US UAV and UCAV Technology

“It’s a show me culture,” Hicks said of Pentagon innovation. “Show me you’ll put your reputation on the line to make change happen, and then maybe it’ll make change happen”

It will take real DoD development ie risk to evolve beyond the toy garbage being thrown at these ineptiphides. again who is running this asylum?



www.defensenews.com

Replicator gets $200 million in newly released defense spending bill

The number is far less than Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks predicted earlier this month but may hint at a two-track funding approach.
www.defensenews.com www.defensenews.com
 
www.rt.com

US drones faring poorly in Ukraine conflict – WSJ

American producers of small military drones have failed to impress in the Ukraine conflict, the Wall Street Journal has reported
www.rt.com www.rt.com
kyivindependent.com

WSJ: Small US-made drones perform poorly in Ukraine

Drone company executives, Ukrainian officials, and former U.S. defense officials said that U.S.-made unmanned aircraft are often expensive, glitchy, and difficult to repair.
kyivindependent.com kyivindependent.com
 
Breaking: Anduril and General Atomics are selected to continue building the Air Force's first increment of Collaborative Combat Aircraft

https://twitter.com/x/status/1783239716436947236
View: https://x.com/beverstine/status/1783239716436947236
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The two companies beat Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman for the program. A production decision is expected in FY2026
https://twitter.com/x/status/1783239892534689792
View: https://x.com/beverstine/status/1783239892534689792
https://x.com/beverstine/status/1783239892534689792
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The award is a huge win for up-start Anduril. GA-ASI has a long track record of providing uncrewed systems for the Air Force. Boeing/LH/NG are able to compete for the upcoming second increment
https://twitter.com/x/status/1783240993287893481
View: https://x.com/beverstine/status/1783240993287893481
https://x.com/beverstine/status/1783240993287893481
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GA-ASI says its CCA design is based on its XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station it developed for AFRL
https://twitter.com/x/status/1783250228612669443
View: https://x.com/beverstine/status/1783250228612669443
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I’m a little surprised at Anduril making this cut. They are really punching above their weight given the competition.
 
https://www.twz.com/air/general-ato...n-collaborative-combat-aircraft-drone-program

Josh_TN said:
I’m a little surprised at Anduril making this cut. They are really punching above their weight given the competition.
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Honestly, me too. Their offer seemed inferior, although I do't have much info on what it really was. And they haven't rolled the drone out yet, have they?

It's nice to see some kind of competition for a change.

2024_Fury-Painting-scaled.jpg
 
I think our DoD really want to diversify. Keeps the fund flowing for the smaller companies knowing that the big boys will internally fund to keep competitive edge for Increment 2
 
donnage99 said:
I think our DoD really want to diversify. Keeps the fund flowing for the smaller companies knowing that the big boys will internally fund to keep competitive edge for Increment 2
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I agree, but there are other increments to the CCA buy and USAF has been clear that it will on ramp other manufacturers at the drop of a hat. Anduril must of actually had an impressive product or process to make the cut, given their size. Kratos was not even one of the original five despite being a OSINT favorite to be involved, and both the USAF and Kratos say that they will be involved in Incr 2.

But yes, broadly the CCA program seems to be somewhat concerned with increasing production and capacity of lower end non prime (or previously non prime) companies. For that matter, the proliferated warfighter constellation (they really need a much better name for that) also seems to be spreading their contracts across non traditional companies as a way to generate more production in the short term and grow the industry's production capacity in the long term. I am a fan. Anduril might have shown enough promise that someone decided to grow the business for the sake of future contracts.
 
aonestudio said:
Full circle to V-1.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijrTTAZP1zg

www.twz.com

Pulsejet Drone Flies, Could Have Big Impact On Cost Of Future Weapons

The pulsejet-powered Scitor-D reflects growing interest in low-cost, high-performance engines for decoys, one-way attack drones, and more.
www.twz.com www.twz.com
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Airframe looks like one of the large scale A-10 R/C models. Interesting it looks like it belly landed at that end of the video. The follow up video with the sailplane testbed is a Schreder HP-14 all metal sailplane. Haven't seen one of those in years....

