Tag: drones

U.S. Army Looks to Depots to Accelerate Drone Production

Aviation Week reports that the U.S. Army is opening its depots to drone-part production as the Pentagon looks for ways to rapidly expand manufacturing capacity, driven in part by lessons from Ukraine’s war. The outlet notes that “the number of drones Ukraine is projected to produce this year rises by a few million,” with the country expected to manufacture as many as 9 million to 10 million drones in 2026 after producing about 4 million small uncrewed aircraft last year. The dramatic increase highlights the scale of production the U.S. military is seeking to approach as it works to meet growing demand for inexpensive, rapidly produced uncrewed systems.
Full Story (Aviation Week)

Air Force Seeks Small Drones to Extend Communications in Contested Environments

Defense Daily reports the U.S. Air Force is seeking already-developed, attritable small drones that could form a communications mesh network for operations against adversaries with advanced electronic warfare and weapons. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center says the systems would have a maximum takeoff weight of 330 pounds, including fuel and payload, and a minimum range of 1,000 kilometers. The service is looking for the drones to operate “as part of a mesh network” and be deployable from Air Force Special Operations Command fixed-wing aircraft.
Full Story (Defense Daily – Subscription Publication)

GA-ASI Flight Test Validates Open Architecture for Autonomous Drone Missions

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Tactical Air Support demonstrated an open-architecture approach to autonomous drone operations during a July 21 flight test involving human-machine teaming. Aviation NewsDaily reports the demonstration used “passive sensors and autonomous software” to track and eliminate an airborne target, highlighting the ability to integrate different technologies into a modular mission system.
Full Story (Aviation NewsDaily)

University of Alabama Selects D-Fend for Counter-Drone Protection

Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “The University of Alabama has named D-Fend Solutions as its counter-drone technology supplier to protect campus operations, critical research infrastructure, and major public gatherings. The university functions as a small city, covering 3.5 square miles with a population of nearly 50,000 students, faculty, and staff. During football season, the campus becomes one of the largest population centers in the state, with Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium hosting over 100,000 fans while surrounding areas draw an additional 70,000 tailgaters.”
Full Story (Unmanned Systems Technology)

Durand Lecture Highlights 30-Year Journey Deploying Autonomous Drones to Understand Tornadoes

As a child growing up in Oklahoma, Brian Argrow had two passions: meteorology and aerospace engineering. He never imagined one day he would combine both interests — deploying tornado-chasing drones that showed how tornadoes form, key to increasing warning times. On Monday, Argrow, Distinguished Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, delivered the 2026 Durand Lecture for Public Service.

Heavy-Lift Cargo Drones Streamline Alpine Logistics at Val Gardena World Cup

Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “The organizers of the FIS Ski World Cup in Val Gardena recently integrated FlyingBasket heavy-lift cargo drones into their preparation phase to manage logistics in complex alpine environments. Between December 15 and 16, the FlyingBasket FB3 cargo drone was deployed to transfer television production equipment and technical materials to key locations on the slopes. Designed to carry loads of up to 100 kg, the drone operated at altitudes that typically necessitate the use of heavy vehicles or intensive manual labor.”
Full Story (Unmanned Systems Technology)

 

 Video

FB3 Cargo drone
FlyingBasket; YouTube