Bots & Bullets

Elbit Systems announced that it was awarded a $95 million contract to supply SkyStriker loitering munitions (LM) to a European country. The contract will be carried out over a period of two years. As part of the contract Elbit Systems will provide several hundred SkyStriker units.

The rapidly evolving world of security and law enforcement robotics is anticipated to witness a staggering growth of USD 3.69 billion from 2022 to 2027, expanding at an impressive CAGR of 15.55% during this period.

Hanwha Aerospace, in collaboration with Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Ocean, will present a series of advanced autonomous defense solutions at the upcoming Międzynarodowy Salon Przemysłu Obronnego (MSPO), an international defense exhibition taking place this week in Kielce, Poland.

MIT researchers have developed new algorithms for trajectory planning and control of a tailsitter that take advantage of the maneuverability and versatility of this type of aircraft. Their algorithms can execute challenging maneuvers, like sideways or upside-down flight, and are so computationally efficient that they can plan complex trajectories in real-time.

Comparing the potential consequences of artificial intelligence (AI) weaponry to the horrors caused by chemical and biological weapons in the past, a leading AI expert from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) has made a strong case for banning autonomous systems from the battlefield.

Sarcos Technology and Robotics announced the award of an expanded contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for continued development of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven methods and techniques that autonomously control a Heterogeneous Sensing Network (HSN).

Elbit Systems has received a first purchase order worth approximately $180 million to supply the first three out of a maximum seven Watchkeeper X tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) as part of a framework contract with the Romanian Ministry of National Defense with a maximum value of approximately $410 million (1.89 billion Lei). The purchase order will be performed over a period of two years.

FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated recently delivered the 1,000th robot under its Man Transportable Robot System Increment II (MTRS Inc II) contract with the U.S Army and other services.

Elbit Systems will showcase its unmanned aerial system at the upcoming Paris Airshow, scheduled to take place at Le Bourget from 19 to 25 June 2023. The Hermes 900 UAS is developed to detect ground and maritime targets across a wide spectral range. This UAS with multi-payload capabilities procured by the Israel Defense Forces and various other countries.

The European Defence Agency (EDA) has launched a new project, Combat Unmanned Ground Systems (CUGS), to develop highly autonomous combat unmanned ground systems. This is the largest Research and Technology project initiated by the EDA, bringing together nine member states and 28 European industry partners with a budget of €35.5 million and running for 36 months.