Japan to mass-procure 3D-printed rocket-powered drone interceptor — Terra B1 capable of countering one-way attack platforms

Japan’s military has decided to mass-procure Terra B1 interceptor drones. These drones are made using 3D printers and are based on the tried and tested A1 model from Terra Drone, which began to be deployed by Ukraine earlier this year.

The FAA just let a pilotless cargo plane fly out of a working airport
The FAA just let a pilotless cargo plane fly out of a working airport

An aircraft with nobody on board flew itself out of a working Louisiana airport last week. It carried spare parts, medical supplies and cans of water. Its route took it over people’s houses. Elroy Air said on Wednesday it had completed the first uncrew…

The US Army used a laser weapon on American soil, then bought it
The US Army used a laser weapon on American soil, then bought it

In late August the US Army fired a high-energy laser at three drones near the Mexican border. All three came down. A week later the Army signed the contract to buy the production version. AeroVironment announced on Wednesday that it has won a $464.8m a…

The U.S. is building barriers around drones and robots, but China has scale to get around them

The U.S. is shutting out more foreign-made drones and robots. China’s scale means the global competition may simply move elsewhere.

US military uses high-energy lasers to shoot down three Mexican cartel drones over the southern border — narcos suspected of using UAVs for surveillance and reconnaissance to support illegal activities

The US military has successfully deployed a laser defense system on the southern border of the country and shot down alleged Mexican cartel drones. These UAVs are suspected of spotting U.S. law enforcement operations and help the criminal organizations traffic humans and goods into the United States.

Startup raises $7 million to build backpack-portable 8.8-ounce drone interceptors — Mara claims 20x cost advantage over other interceptors, priced one-for-one against attack drones

San Francisco defense startup Mara has secured $7 million in a pre-seed round to produce what it calls Spike, a portable counter-drone system housed inside a backpack.

FCC shoots down HoverAir’s modular Versa drone, saying certification was granted ‘erroneously,’ and adds that it’s ‘considering further action’
FCC shoots down HoverAir’s modular Versa drone, saying certification was granted ‘erroneously,’ and adds that it’s ‘considering further action’

HoverAir’s 2-in-1 pocket gimbal camera and drone looked set to go on sale in the US — but the FCC has now said certification was granted ‘erroneously’

Self-driving Ford F-250 truck with shotgun-equipped drone-killing turret tested by US Army — autonomous system designed to blast fast-moving drones at between 10 and 100 meters range
Self-driving Ford F-250 truck with shotgun-equipped drone-killing turret tested by US Army — autonomous system designed to blast fast-moving drones at between 10 and 100 meters range

The US Army tested an autonomous breaching vehicle with an onboard counter-UAS turret during a live-fire exercise at Fort Bragg on August 18.