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.

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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.

Called “Palianytsia,” the weapon combines the features of drones and missiles, including having a micro-turbojet engine that generates 43 kilograms (95 pounds) of thrust.

It is also reportedly armed with a 20-kilogram (44-pound) blast fragmentation warhead similar to the capacity of an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile.

In terms of aerodynamic design, the autonomous platform looks like a traditional rocket with a central body, forward-positioned wings, and a detachable tail section.

The rocket drone can be launched from a ground platform and is said to be cheaper to operate than other weapons of the same type.

Ukraine has introduced its first long-range rocket drone, Palianytsia, designed to target Russian airfields and strengthen its defense where Western weapons can’t be used.

United24 Media spoke with one of its developers and learned important details https://t.co/3iYQIstSGN pic.twitter.com/iVZo8rC63g

— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) August 25, 2024

Symbolic Name

The Palianytsia was developed out of an urgent need to counter Russia’s increasing dominance in the skies.

It took Ukraine one and a half years to develop the system and deploy it on the battlefield.

The name of the rocket drone is symbolic for Kyiv because apart from it being a traditional bread, it is also difficult for Russians to pronounce correctly.

The word was also used at the onset of the invasion to distinguish Ukrainians from Russians and symbolizes Ukrainian identity and resistance.

First Hit

In his Independence Day speech on August 24, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the first successful combat use of the Palianytsia.

It reportedly hit a Russian military facility in an occupied territory during a recent strike.

Though no further details were provided, Zelensky said the advancement is a critical way for the country to act amid the reluctance of some allies to allow greater freedom to use their donated weapons for strikes inside Russia.

“An absolutely new class of weapon… This is our new method of retaliating against the aggressor,” he declared.

The post Ukraine Unveils ‘Palianytsia’ Rocket Drone for Strikes Deep Into Russia 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.

Showcased during the founding anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the biomimetic drone was made to look like a Eurasian tree sparrow and is believed to be an ornithopter.

It replicates the wing-flapping motion of a bird in flight, making it virtually indistinguishable from real birds at a distance.

Though its technical specifications are not publicly available, ornithopters in general can reportedly carry small, advanced sensors for effective surveillance of enemy forces.

They can also be armed with micro-warheads to strike enemy assets, especially those in cover.

However, aerial platforms of this type often have a limited range and endurance, making them suitable only for short-range reconnaissance.

Extensive Military Potential

A video of the occasion shows an officer with the PLA’s Sea Commandos releasing the sparrow-like drone as he resurfaced from the water.

The drone then circled in the sky for a few minutes while flapping its wings like a real bird.

Another clip shows a commando operating a larger biomimetic drone, which is similar in size to a raven or hawk.

Biomimetic Drone Release & Flapping Around https://t.co/SOnkjcbEV5 pic.twitter.com/08e75AYuf5

— David Wang (@Nickatgreat1220) August 1, 2024

The realistic designs of these unmanned platforms could offer extensive military potential, as they can be easily concealed for reduced chances of detection.

Videos of the demonstration have already reached Ukraine, with The Kyiv Post acknowledging the drone’s potential due to its difficulty in being identified as a threat.

Not the First Time

Though unique, creating biomimetic military assets is not new to China.

In 2021, the South China Morning Post uploaded a video of what it called a “robo-fish” wagging its tail underwater.

The device was not a real fish, but a drone with the potential for underwater surveillance.

The post China Unveils Military Spy Drones Disguised as Birds appeared first on The Defense Post.

The names of the chosen firms were not disclosed for security reasons, but officials said they represent a mix of both traditional and nontraditional manufacturers.

According to program executive officer Brig. Gen. Jason Voorheis, the five vendors will compete to build the so-called “brains” of the loyal wingmen, just as other companies are competing for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).

They are expected to meet certain performance criteria; otherwise, they will be eliminated as the competition progresses.

“There will be a down select process…” Voorheis told reporters. “We will get down to a lower number of those vendors and they will create an autonomy implementation that will be applied to CCA increment 1.”

No Timeline Available

Advanced Aircraft Division official Col. Timothy Helfrich said the air force has established specific touch points where autonomy software vendors and air vehicle vendors will exchange models to ensure compatibility.

He further stated that the service will have an independent way of assessing both models to confirm they are working well together.

These processes are expected to affect the timeline for the autonomy software development phase, with air force officials declining to say when exactly the next contracts will be awarded.

They have also not disclosed the total value of the contracts awarded and when a decision will be issued.

“You can think of the mission autonomy as the brain of your autonomous vehicle. It is important that many protections are put around that, which drove the different classification posture,” Helfrich stressed.

Drone Wingman Program

Part of the broader CCA program, the drone wingman initiative aims to utilize artificial intelligence to support the operations of sixth-generation fighters and bombers.

The drones will act as scouts, electronic warfare jammers, or first attackers for the aircraft they are escorting.

Defense giants Boeing, Lockheed Martin, General Atomics, Northrop Grumman, and Anduril are reported to be included in the pool of vendors.

At least 1,000 CCAs are planned to be fielded by the late 2030s.

The post US Air Force Picks Five Firms to Develop Drone Wingman ‘Brain’ appeared first on The Defense Post.

The move aims to establish a drone production line that utilizes cutting-edge manufacturing technologies and processes in the face of increasing threats from China.

