More than 20 local drone manufacturers reportedly participated in the test, showcasing cutting-edge solutions as part of the Him-Drone-A-Thon 2 event, launched in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

The trial took place at a mountain pass in Ladakh, which stands at 17,300 feet (5,250 meters), one of the highest in the world.

#AtmanirbharBharat

HIM-DRONE-A-THON 2 is being organised at Wari La Pass, Ladakh on 17-18 September 2024 at altitudes exceeding 15,000 feet. The event offers an exclusive platform for over 20 drone manufacturers to showcase a spectrum of drone solutions designed for… pic.twitter.com/jeD2vBZVc0

— @firefurycorps_IA (@firefurycorps) September 17, 2024

According to reports, the participating drones performed surveillance, logistics, swarming, and first-person view operations, demonstrating their ability to withstand extreme conditions along India’s mountainous borders.

“Drone technology is becoming indispensable in modern warfare, and we are leveraging its potential to not only secure our borders but also position India as a global leader in this field,” an army official noted.

The Indian Army did not disclose the specific drones or manufacturers involved in the demonstration.

‘Year of Technology Absorption’

India has declared 2024 as a “Year of Technology Absorption,” streamlining the development, acquisition, and integration of emerging technologies into legacy systems.

The country seeks to employ autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and quantum technology to prepare for modern warfare.

New Delhi currently faces increasing tensions with China and Pakistan, stemming from territorial disputes and geopolitical rivalries.

The Him-Drone-A-Thon 2 event provided the Indian Army with an opportunity to identify promising technological solutions, which could be procured to aid border operations.

Its collaboration with the FICCI also fostered a culture of homegrown technological advancement, part of the country’s “Make in India” initiative.

“HIM-DRONE-A-THON 2 is a forward-looking initiative that reflects the army’s recognition of the immense potential for drones to enhance operational capabilities in difficult terrains,” an army spokesperson said.

The post Indian Army Tests Domestic Drones for High-Altitude Operations appeared first on The Defense Post.

Anduril Industries and Performance Drone Works have each received 10-year contracts to provide their Ghost X and C-100 drones, respectively, to meet the service’s ISTAR requirements.

These drones will support Brigade Combat Teams in various environmental conditions.

Program Executive Officer Brig. Gen. David Phillips said the two companies were selected following thorough evaluations and flight demonstrations over a five-month period.

US Army acquisition assistant secretary Douglas Bush also noted that the milestone is an example of the service’s ability to rapidly transition from concept to contract, quickly delivering the new technology to soldiers.

“This shows [that] the acquisition system can move at the pace needed to support the Army, especially in rapidly emerging technology areas like small uncrewed aircraft systems (s-UAS),” he expressed.

Chosen Solutions

Unveiled in 2023, Anduril’s Ghost X is an expeditionary s-UAS purpose-built for reconnaissance and force protection.

It has a dual battery for an extended flight time of 75 minutes and an increased payload capacity of 9 kilograms (20 pounds).

Thanks to its long-range communications suite, the drone can fly up to 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) away from the operator.

The C-100, meanwhile, is a heavy-lift, man-packable quadcopter that boasts a flight endurance of 74 minutes and a range of more than 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

It also has a payload capacity of 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms).

According to Performance Drone Works, the C-100 is aligned with dynamic military targeting methodology and supports tactical intelligence missions.

The post US Army Selects Two Firms for Company-Level ISTAR Drone Program appeared first on The Defense Post.

In a statement on X, the company revealed that the unmanned platform successfully retracted its landing gear mid-air during its most recent flight test.

During previous flights, the drone’s landing gear remained outside while airborne.

According to TAI, this represents an “important” phase in the Anka-III’s development, bringing it one step closer to full-rate production and deployment.

“ANKA III, which is getting stronger every day, is counting the days for the security of our homeland,” the company wrote.

Elde sensin, dilde sen; gönüldesin, baştasın!

28 Aralık 2023 tarihinde ilk uçuşunu başarıyla gerçekleştiren #ANKA III, iniş takımlarını havada kapatarak önemli bir aşamayı daha geride bıraktı.

Bu gurur verici adım, ANKA III’ün üstün performansını bir kez daha kanıtladı… pic.twitter.com/3pKT47Jpxu

— Türk Havacılık Uzay Sanayii (@TUSAS_TR) August 19, 2024

About the Anka-III

A twin-engine platform, the Anka-III integrates a variety of cutting-edge technologies, including advanced avionics, an autopilot system, and an electro-optical/infrared camera.

Its synthetic aperture radar also ensures effective surveillance and reconnaissance in adverse weather conditions.

Additionally, the Turkish aerial system boasts stealth characteristics, making it difficult for enemy radars to detect it.

To support combat operations, the Anka-III is capable of carrying a wide range of munitions, from precision-guided bombs to laser-guided rockets.

The drone completed its maiden flight in December 2023, lasting one hour and 10 minutes.

The post Turkey’s Anka-III Stealth Drone Achieves ‘Important’ Milestone appeared first on The Defense Post.

