing tests for a target simulator with drones. “The Dinamika Center for Scientific and Technical Services has successfully completed the trials of the simulator with unmanned aerial vehicles. The system is intended to simulate low-speed drones and helicopters in the trials of experimental and upgraded weapon systems and for other purposes,” their press office released. The Defense Ministry’s Chkalov State Flight Testing Center hosted the final stages of testing with specialists from both sides participating.

Source: https://tass.com/defense/1217801

The EPFL Laboratory of Intelligent Systems have designed a new drone inspired by the northern goshawk. Researchers and engineers based the design and shape of the drone off the bird’s wings, tail, and flight behavior. Enrico Ajanic, the first author of the research study, has said that “the drone’s design extracts principles from agile avian flight, creating a drone approximating the flight performance of a raptor.”

Source: https://www.slashgear.com/new-epfl-drone-design-was-inspired-by-a-bird-29644990/