logo
Marines have air defense, but need a way to defeat drone swarms

Marines have air defense, but need a way to defeat drone swarms

Yahoo30-04-2025

Marines are fielding a host of options for knocking down airborne threats, from small drones to cruise missiles. Still, what they need is a way to handle potential drone swarms, service officials said.
'The big thing that really keeps me up at night is swarms,' Col. Andrew Konicki, head of ground-based air defense for Marine Corps Systems Command, said at the Modern Day Marine military exposition in Washington on Wednesday.
Konicki set the scene with two anecdotes, one from the Ohio State University football game against the University of Maryland in 2023, which was delayed due to a drone over the field.
The other was the 2020 Beijing Olympics drone demonstration in which a coordinated drone swarm presented a light show to millions of spectators.
This Marine unit now has its own tool to blast drones out of the sky
Both presented frightening prospects. The football game could have been a single drone dropping baby powder, which some might worry could be a biological threat, and the Olympics scenario raised questions about how a small Marine unit, or even a lone Marine, would counter hundreds or potentially thousands of drones targeting their position.
On the small-drone level, the Marines have deployed 13 of 21 Light Marine Air Defense Integrated Systems, or L-MADIS, over the past three years.
That tailored system was fielded to the 3rd Littoral Anti-Air Battalion with the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment in 2024. It handles group I and II drone threats.
Recent fielding of the L-MADIS system with the Marine Expeditionary Units proved effective in maritime environment despite the system being built mainly as a ground-based air defense system, Konicki said.
For larger threats, the MADIS, a more powerful version of its light brother, will see seven more systems deployed by September in addition to the 13 already in the inventory, Konicki said.
'The rapid rise of [unmanned aerial systems], used for surveillance, targeting and attacks, has made advanced air defense systems like MADIS critical to protecting our Marines and preserving our combat effectiveness,' Lt. Col. Craig Warner, future weapons systems product manager, said in December 2024. 'MADIS not only detects, tracks and defeats aerial threats but also serves as a powerful deterrent, signaling to adversaries that their aerial assets will not succeed against U.S. forces.'
On the even larger end of the spectrum, the Corps expects to field its first platoon with the Medium Range Intercept Capability, or MRIC, an anti-cruise missile system that's proven 'highly effective' in operational testing, the colonel said.
Over recent experimentation and operational testing, the Marines have identified key areas to improve.
A top priority is defeating swarms, Konicki said. Quickly following are munition-agnostic launch systems, enhanced passive sensing, a dismounted sensing and defeat capability and training support both in virtual and live spaces, he said.
The colonel would especially like to see passive sensing capability for the MRIC, he said.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Northwest Biotherapeutics Announces Upcoming Presentation On Next Generation Dendritic Cells for Enhanced Anti-Tumor Treatments
Northwest Biotherapeutics Announces Upcoming Presentation On Next Generation Dendritic Cells for Enhanced Anti-Tumor Treatments

Yahoo

time4 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Northwest Biotherapeutics Announces Upcoming Presentation On Next Generation Dendritic Cells for Enhanced Anti-Tumor Treatments

BETHESDA, Md., June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Northwest Biotherapeutics (OTCQB:NWBO) (the "Company" or "NW Bio"), a biotechnology company developing DCVax® personalized immune therapies for solid tumor cancers, announced that Dr. Marnix Bosch, its Chief Technical Officer, will make a presentation on "Next Generation Dendritic Cell Treatments to Improve Anti-Tumor Responses" at the upcoming Frontiers in Cancer Immunotherapy Conference of the New York Academy of Sciences. Dr. Bosch will address certain factors and combinations of factors that may lead to supercharged dendritic cells with enhanced anti-tumor effects. The presentation will take place on Monday, June 16, at 2:50 p.m. The slides will be posted on the Company's website after the presentation. About Northwest Biotherapeutics Northwest Biotherapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing personalized immunotherapy products that are designed to treat cancers more effectively than current treatments, without toxicities of the kind associated with chemotherapies, and on a cost-effective basis. The Company has a broad platform technology for DCVax® dendritic cell-based vaccines. The Company's lead program involves DCVax®-L treatment for glioblastoma (GBM). GBM is the most aggressive and lethal form of primary brain cancer, and is an "orphan disease." The Company has completed a 331-patient Phase III trial of DCVax-L for GBM, presented the results in scientific meetings, published the results in JAMA Oncology and submitted a MAA for commercial approval in the UK. The MAA is currently undergoing review. The Company has also developed DCVax®-Direct for inoperable solid tumor cancers. It has completed a 40-patient Phase I trial and plans to pursue Phase II trials this year. The Company previously conducted a Phase I/II trial with DCVax-L for advanced ovarian cancer together with the University of Pennsylvania. Disclaimer Statements made in this news release that are not historical facts, including statements concerning plans for DCVax® are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expect," "believe," "intend," "design," "plan," "continue," "may," "will," "anticipate," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement. Readers should not rely upon forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, without limitation, risks related to delays or uncertainties in regulatory processes and decisions, risks related to the Company's ability to achieve timely performance of third parties, risks related to whether the Company's products will be viewed as demonstrating safety and efficacy, risks related to the Company's ongoing ability to raise additional capital, and other risks included in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings. Additional information on the foregoing risk factors and other factors, including Risk Factors, which could affect the Company's results, is included in its SEC filings. Finally, there may be other factors not mentioned above or included in the Company's SEC filings that may cause actual plans, results or timelines to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or developments, except as required by securities laws. CONTACTS Northwest Biotherapeutics Dave Innes804-513-6758dinnes@ Les Goldman240-234-0059lgoldman@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. Sign in to access your portfolio