AFRICOM officials said during a recent defense conference in Washington, DC, that the General Atomics aircraft is now being “legacy-ed out,” thus the need for a more modern aerial system.

They also highlighted the importance of having a long-endurance platform, which should be able to stay in the air “well beyond three days.”

The extended-range version of the MQ-9 Reaper has a flight endurance of 30 hours.

Changing Geopolitical Landscape

AFRICOM strategic capabilities division chief Fred Gregory said that the changing geopolitical landscape in the region has affected the command’s airborne ISR capabilities.

With its recent withdrawal from Niger, the command reportedly lost some of its key ISR bases in Africa, forcing it to fly from England and Somalia.

“This means we won’t have as much time on station or to react due to the distances,” Gregory explained. “We don’t have a lot of bases, so that’s a challenge as it relates to long dwell and endurance, as they (Reapers) are usually pretty big aircraft.”

Without a suitable replacement, Gregory warned that AFRICOM’s airborne ISR capabilities in the region will have eroded by 2026.

“We won’t have [any airborne] ISR access,” he stressed.

Funding in Place

Pentagon Undersecretary for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu said that funding and investments are already in place for long-endurance drones.

Without providing specific details, she revealed that the defense department already tested an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can loiter for “seven to eight days.”

The Pentagon has also reportedly been collaborating with the defense industry for solar-powered, stratospheric UAVs.

In July, the US Air Force announced that its ULTRA reconnaissance drone flew for three days straight during a recent trial.

The post AFRICOM Seeking New Long-Range ISR Drone to Replace MQ-9 Reaper appeared first on The Defense Post.

Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) documents seen by Ottawa Citizen suggest that the icy, -30 Celsius (-22 Fahrenheit) weather in the country’s far north will be a serious test for the Reaper’s ability to conduct its missions.

The drones will also have to operate from remote runways in the region where satellite coverage is limited.

Satellites are critical for drone operations as they are used to transmit flight instructions and surveillance data.

In addition to environmental challenges, the documents noted that Canadian military personnel do not have enough experience in operating larger drones.

Change of Plans

Plans to procure MQ-9 Reaper drones first surfaced in 2023 when Canadian military sources said the country was “setting the stage” to negotiate with the US and drone manufacturer General Atomics.

The reported value of the acquisition was five billion Canadian dollars ($3.7 billion).

Since then, Ottawa reportedly planned to build the drones’ own forward operating base in the Arctic, which will also house maintenance personnel.

But a change of plans now indicates that the unmanned platforms will use an existing forward operating base in the Arctic along with other RCAF aircraft.

To accommodate the 4,900-pound (2,223-kilogram) drone, the Canadian military is said to soon be installing new hangars and upgrading existing facilities at the base.

There will also be modifications to the drones ahead of their expected delivery in 2028 to address the difficult Arctic conditions.

The post Canada to Face Icy Challenges Operating Reaper Drones in Arctic: Report appeared first on The Defense Post.

During the Eurosatory 2024 exhibition in Paris, the drone tech firm lifted the lid on its Edge 130 Blue unmanned aerial system (UAS) capable of vertical takeoff and landing.

It can reportedly be hand-launched by a single operator to capture high-accuracy aerial imagery for over two hours.

Red Cat also showcased its FANG first-person view drone, which is still under development.

The company said the UAS can work alongside other lethal payloads and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms for more accurate and lethal strikes.

Lastly, the Puerto Rican firm unveiled its man-portable Teal 2 designed to “dominate the night” with its flight endurance of 30 minutes.

It can also provide battle damage assessment for military customers.

Cost-Effective Systems

Red Cat said its new family of drones is designed to meet the increasing global need for cost-effective UAS solutions.

It would also allow warfighters to choose the right combination of drones and payloads to support a variety of missions.

Additionally, utilizing the three new UAS will give operators access to an ecosystem of tactical artificial intelligence, computer vision, and machine learning software that can accurately identify and eliminate threats.

“The entire nature of warfare and use of drone technology is undergoing a fundamental shift, and this new family of systems will completely disrupt the traditional ISR and loitering munition systems market,” company CEO Jeff Thompson said.

Red Cat promised to further improve its drone offerings with new features, such as better batteries, command and control links, and electro-optical payloads.

The post Red Cat Unveils New Family of Surveillance, Precision Strike Drones appeared first on The Defense Post.

The Orbiter 2 LM one-way attack platform is designed to neutralize targets with nearby intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) drones.

The combination also allows operators to conduct thorough post-strike damage assessments.

According to the Aeronautics Group, the LM variant is a new generation of its existing Orbiter 2 drone, offering pinpoint precision attack capability with minimum collateral damage.

It features anti-jamming capabilities, encrypted communications, and artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in target recognition.

“It combines the lethality of [a] loitering munition with the ISR capabilities of [a] UAS. It can stay in the sky for two hours [and has a] low detection probability due to low acoustic, optic, and radar signature,” company official Eyal Assenhaym told Breaking Defense.

