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.

The $20.8-million deal will provide 10 of the company’s proprietary Star SAFIRE 380-HLD multi-spectral imaging systems over three years.

FLIR noted that three initial SAFIRE units, including a spare piece, were already shipped to Tokyo for assessment purposes as per the agreement.

The SAFIRE Imaging System

The Star SAFIRE 380-HLD is a stabilized, ultra-long-range imaging device that captures high-definition visual and thermal videos.

It is integrated with laser designator and rangefinder technologies for precise target acquisition and spot positioning. Users can also opt for enhanced color and low-light versions of the system depending on mission requirements.

FLIR highlighted that the camera can be used for threat localization as well as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance in all weather conditions.

“Growing threats in the region have moved Japan to improve its defense and security capabilities, especially those designed to safeguard its territorial waters and outlying territories,” Teledyne FLIR Defense Asia Pacific Business Development Senior Director Robert Moss stated.

“Our unmatched thermal, optical, and radar-based surveillance solutions bring the most advanced technology to the Japan Self Defense Forces, enabling them to act swiftly and decisively when needed.”

Tokyo’s SH-60 Modernization

Japan’s SH-60L is a locally-made version of the Sikorsky S-60 aircraft line intended for anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue applications.

It is the latest configuration of the country’s proven H-60 fleet, operational since the 1990s.

In December 2023, Tokyo and industry partner Mitsubishi Heavy Industries revealed that the development of the SH-60L variant, which began in 2015, was completed.

The new aircraft will eventually replace the older SH-60Ks that were inducted in the early 2000s.

The post Japanese SH-60L Helicopters to Receive Teledyne FLIR Airborne Cameras appeared first on The Defense Post.

The “Typhoon” unit will be responsible for all National Guard operations that involve the use of various types of drones.

It can be quickly called in to reinforce combat missions with the help of the latest unmanned systems in the force.

Additionally, the unit can facilitate training to help fellow soldiers become familiar with drone operations.

According to commander Mykhailo Kmytyuk, one of the advantages of serving in the Typhoon unit is the opportunity to be provided with constant training to become a skillful pilot of different kinds of drones.

An aspiring member can also automatically enter military service through the unit by answering an application-questionnaire and completing a four-week basic combat training course.

“The more motivated people there are, the faster our victory will come,” deputy commander Pavlo Gvozdenko added.

Prioritizing Unmanned Systems

The creation of a specialized drone unit comes as Kyiv continues to give immense importance to the role of unmanned systems in the ongoing war.

Earlier this year, President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered the establishment of a separate military branch dedicated solely to drone warfare.

The branch focuses on improving the country’s work with drones, including increasing production, systemizing their use, and ramping up soldier training.

Unmanned systems chief Lt. Col. Maksym Sklyar said the national guard’s move to create a distinct drone team demonstrates that it is now “developing in the direction of unmanned systems” like all other components of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The National Guard pledges to equip its new Typhoon unit with essential tools to perform its tasks effectively.

The post Ukraine National Guard Forms Drone Unit to Support Combat Brigades 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.

The deal supports the service’s efforts to employ a next-generation intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (IRS) aircraft with improved geographical coverage and faster global deployment capabilities.

SNC will take on the role for 12 years, with the agreement amounting to $991.3 million if all options are exercised.

“HADES is the centerpiece of the Army’s long-promised aerial ISR transformation strategy,” US Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Anthony Hale explained.

“HADES allows the Army to fly higher, faster and farther, which directly impacts our ability to see and sense deeper, delivering an organic capability in line with the Secretary of the Army’s number-one operational imperative – deep sensing.”

Future ISR Aircraft

The US Department of Defense first conceptualized the HADES program to replace the army’s legacy Guardrail, Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System, and Airborne Reconnaissance Low fleets in service for over 40 years.

Once operational, the HADES spy plane will fly with higher airspeeds and extended endurance compared to its predecessors. Additionally, the platform will improve the army’s readiness by enabling a transitional period of days prior to missions instead of weeks as seen in previous aircraft.

In January 2024, the Pentagon contracted Bombardier Defense to supply up to three Global 6500 business jets for the HADES prototyping phase.

The government also partnered with Leidos six months earlier to support proficiency efforts for the upcoming aircraft’s pilots.

“I am very proud of the entire HADES team, along with our intelligence, aviation and contracting enterprise partners, who have worked diligently to ensure that the Army delivers a new aerial ISR collection capability that meets the Army’s 2030 operational imperatives,” US Army Aviation Program Executive Officer Brig. Gen. David Phillips commented on SNC’s recent contract.

“HADES will allow our formations to see and sense farther and more persistently, providing an asymmetric advantage over our adversaries in large-scale operations and multidomain operations.”

The post US Army Names Sierra Nevada as Lead HADES Spy Plane Integrator appeared first on The Defense Post.

Dubbed “Tyche,” the space asset was launched Friday from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California with SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 rocket.

The satellite will be operated by the UK Space Command to capture daytime images and videos of the Earth’s surface.

It will also support the operations of the British military by gathering critical intelligence and monitoring adversaries.

“To see Tyche – the first of a new generation of UK military capabilities – delivered into orbit is an incredibly proud moment and a tribute to everyone’s commitment to this key project,” Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) official Paul Russell said.

The first signals from the new satellite were transmitted to its operator a few hours after lift-off, confirming its successful launch.

Lift off!