Thanks for the link - Mark
 
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It looks like increment 1 was defined more by what could be designed and produced the quickest, which I applaud. I think this is GAs to lose; they seem to be on the inside track with the XQ-67. Interesting that Incr2 was going to be a larger and more bespoke model until wargames seemed to imply this was the wrong direction. I am aware of two public wargames that identified a similar trend, though I forgot the organizations that hosted them. But in both cases the blue team went in overwhelmingly for the largest number of the most simply CCAs (and other UAVs/decoys).
 
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I always thought Switchblade series was overrated and at this point dated. It is still a man in the loop system, as far as I know, and as such is still vulnerable to ECM. But I suppose short term it does have the advantage of mass production right now, which is one of the things Replicator is specifically attempting to achieve. It does at least seem superior to the Lancet in most every way, outside being significantly heavier and probably more expensive (but apparently less than Javelin).

The PRIME contract is far more interesting to me. This looks like an effort to duplicate the Ukraine's success with remote operated USVs in the Black Sea, which probably would have a lot of application in the Western Pacific.
 
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www.defensenews.com

DIU, Air Force pick four firms to prototype modular testing drone

DIU and the Air Force want to use ETV in large numbers to “create an overwhelming dilemma" for an enemy, perhaps making it a candidate for Replicator.
www.defensenews.com www.defensenews.com

breakingdefense.com

Army wants ideas for new large drone for reconnaissance and attack missions - Breaking Defense

The service wants information on Group 4 or 5 drone designs that can carry a range of sensors, and also launch new weapons like the developmental launched effects.
breakingdefense.com breakingdefense.com
 
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www.defensenews.com

Pentagon to identify next Replicator capability set this summer

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said the Pentagon plans to propose Replicator 2.0 funding in its fiscal 2026 budget.
www.defensenews.com www.defensenews.com

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_uMkeuNuXo

www.spacewar.com

Meet DARPA's Newest X-plane: XRQ-73

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 01, 2024 - The Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion AiRcraft Demonstration program, also known as SHEPARD, has been officially designated as the XRQ-73 X-plane. SHEPARD, an X-prime program, utilizes the s
www.spacewar.com

www.twz.com

Construction Of First Collaborative Combat Aircraft Drone Has Begun At General Atomics

As CCA advances, a far more advanced and autonomous capability is being developed within DARPA's LongShot program.
www.twz.com www.twz.com
 
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interestingly there is a balloon released/parachute sailing component that looks similar to GA-ASI Eaglet

1720859894897.png

Makes you wonder if the Chinese one shot down recently, was not, also, a drone carrier.
 
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www.defensenews.com

Boeing says it will shun fixed-price contracts for drone wingmen

"That is a recipe for failure," Boeing Defense, Space and Security president Ted Colbert told reporters at the Farnborough Air Show.
www.defensenews.com www.defensenews.com
The Air Force wants to create a fleet of autonomous drones known as Collaborative Combat Aircraft to fly alongside F-35s and the future Next Generation Air Dominance fighter. The service is now planning to create a fleet of about 1,000 CCAs to carry out a variety of missions including conducting airstrikes, jamming enemy signals, gathering intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and serving as decoys in combat.

In April, the Air Force awarded contracts to Anduril and General Atomics to design and build the first round of CCAs. A second wave, or as the Air Force calls it, “Increment 2,” will follow, and Boeing plans to bid on it unless it means agreeing to a fixed-price contract.
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breakingdefense.com

US Air Force awards contracts for drone wingman's AI brains, but keeps details secret - Breaking Defense

The winners of the first Collaborative Combat Aircraft autonomy contracts are classified but represent a mix of both traditional and non traditional defense companies, Air Force officials said.
breakingdefense.com breakingdefense.com
www.defensenews.com

Air Force picks five firms to build autonomy package for drone wingmen

The Air Force plans to field at least 1,000 of the drones by the late 2030s.
www.defensenews.com www.defensenews.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1818039922655469618
View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1818039922655469618
 

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