UMT Drone Dispatch - Your Daily UAV Industry Briefing
Good morning, drone enthusiasts! Grab your cuppa and let's dive into the latest aerial wonders and not-so-high flying stories in the world of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It's all here in your daily UMT Drone Dispatch!
US Army Boosts Its Drone Interceptor Arsenal 🛡️💥
The US Army is upping the ante in drone defense, planning to acquire a whopping 6,000 Block 2 Coyote interceptors and 700 Block 3 variants, along with an assortment of launchers and radars over the next five years. These nifty jet-powered critters come with either an explosive or a non-kinetic punch. The total bill? A cool $670 million. Keep an eye out, because this looks like a game changer in drone warfare. Read more about this significant expansion.
AI Sky Warriors: US-Japan's Latest Team-Up 🤖🌐
In a move straight out of a sci-fi flick, the US and Japan are joining forces in a project called Overwhelming Response through Collaborative Autonomy. The aim? To integrate cutting-edge AI and ML with advanced UAVs. This project is a direct result of the December 2022 joint statement on cooperation for Japan’s future aircraft. Here's the full story.
Anduril Industries: Securing the Skies with SkyFence 🌌🔒
In a $31 million deal, Anduril Industries is set to provide its Wide-Area Infrared System for Persistence Surveillance, dubbed SkyFence, to the 412th Test Wing. Combining passive sensing, sensor fusion, and AI, this system is a big leap in counter-UAS solutions. More on this.
Turkey Unveils Anka-3: The Stealthy Game Changer 🕵️🚀
Turkey just raised the bar in the drone world with the Anka-3, its first flying-wing, deep-strike UAV. Sporting low radar visibility and a hefty payload capacity, this jet-engine-powered bird successfully completed its maiden flight. With capabilities for various missions, the Anka-3 might just be the new stealth superstar on the block. Catch up on Anka-3's debut.
Drone Delivery: More Hype Than High-Flying? 📦🤷♂️
Despite the buzz, drone delivery isn't quite sky-rocketing. Challenges in airspace, suburban complexity, and limited range are keeping drone couriers more grounded than expected. But don't lose hope; we're just at the bottom of the hype cycle. Find out more about this slow-rising trend.
Spanish Ingenuity: DEGREE Project's Successful Flight Tests ✈️🔬
UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía and Qascom have aced their flight tests under the DEGREE project, pushing the envelope in GNSS receiver technology. This is a big leap in safely integrating UAS into non-segregated airspace and the U-Space.
PrecisionHawk Files for Bankruptcy: End of an Era 💔🛬
It's curtains for PrecisionHawk, a once-promising drone startup. Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the Raleigh-based company is bowing out with a debt of $17 million. From its early days as WineHawk to its recent struggles, it's a sobering reminder of the volatile nature of the UAV industry. Here's what went down.
PhD Student's Dark Turn: Building Drones for Terror 😱🚫
A PhD engineering student's foray into illegal drone development has landed him a life sentence. Mohamed Al Bared was convicted for building a 'kamikaze' drone intended for chemical weapon delivery for Isis. A grim reminder of the potential misuse of drone tech. Read the full report.
Schiebel Buys Back CAMCOPTER from Nordic Unmanned 🔄🚁
In a twist of fate, Nordic Unmanned's agreement with Schiebel Aircraft sees the CAMCOPTER asset returning to its maker. This non-cash transaction, valued at EUR 927,000, reflects Nordic Unmanned's strategy to optimize its fleet and maintain a lean balance sheet. Dive into the details.
That's all for today's UAV industry roundup. Stay tuned for more sky-high stories and grounded realities in the world of drones!
Fly high, stay safe!