Drones will soon be everywhere, as U.S. seeks to lead future of aviation
Drones will soon be everywhere, as U.S. seeks to lead future of aviation

Axios

time5 hours ago

  • Axios

Drones will soon be everywhere, as U.S. seeks to lead future of aviation

Regulations that have held back commercial drones in the U.S. are easing, which could soon unleash a swarm of low-altitude autonomous aircraft crisscrossing the sky. Why it matters: Using a 4,000-pound vehicle to deliver a 2-pound burrito is incredibly inefficient. Shifting small package deliveries to the sky could help ease road congestion and cut tailpipe emissions. With fewer restrictions, drones could also be used more widely for things like infrastructure inspections, agriculture, public safety and filmmaking. The big picture: The U.S. isn't the aviation leader it used to be, in part because of stifling regulations, at least according to the White House. America once dominated supersonic flight, for example, but restrictions limited its growth. China's DJI is the global leader in drones, and the first passengers on U.S.-built electric air taxis will be in the Middle East. Even America's aviation champion, Boeing, has faced setbacks after a slew of safety and quality concerns. Driving the news: Three executive orders signed last week by President Trump aim to restore U.S. leadership for the next wave of aviation. Trump directed the Federal Aviation Administration to enable routine drone operations "beyond visual line of sight" — a key step for wide-scale drone deliveries. The sweeping order would also reduce U.S. reliance on Chinese drones and accelerate real-world testing of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, or air taxis. A second order seeks to reestablish U.S. leadership in supersonic flight, while a third would bolster U.S. defenses against threatening drones ahead of huge events like the Olympics and the World Cup. Between the lines: Just last week, Walmart announced it would expand drone delivery to five more cities. But the big hangup is that commercial drone operators can only fly long distances with case-by-case approvals from the FAA. Many of the requirements make it impractical and costly to scale up for deliveries — for example, rules that prohibit one pilot from monitoring many aircraft. Fast-tracking FAA rules so drones can fly beyond visual line of sight will unlock their economic potential and attract new investors to the sector, according to industry advocates. What they're saying:"Drone technology is ready to take off, but bad policy has put an artificial ceiling on innovation," Lisa Ellman, CEO of the Commercial Drone Alliance, tells Axios. "What we needed was a clear framework to scale—and now we have it," added Eric Brock, founder and CEO of drone operator Ondas Holdings, who said Trump's action boosted investor confidence in the company's $40 million stock offering this week. What's next: The FAA is expected to publish a draft rule on drones within 30 days, and a final rule by early 2026. Electric air taxis will also get a boost from Trump's executive order. The FAA will establish at least five pilot projects to advance eVTOL applications like cargo transport, medical response and rural access. The projects will likely benefit eVTOL manufacturers, including Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation and Beta Technologies. Boom Supersonic, the first independent company to break the sound barrier, also now has a clear path to commercialization. Trump's order would repeal a rule that prohibited supersonic jets from flying over land because technology advances have eliminated their "sonic boom." "We just knocked over the big domino," Boom CEO Blake Scholl tells Axios. "We had one regulatory roadblock and now we have none."

Bay 'still recovering' from bottom trawling
Bay 'still recovering' from bottom trawling

Yahoo

time7 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Bay 'still recovering' from bottom trawling

Part of the seabed off the Jurassic Coast is "still recovering" from the effects of bottom trawling 17 years after it was banned there, marine researchers have said. A consultation is being held on government proposals to extend the ban on the practice of dragging large nets along the seafloor. Some fishing organisations have criticised the plans and questioned the environmental impact of bottom trawling. Dr Emma Sheehan, associate professor of marine ecology at Plymouth University said, ending bottom trawling when Lyme Bay, off the Dorset and Devon coast, became a Marine Protected Area in 2008 has made a "positive change". The government proposal would expand the ban on bottom trawling from 18,000km2 to 48,000km2 (about 18,500 sq miles) of the UK's offshore areas that are already designated as protected. A UN Ocean Conference is taking place in France amid warnings from Sir David Attenborough that bottom trawling is destroying areas of the seabed and marine life. Researchers have studied the impact of ending bottom trawling in Lyme Bay since the introduction of the MPA. Dr Sheehan said large areas of the bay had already been "heavily degraded" by 2008. "[MPAs] tried to prevent the most destructive fishing methods so the seabed habitats that are so important for conservation and fisheries can be protected," she continued. Dr Sheehan said species including scallops, conga eel and black sea bream and appeared to have benefited from the ban. "We keep seeing positive change, year on year. "We still haven't go a plateau in the recovery. We're nowhere near there - it's still recovering, year on year." The government's plan would see similar protections extended to 41 of England's 181 MPAs. "It needs to happen - I'm in full support of this and it will have huge positive benefits for our marine environment," Dr Sheehan said. The UK's National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations has opposed the move to ban bottom trawling. Chief executive Mike Cohen previously said: "Trawling does not damage most of the seabed. "Trawls penetrate the sediment very little, if at all, in most areas and trawling has been carried out for well over 100 years," he said. A 12-week consultation will run until 1 September and will seek the views of the marine and fishing industry. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. UK proposes wider ban on destructive ocean bottom trawling Reef species increase in whole site management University of Plymouth

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store