Space Force's next generation of missile warning satellites passes major design milestone

On the same subject

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  September 14, 2020 | International, C4ISR

  US defense department awards AirMap USD3.3m to develop AirBoss platform

  US Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) service provider AirMap a USD3.3 million grant to to commercialize its AirBoss platform. AirBoss is an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) software platform designed for Group 1 UAVs and developed together with Reveal Technology and the DoD's Defense Innovation Unit. The DoD recently announced USD13.4 million in Title III investments to support the domestic small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) industrial base and further enhance the US warfighter's situational awareness, improve human-machine teaming, and provide engineering support for aiding the integration of sUAS capabilities into DoD programs. Under this investment, AirMap received USD3.3 million to aid product development and engineering support for integration of sUAS mission planning, post-mission analysis, and unmanned traffic management software. The award coincides with the launch of the AirMap Defense Group (ADG), a defense and security business unit that provides mission-critical technologies to the DoD. AirMap is working closely with the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab to enhance and field test the AirBoss platform with small quadrotors. Airmap's AirBoss platform supports image mapping and analysis provided by Reveal Technology. Reveal's Farsight mobile application is a 2D/3D mapping and analytical tool for drone imagery, optimized to provide focused, intelligent analytics at the edge. The technology is used to provide intelligence for army squads. “UAS technology delivers critical situational awareness and tactical opportunities,” said Major Steven Norris, ACE Branch Head, Science and Technology, at the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab. “We look forward to further developing Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) technology to enable safer and more efficient UAS operations teaming with personnel and manned aircraft.” “AirBoss equips troops with the tools to collect, process, share, and act on critical visual intelligence in real time,” said Garrett Smith, CEO Reveal Technology. “We are excited to work with AirMap and the DoD to develop a best-in-class platform for our warfighters. https://www.unmannedairspace.info/latest-news-and-information/us-defense-department-awards-airmap-usd3-3m-to-develop-airboss-platform/

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  January 21, 2020 | International, Aerospace

  Le Falcon ne fait plus les affaires de Dassault

  Alors que Dassault Aviation profite à plein de ses contrats à l'export dans le militaire, il fait grise mine dans le civil. Comme prévu, le groupe a livré 26 Rafale en 2019, contre 12 en 2018. Mais il n'a pas atteint son objectif dans le civil, avec seulement 40 avions d'affaires Falcon livrés, contre 41 en 2018, soit cinq appareils de moins qu'attendu. Seule consolation : avec également 40 Falcon commandés l'an dernier, Dassault parvient à stabiliser son carnet de commandes dans le civil (53 appareils). Entre un marché de l'aviation d'affaires chahuté et disputé et l'annulation du Falcon 5X en raison des difficultés rencontrées par Safran sur le moteur Silvercrest, le risque de pertes de parts de marché est bien réel. Mais l'avionneur peut se féliciter de son modèle dual : malgré sa décélération persistante dans le civil, son chiffre d'affaires en 2019 devrait être très supérieur à celui de 2018, à 5,1 milliards d'euros. En outre, Dassault pourrait dévoiler cette année un nouveau Falcon... https://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/le-falcon-ne-fait-plus-les-affaires-de-dassault.N918869

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  June 25, 2020 | International, Naval

  Navy buys two used MQ-9A Reaper drones

  Nathan Strout The Navy has purchased its first two MQ-9A Reaper drones, awarding General Atomics Aeronautical Systems nearly $27 million on June 22 for the unmanned air systems and associated ground control equipment. The MQ-9A Reaper is a multimission, medium-altitude, long-endurance aircraft that is remotely piloted. According to the June 22 contract announcement, the Reapers will be used for intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance missions as well as persistent strike efforts. The contract procures two MQ-9A Reapers, one dual-control mobile ground control station, one modular data center and one mobile ground control station. This is the first time the Navy has purchased Reapers, but it's already been using the unmanned aircraft overseas. According to fiscal 2020 fiscal 2021 budget documents, the two MQ-9A aircraft the Navy is purchasing have been used by the Marine Corps in a contractor-operated, contractor-owned arrangement since September 2018 to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support to Task Force Southwest in Afghanistan. Because they are used, the Reapers will cost less than brand-new systems. The FY21 budget request estimates the cost of each system as being just under $12 million. Work is expected to be completed by December 2020. https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/2020/06/24/navy-buys-two-used-mq-9a-reapers/