Latest news with #UAS
Miami Herald
12 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Denmark Buys Four MQ-9B SkyGuardians From GA-ASI
NSPA Supports Denmark and European Countries in MQ-9B Acquisition and Sustainment SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / July 23, 2025 / Denmark and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) have announced the procurement of four MQ-9B SkyGuardian® Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. The purchase includes three Certified Ground Control Stations. Denmark joins a growing list of European countries that have selected MQ-9B for its multi-domain capabilities with exceptionally long range and endurance. The platform provides pole-to-pole satellite control and de-icing capabilities to enable missions in the harsh conditions of the Arctic in support of Denmark and its NATO Allies. Additionally, MQ-9B's in-house-developed Detect and Avoid System aids MQ-9B's ability to fly in unsegregated airspace for domestic civilian operations, making it highly versatile for operations from Denmark. MQ-9B recently became the first large remotely piloted aircraft to obtain a Military Type Certificate (MTC) from the UK's Military Aviation Authority, certifying its safe operation without geographic restrictions, including over populous areas. "It's been a very productive year for our MQ-9B platforms," said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. "First, we earned MTC and now we've added Denmark to the U.K., Belgium, and Poland as MQ-9B customers in Europe. I believe the extensive waters of the North Sea, Norwegian Sea, and Baltic Sea of the Nordic countries make the MQ-9B a very effective tool for national maritime surveillance and security." MQ-9B SkyGuardian is the first and only unmanned system to offer multi-domain Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting (ISR&T) as an internal payload that can search the ocean's surface and its depths in support of Fleet Operations. MQ-9B can also be fitted with a number of payloads including a maritime surveillance package with a 360-degree maritime radar and/or sonobuoy dispensing pods. This sale was aided and supported by NSPA, which has developed a contractual framework for supporting cooperation amongst its member nations and promoting the proliferation of MQ-9B in Europe. NSPA has added MQ-9B to its portfolio of defense systems to contract on behalf of European nations, with the goal of enhancing interoperability while facilitating training and joint operations. "This procurement demonstrates how NSPA enables efficient, effective and responsive multinational acquisitions for advanced, interoperable capabilities. We are proud to support Denmark in this strategic investment for national maritime surveillance and security," said Ms. Stacy A. Cummings, NSPA General Manager. About GA-ASI General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. is the world's foremost builder of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Logging more than 8 million flight hours, the Predator® line of UAS has flown for over 30 years and includes MQ-9A Reaper®, MQ-1C Gray Eagle®, MQ-20 Avenger®, and MQ-9B SkyGuardian®/SeaGuardian®. The company is dedicated to providing long-endurance, multi-mission solutions that deliver persistent situational awareness and rapid strike. For more information, visit Avenger, EagleEye, Gray Eagle, Lynx, Predator, Reaper, SeaGuardian, and SkyGuardian are trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., registered in the United States and/or other countries. # # # Contact Information GA-ASI Media Relations asi-mediarelations@ 524-8101 SOURCE: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. Related Images press release
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
The Army has a novel solution to its drone problem: Shoot them with tanks
The Army has solved its drone problem. What you do is: you shoot them with a tank. Problem solved, right? Not quite, but that describes some of the reaction after the service released its latest update to its 'Tank Platoon' manual, known as ATP 3-20.15, late last week, and a set of diagrams deep in the appendix caught the eye of many online. It's not hard to see why. Taken by themselves, the diagrams do come across as a bit… optimistic. They present an extremely simplified vision of a hypothetical tank-vs-drone encounter, a subject that combat in Ukraine has proven is neither simple nor hypothetical for armor formations. In the diagrams, a squad of M1 Abrams main battle tanks aim at a passing drone — which the Army calls an unmanned aircraft system or UAS — and shoot it down with fire from their main 120mm cannon. The course of action instructions alongside the diagram suggest that crews employ the M1028 120mm canister rounds for the takedown. The M1028 is a fairly awful weapon to contemplate, a 120mm shell stuffed with over 1000 tungsten projectiles designed to scatter like grapeshot and mow through dismounted infantry or, in this case, clip a fragile drone in its wide field of disbursement. At least that seems to be the thinking here. Gunners should lead a straight-flying UAS, the manual says, by that most All-American of distance estimates, 'one-half football field.' A second diagram addresses the quadcopter variety of drone, which are rarely seen flying straight and narrow but instead loop and dive directly at their targets. For those, the diagrams say, aim 'slightly above helicopter body.' The new manual represents the Army's first rewrite of its armor procedures to address the threat of drones, but the simple diagrams are hardly the service's first crack at counter-UAS tactics. In fact, missed by most of the online commenters is that the diagrams are pulled from the section on intentionally simple immediate action drills. Immediate action drills, or battle drills, are familiar to any soldier as the building blocks of combat tactics — simple, short, easy-to-memorize instructions for specific scenarios that units practice until they are second nature. But revisions throughout the rest of the tank manual make clear that 'second nature' is what the army wants drone combat to be. Drones now a 'critical task' The revised manual mentions unmanned systems over 100 times and puts combat with UASs into two of a tanker's 12 'Critical Tactical Tasks,' alongside such tank basics as field maintenance and casualty care and evacuation. Drone engagements now also gets its own section in the manual's operating instructions. 