According to RapidFlight, additive manufacturing results in lower production costs and helps reduce the storage footprint of UAVs by a “factor of 10.”

It also reportedly allows swapping out payloads, propulsion systems, communications suites, and other critical components “to more readily fulfill the operational needs of users.”

The Virginia-based firm will collaborate with Taiwanese drone manufacturer Thunder Tiger Group on the initiative.

Meeting Production Goals

The partnership was established following reports that Taiwan and the US will need more low-cost drones to effectively defend against China in case of an invasion.

The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defence recently proposed spending $175 million over the next five years to acquire around 3,200 drones.

It also expressed its intention to build an “army of drones” similar to that in Ukraine.

But in order to meet this goal, the defense base in Taiwan will reportedly need to expand rapidly and utilize modern manufacturing strategies.

With the recently-inked partnership, the two companies are expected to leverage their extensive understanding of additive manufacturing for aerospace applications to enhance the country’s drone capabilities.

The post Taiwan to Explore 3D Printing of Drones appeared first on The Defense Post.

The procurement follows the apparent success of the suicide drone in neutralizing Russian military assets, even in the presence of sophisticated electronic warfare systems.

According to the country’s defense ministry, the move will equip the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with “world-leading lethality and protection” to effectively perform various missions.

It would also help ensure the military maintains a strategic advantage over potential adversaries.

“The prosperity and security of our nation will always be a top priority…” defense industry minister Pat Conroy said. “That’s why giving our soldiers the critical capabilities they need to protect Australians, and their interests, is paramount.”

Below Threshold?

Canberra has not yet disclosed the value of the contract or how many Switchblades are being procured.

However, it said initial deliveries are expected later this year.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which typically announces the sales of US-made defense systems to foreign entities, has yet to issue a formal notification regarding the Australian acquisition.

However, with Canberra expecting deliveries this year, the foreign military sale has likely already been approved.

One possible reason the sale has not appeared on the DSCA website is that it has not reached a certain threshold, which for Australia is $25 million, which would mean the total value of the order would be less than 37 million Australian dollars.

About the Switchblade 300

AeroVironment’s Switchblade 300 is a miniature drone capable of attacking enemy armored vehicles, fortifications, or beyond-line-of-sight assets.

It can be fired from either a mobile position on the field or from a fixed defensive position.

The system also operates with a low acoustic signature, making it difficult to detect, recognize, or track even at very close range.

Additionally, it provides real-time video and cursor-on-target GPS coordinates to aid target acquisition and information gathering.

Australia’s acquisition of the Switchblade 300 is expected to boost the ADF’s arsenal of around 760 unmanned aerial systems for surveillance, reconnaissance, and attack missions.

Apart from Ukraine, the unmanned platform has been used in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The post Australia Buys Precision Loitering Munition Used in Ukraine appeared first on The Defense Post.

The unmanned platforms are reportedly capable of communicating with one another, making quick decisions on where to attack, and approaching targets as a “swarm.”

However, to ensure the ethical use of AI, the developer made sure that the drones will require human confirmation before carrying out a coordinated attack.

Apart from precision strikes, the cutting-edge platforms can support intelligence gathering missions “faster than any human could.”

Once deployed, the drone swarm is expected to give Ukraine a significant battlefield advantage against Russian forces.

Huge Investment in Drones

According to Serhii Kuprienko, founder of the unnamed Ukrainian firm, the drone swarm solution was designed with one core mission in mind — “get robots to do the fighting” instead of humans.

This philosophy underscores Ukraine’s increased investment in autonomous platforms to gain the upper hand against Moscow while avoiding more military casualties.

A recent report by The Times revealed that before the invasion began in February 2022, Kyiv only had around 20 military technology companies.

But now more than 200 entities are focusing on defense tech, especially autonomous systems.

“They [Russians] fight, they die, they send more people — they don’t care. But that’s not how we see war,” Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation Alex Bornyakov said.

Earlier this year, Ukraine became the first country in the world to establish a separate military branch dedicated solely to drone warfare.

The post Ukraine Develops Drones That Can Recognize, Shoot ‘Based on Uniforms’ appeared first on The Defense Post.

The drone, prominently featured during the Eurosatory 2024 defense exhibition in Paris, is designed to monitor the airspace and provide early warnings of incoming threats.

It enhances the survivability of artillery units by allowing them to quickly reposition or take cover in case of an attack.

The uncrewed platform recently completed its tactical evaluation phase and will now undergo further performance tests to assess its resilience under extreme conditions.

It is unclear how many DT46s will be delivered to the French Army.

Features

The DT46 drone is capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), making it suitable for use in areas with limited space.

It can operate in diverse weather conditions — ranging from -15 to +50 degrees Celsius (5 to 122 Fahrenheit)

Deployable in 15 minutes, the platform boasts a flight endurance of six hours in fixed-wing mode and three and a half hours in VTOL mode.

It has a maximum payload capacity of 25 kilograms (55 pounds) and can fly up to 100 kilometers (62 miles).

Additionally, the DT46 is equipped with an advanced optronic pod, which has been used in Ukraine to aid surveillance and reconnaissance.

Once delivered, the drone is expected to extend the reach of French Army artillery units and enable them to accurately engage targets beyond line of sight.

The post France to Equip Artillery Units With DT46 Long-Range Drones appeared first on The Defense Post.