‘Closing Sensor-to-Shooter Cycle’

The Orbiter 2 LM can reportedly take out soft and time-sensitive targets, such as antennas, communication centers, and command posts.

Assenhaym stated that since it belongs to the same family as the Orbiter ISR drones, deploying them to work together would not require a much larger logistical footprint.

He further explained that the ISR and LM platforms have the same communication, ground control, and human-machine interface.

“This is the shortest and most efficient way to close the sensor-to-shooter circle and also gives you bomb damage assessment because the ISR [drone] is following [the LM drone]. You can follow up with another attack,” he said.

Assenhaym revealed that multiple customers have already expressed interest in the Orbiter 2 LM, but he could not disclose them.

The post Israel Unveils New Orbiter Drone Variant for Combined ISR, Precision Strikes appeared first on The Defense Post.

The unmanned aerial system (UAS) should fall under Group 4 or 5 (more than 1,320 pounds/600 kilograms), or the same category as the MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1C Gray Eagle.

It must be able to perform precision strike, surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and command-and-control missions.

Additionally, the RFI states that the drone must have the ability to integrate advanced technologies, such as electro-optical/infrared sensors, synthetic aperture radars, and electronic warfare systems.

The US Army prefers solutions that can fly at an altitude up to 30,000 feet (9,144 meters) and have short takeoff and landing capability.

Manned-Unmanned Teaming

According to the notice, the large drone must be capable of operating independently or as part of an advanced team to support multi-domain operations.

When operating in conjunction with manned systems, the UAS should enhance the army’s ability to gather accurate and timely information.

It must also boast a significantly reduced time for delivering lethal and non-lethal effects, boosting the manned-unmanned fleet’s firepower in high-risk threat environments.

The desired solutions must also have the ability to land at previously unsurveyed sites, counter enemy jamming, and operate at a distance of 500 nautical miles (575 miles/926 kilometers).

Interested firms have until July 17 to submit their white papers.

A Segue to Potential MQ-1C Acquisition?

UAS analyst JJ Gertler from the Teal Group said that while the RFI signals a new drone effort by the US Army, it could also simply be a segue to potentially acquiring another MQ-1C Gray Eagle.

He claimed that the notice could be a way for the service “to check off the competition box” and make sure it is not missing some systems that could compete with the General Atomics-manufactured UAS.

“So yes, they might be looking for something new — but it’s about an even chance that they’re just hoping to buy more of what they already have,” he told Breaking Defense.

The post US Army Seeks New Drone for Large-Scale Combat Operations appeared first on The Defense Post.

Anduril, Leidos Dynetics, Zone 5 Technologies, and Integrated Solutions for Systems edged out more than 100 vendors who submitted proposals for the Enterprise Test Vehicle (ETV) project.

Under the program, selected companies will leverage commercial and dual-use technologies in developing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can be produced at high rates and affordable costs.

It must be able to support future testing of payloads, such as sensors and other military technologies for airborne operations.

“The ETV presents an opportunity to leverage promising ideas from industry to create and refine affordable designs for test capabilities that can be produced on a relevant timeline,” US Air Force Acquisition Assistant Secretary Andrew Hunter said.

Additional Requirements

The modular drone test vehicle must fly a minimum range of 500 nautical miles (575 miles/926 kilometers) and a speed of 100 knots (185 kilometers/115 miles per hour).

It must also be able to deliver “kinetic payloads,” according to the sources-sought notice.

The US Air Force wants the test vehicle launched in multiple ways, such as from the back of a cargo aircraft.

Additionally, the drone should utilize an open systems architecture approach to accommodate future capabilities.

The four selected vendors must have their prototypes ready for flight demonstration later this year.

At least one promising prototype will be chosen for further development.

The post US Air Force Picks Four Firms for Modular Drone Test Vehicle Project appeared first on The Defense Post.

Called the “Owl,” the loitering munition can travel up to 200 kilometers (124 miles) and stay in the air for 30 minutes without recharging.

It also carries seven kilograms (15 pounds) of anti-armor and fragmentation warheads, which are suited for precision targeting of stationary or moving targets.

The Owl is currently being trialed by a special operations unit within the Australian Defence Force.

It will be introduced before the end of this year, according to a report by ABC News.

Funding Issue

The Owl was developed by Kardinya-based firm Innovaero in collaboration with Boeing subsidiary Insitu Pacific.

Government documents show more than 5.3 million Australian dollars ($3.5 million) have been allotted for the project since May 2022.

But defense industry insiders revealed that funding has been problematic in some innovation programs, causing lengthy delays.

Although they did not specify which programs have been affected, they said these include “small, cheap, and immediate capabilities.”

“The services have so little funding that they can’t cover these small programs and meet their longer-term needs for ships and aircraft,” a source claimed. “There seems to have been a decision made that the priority is the big, expensive, and long term [projects].”

The post Australian Army to Finally Introduce ‘Owl’ Electric-Powered Suicide Drone appeared first on The Defense Post.