'The platoon should assume they are being observed by enemy reconnaissance and targeting systems, and not assume they are under a protective umbrella of friendly air and missile defense units,' the section begins. 'The platoon must react quickly and appropriately respond and report when recognizing signs of possible enemy observation or attack.' Tankers think of defenses against UAS in two categories: active and passive. Passive defense is a relatively straightforward idea: more armor, more hiding. 'Limiting damage and attack avoidance measures are passive defense measures that are used to avoid detection from aerial threats and limit damage if attacked,' the manual says. Those measures include a checklist with everything from smearing mud on headlights for light discipline to OPSEC in the planning stages and using decoys — both real and electronic — to draw drones away. Another passive defense the Army is looking into giving its tanks, as the War Zone reported last month, includes more armor and even 'cope cages' on the top, a weak spot made famous in Ukraine but exploited by ISIS as far back as 2017 in Syria. Active measures are a whole different ballgame, which are manual and automated systems designed to shoot drones out of the sky as they approach a tank. They vary from decades-old reactive armor, to new and in-development laser or radar-directed rockets and 30mm cannons that can swat drones away as they approach. Adding an 'air guard' to the crew Perhaps most interesting though is the manual's instructions for a designated member of the crew to act as 'air guard.' This job — which the manual says will likely fall to the crew's loader — will be used 'for every vehicle and position to establish 360-degree security.' The air guard's job, the manual says, is 'to be vigilant with eyes on the horizon. Air guards are responsible for spotting aerial threats within proximity to the unit's location and providing early warning.' And while drone battles are likely to continue to be a technology race between drone makers and counter-measure builders, the Army seems to think a key to that race will be the very human skill of listening. 'Air guards should position themselves where they can best observe and, more importantly, listen for threat UAS,' the manual says. 'When listening, OPs should exercise noise discipline, ensure all engines are of,f and remove their headgear to listen. Early warning is the key for air guards.' Read the full 432-page 'Tank Platoon' manual here. 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Time of India
6 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Honey turns sour as beehives in Karnataka come under attack
Bengaluru: Beekeepers across the state are facing a serious new threat: the invasion of small hive beetles, which is wreaking havoc on bee colonies and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. With over 60,000 beekeepers and an annual honey production of around 1,200 metric tons, the state has long been a buzzing hub for apiculture. However, these industrious insects are now under siege as the fast-spreading pest feeds on pollen, honey, and even dead bees. The larvae of small hive beetle are particularly damaging, destroying hives by consuming the protein-rich pollen and secreting a foul mucus that sours the honey and drives entire colonies to flee. The result is empty hives, plummeting honey yields, and heavy financial losses for apiculturists. What used to be prevalent in parts of southeast Asian countries such as Thailand and Burma has now entered the Indian subcontinent as well, impacting apiaries across India. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Scientists from the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bengaluru, who have been closely tracking this pest for the past year, have started ringing the alarm bells loudly. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched Seeking Alpha Read More Undo The control measures suggested by them include regular inspection of the bee colonies and maintaining hive hygiene, stopping the collection and supply of infected colonies from neighbouring states or within the state, burning and destroying the pest-affected hives, and completely cleaning the hives. Dr KS Jagadish, professor and head of the department of apiculture at UAS, revealed these beetles entered India through West Bengal and have now spread across the country. "Interstate transportation of colonies has contributed to the spread. While it impacts both species of honey bees — Apis cerana and Apis mellifera — the former has suffered the worst as the entire colony flees if infected. These species cannot withstand even a slight disturbance to their colonies and immediately, vacate the colony if there is an external invasion," he explained. Dr Vijay Kumar, another scientist at UAS, said, "We have been advising apiculturists to adopt the best hygiene practices, including cleaning the bottom board once every 8 to 10 days. The beetle is just 2 to 3 millimetres in size and hard like rubber but can lay 300 to 400 eggs. Hence, one should not allow the accumulation of dust and broken twigs at the bottom boards. During the shifting of colonies, if one comes across dark brown coloured brood, they must carefully verify and assess for these beetles. If beetles are found, farmers should immediately pick them manually and kill them. Even though we have been working on few bio control agents, currently, there is no other alternative to contain its spread." Mahadeva Swamy, an apiculturist from MM Hills, said, "Scientists and horticulture officials visited our farm for a survey. Luckily, we are free of infection as we do not source any colony from outside. However, there have been reports that in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and other southern states, it is spreading fast."