Tyche is now orbiting planet Earth. The first wholly @DefenceHQ-owned satellite is the size of a washing machine and was launched from a @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Find out more about what it will do for UK Armed Forces: https://t.co/3pCgkcRmo1 pic.twitter.com/eV8DMR9JtV

— Defence Equipment & Support (@DefenceES) August 17, 2024

$29M Initiative

About the size of a washing machine, the Tyche military satellite weighs 150 kilograms (330 pounds).

It is part of a 22-million-pound ($29-million) initiative between the DE&S and Guildford-based Surrey Satellite Technology Limited.

The space asset will provide timely space-based imagery from Low Earth Orbit over a five-year lifespan.

According to the defense ministry, the Tyche was launched after seeing the crucial role of space-based military assets in Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

“Tyche will provide essential intelligence for military operations as well as supporting wider tasks across government,” defense procurement minister Maria Eagle said, adding that its launch highlights the country’s commitment to supporting innovation.

Apart from ISR, the satellite is expected to help monitor natural disasters and track the impact of climate change around the world.

The post UK Launches First Military Satellite appeared first on The Defense Post.

With an estimated value of $1 billion, the contract will see the delivery to Rabat of Israel’s Ofek 13 spy satellites over a period of five years.

They will replace Morocco’s existing Airbus and Thales space-based surveillance system.

Once delivered, the satellites are expected to bolster the African nation’s intelligence-gathering capabilities amid increasing geopolitical tensions.

‘Unprecedented Day and Night Surveillance’

First launched into orbit in March 2023, IAI’s Ofek 13 is equipped with synthetic aperture radar that enables precise imaging even in adverse weather conditions.

It also offers unprecedented day and night surveillance with a resolution of up to 0.5 meters (1.6 feet) and an orbit period as short as 90 minutes.

The Israeli Air Force previously described the space asset as “a tool that allows us to look beyond the horizon and investigate all areas of interest.”

Its “unique radar observation capabilities” also enable seamless intelligence-gathering in any visibility conditions.

In Morocco, the satellite can be used to monitor borders, detect potential threats, and gather critical intelligence.

The post Morocco Buys Advanced Spy Satellites From Israel appeared first on The Defense Post.

The People Power Party said in a Sunday commentary that sensitive information about the country’s Baekdu and Geumgang spy planes had been compromised following an alleged “DPRK cyberattack.”

A Seoul-based defense analyst warned that the breach could provide Pyongyang with critical insights about South Korea’s surveillance methods.

It could also pose significant security risks given the advanced nature of the two aircraft for communications and radar detection.

“Recent performance improvements have made these systems more effective than in their initial phase in surveilling North Korea’s ground activities,” Shin Seung-ki from the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses told NK News.

K2 Black Panther

In a separate incident, North Korea reportedly obtained key information about the K2 Black Panther, one of Seoul’s best-selling export products.

Three South Korean researchers allegedly leaked design drawings, development reports, and sensitive data related to the chemical, biological, and radiological pressure device on the main battle tank.

Initial investigation revealed that the accused passed the information through external hard drives in exchange for hefty payments.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration was said to be unaware of the breach until the ROK police launched a probe.

Stronger Protection

This is not the first sensitive information about South Korea’s defense assets has been compromised.

Earlier this year, major North Korean hacking groups breached the internal networks of South Korean defense companies and stole technical data.

They also hacked South Korean chip equipment makers — a move believed to aid Pyongyang’s efforts to develop semiconductors for its weapons programs.

South Korean military analyst Yang Uk from the Asan Institute has emphasized the need for stronger protection of the country’s advanced military technologies from cyber espionage.

He suggested the creation of a specialized counterintelligence agency that would work on addressing these cyber vulnerabilities.

The post S. Korea Says North Stole Technical Data About K2 Tank, Spy Planes 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 TITAN is an advanced battle management system powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to coordinate “sensor-to-shooter” data between weapons, warfighters, and the chain of command.

It was developed as part of the Pentagon’s broader initiative to employ next-generation intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance solutions for multi-domain operations to counter evolving threats.

A contract for the production of 10 TITAN prototypes was awarded to Palantir in March.

“Delivering the first TITAN prototype to JBLM is a pivotal step in enhancing our warfighters’ capabilities,” US Army Intelligence Systems and Analytics Project Manager Col. Chris Anderson explained.

“TITAN provides game-changing technologies that revolutionize how we collect, process, and disseminate intelligence across the battlefield, giving us a decisive edge.”

Continuous Improvement

The army wrote that the new TITAN prototype is the first of 10 platforms being developed for the program’s corresponding testing and evaluation processes.

The information collected will be leveraged to further develop the system’s functions and ensure its operability once commissioned.

Additional reconfigurations to the TITAN’s design process and extensive utility ceiling will be based on assessments in partnership with warfighters.

“We are thrilled to move into the next phase of delivering these revolutionary capabilities to the Army,” Anderson said.

“The feedback from our Soldiers will be invaluable in refining and enhancing the TITAN system to meet the demands of modern warfare.”

TITAN Program Progress

The US Army first announced it would choose the TITAN program’s prime contractor in December 2023.

In November 2022, Northrop Grumman was selected as the army’s partner for the TITAN’s space configuration.

Four months earlier, the US tapped Raytheon Technologies for the targeting solution’s 14-month pre-prototyping phase.

The post US Army Accepts First TITAN Ground Station Prototype appeared first on The Defense Post.