Business Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Asia-Pacific regulators release world's first guidelines for commercial operation of air taxis, drones
[SINGAPORE] Asia-Pacific aviation regulators have published the world's first set of guidelines on air taxis and drones, anticipating future commercial operation of these vehicles in the region. Regulators can voluntarily adopt the guidelines, which will also be submitted to the International Civil Aviation Organization to be adopted as a global standard. The guidelines were released on Monday (Jul 14) at the second meeting of Apac regulators on advanced air mobility (AAM) and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), spearheaded by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS). AAM is a new type of aviation characterised by compact aircraft designed for shorter-range travel, including air taxis. Many of these are electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) craft, being developed by startups such as Archer Aviation and Volocopter. CAAS director-general Han Kok Juan said: 'The Asia-Pacific region will be a major market for AAM, which will transform the way people work, move and live and be another engine of economic growth.' The launch of the guidelines 'is a significant step forward to more widespread use of drones and making air taxi operations a reality', he added. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Known as reference materials, the guidelines are a starting point for formal regulations regarding the new technologies. Regulators can use or adapt the materials to prepare for and facilitate commercial operations of air taxis and drones. The materials also aim to raise awareness of these technologies and regulatory approaches, as well as considerations when integrating eVTOLs and more complex UAS operations into existing aviation regulations. Representatives of 20 countries and 21 AAM companies and organisations discussed plans for the launch of air taxi operations and expanded uses of drones in the next five years, as well as cooperation on such operations. PHOTO: CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE They were created by 24 states and administrations, led by China, the Cook Islands, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Incorporating industry feedback, the guidelines include safety targets for eVTOL operations, industry standards and compliance. They will be updated regularly, in line with the fast-paced development of AAM and UAS technology. The meeting was attended by representatives of 20 countries and 21 AAM companies and organisations, who discussed plans for the launch of air taxi operations and expanded uses of drones in the next five years, as well as cooperation on such operations. It was part of High-Level Aviation Week, which runs from Jul 14 to 19, where government and industry leaders gather in Singapore for discussions. The event was also marked by the debut of a regional sustainability centre for aviation. The first meeting of Apac regulators on AAM took place in November 2023, during which the development of the reference materials was mooted by CAAS.
New Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Self-reliance in UAVs, counter-unmanned aerial systems strategic imperative for India: CDS Chauhan
NEW DELHI: Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Wednesday said recent conflicts globally have demonstrated how drones can "shift tactical balance disproportionately", and asserted that self-reliance in UAVs and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) is a "strategic imperative" for India. In his address at an event held at Manekshaw Centre here, Gen Chauhan also said Operation Sindoor has shown why indigenously developed Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and C-UAS "built for our terrain and our needs are crucial." A day-long workshop on 'Indigenisation of Critical Components Currently Being Imported from Foreign OEMs in the Areas of UAV & C-UAS' is being hosted by Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff (HQ-IDS), in collaboration with the think-tank Centre for Joint Warfare Studies. The event comes against the backdrop of recent India-Pakistan hostilities, including Operation Sindoor, which highlighted the strategic importance and operational effectiveness of UAVs and C-UAS, the Defence Ministry said on Tuesday. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), in his keynote address at the inaugural session, said drones are proof of reality, and their widespread utility in recent conflicts demonstrates how drones can shift tactical balance disproportionately to their size or price. "Asymmetric drone warfare is making large platforms vulnerable and driving militaries to rethink the conceptual aspects of air doctrines, development of C-UAS and adaptive moves of engagement," he said. The CDS also said that during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan used unarmed drones and loiter munitions on May 10. But "none of them could actually inflict any damage to Indian military or civilian infrastructure," he said. "Most of them were neutralised through a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic means. Some of them could be recovered in almost intact conditions," Gen Chauhan said. The CDS emphasised that Operation Sindoor has "shown us as to why indigenously developed UAS, C-UAS built for our terrain and our needs are crucial." Underlying the ethos of Atmanirbharta, Gen Chauhan asserted that "we cannot rely on imported niche technologies that are crucial for our offensive and defensive missions." "Dependence on foreign technologies weakens our preparedness, limits our ability to scale up production, results in a shortfall of critical spares for sustenance and round-the-clock availability," he added. Military leaders, defence experts, scientists, policymakers and private industry representatives have gathered here for the event, seeking to develop a "strategic roadmap" for indigenisation, with an overarching aim to reduce dependency on foreign companies for critical UAV and C-UAS components. "In the rapidly evolving landscape of non-contact warfare, UAVs have emerged as a transformative force. For a nation like India, self-reliance in UAVs and C-UAS technologies is not only a strategic imperative, but it is also about empowering India to chart its destiny, safeguard its interests and seize the opportunities of the future," the CDS wrote in his message for the workshop.
