Latest news with #BMN
USA Today
26-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
GA-ASI Announces Investment in Dutch Technology Innovator Arceon
Selection Follows Successful Pitch During Blue Magic Netherlands Event General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) announces an investment in another Dutch business, Arceon, following the inaugural Blue Magic Netherlands (BMN) event held in November 2024. GA-ASI is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems and related mission systems. GA-ASI selected Arceon following a compelling pitch they made during the BMN event and after detailed business and technology discussions with GA-ASI and GA's affiliates, General Atomics Energy and General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems. Arceon joins Emergent Swarm Solutions and Saluqi Motors as companies receiving investment from GA-ASI following the BMN event. Arceon is revolutionizing high-performance ceramic composites through their innovative, fast, scalable, and cost-effective melt infiltration process. Their cutting-edge Carbeon carbon-ceramic components – engineered for applications such as nozzles, nozzle extensions, leading edges, nose caps, and airframes – are tailored to meet the increasing and rigorous demands of the space and defense sectors. 'We are honored to collaborate with General Atomics in advancing hypersonic development. This milestone marks our official entry into the U.S. defense sector, presenting an extraordinary opportunity to demonstrate our technology on a global stage. We look forward, with great anticipation, to the journey ahead,' said Rahul Shirke, founder and CEO of Arceon B.V. 'We're excited to be working with Arceon,' said Brad Lunn, managing director for GA-ASI. 'Their technology could have a broad range of applications for GA, from high-temperature engine exhaust materials to hypersonics and fusion containment.' At the Blue Magic investment and innovation conference in the Netherlands last November, GA-ASI and its partners heard pitches from innovative Dutch companies about the important technologies they are developing. The event was organized collaboratively between GA-ASI, the Dutch Ministry of Defense, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Brainport Development in Eindhoven, and Brabant Development Agency (BOM). GA-ASI is delivering eight MQ-9A aircraft to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF). GA-ASI is continuing to work with the Dutch government and Dutch industry in supporting the growth of technology innovation in the Netherlands and anticipates holding its second BMN event in Eindhoven later this year. The company hosted its first Blue Magic event in 2019 in Belgium, with subsequent events held in 2020, 2021, and 2023. About GA-ASI General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., is the world's foremost builder of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Logging more than 8 million flight hours, the Predator® line of UAS has flown for over 30 years and includes MQ-9A Reaper®, MQ-1C Gray Eagle®, MQ-20 Avenger®, and MQ-9B SkyGuardian®/SeaGuardian®. The company is dedicated to providing long-endurance, multi-mission solutions that deliver persistent situational awareness and rapid strike. For more information, visit Avenger, EagleEye, Gray Eagle, Lynx, Predator, Reaper, SeaGuardian, and SkyGuardian are trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., registered in the United States and/or other countries. # # # SOURCE: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GA-ASI Announces Investment in Dutch Technology Innovator Arceon
Selection Follows Successful Pitch During Blue Magic Netherlands Event SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA / / June 26, 2025 / General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) announces an investment in another Dutch business, Arceon, following the inaugural Blue Magic Netherlands (BMN) event held in November 2024. GA-ASI is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems and related mission systems. GA-ASI selected Arceon following a compelling pitch they made during the BMN event and after detailed business and technology discussions with GA-ASI and GA's affiliates, General Atomics Energy and General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems. Arceon joins Emergent Swarm Solutions and Saluqi Motors as companies receiving investment from GA-ASI following the BMN event. Arceon is revolutionizing high-performance ceramic composites through their innovative, fast, scalable, and cost-effective melt infiltration process. Their cutting-edge Carbeon carbon-ceramic components - engineered for applications such as nozzles, nozzle extensions, leading edges, nose caps, and airframes - are tailored to meet the increasing and rigorous demands of the space and defense sectors. "We are honored to collaborate with General Atomics in advancing hypersonic development. This milestone marks our official entry into the U.S. defense sector, presenting an extraordinary opportunity to demonstrate our technology on a global stage. We look forward, with great anticipation, to the journey ahead," said Rahul Shirke, founder and CEO of Arceon B.V. "We're excited to be working with Arceon," said Brad Lunn, managing director for GA-ASI. "Their technology could have a broad range of applications for GA, from high-temperature engine exhaust materials to hypersonics and fusion containment." At the Blue Magic investment and innovation conference in the Netherlands last November, GA-ASI and its partners heard pitches from innovative Dutch companies about the important technologies they are developing. The event was organized collaboratively between GA-ASI, the Dutch Ministry of Defense, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Brainport Development in Eindhoven, and Brabant Development Agency (BOM). GA-ASI is delivering eight MQ-9A aircraft to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF). GA-ASI is continuing to work with the Dutch government and Dutch industry in supporting the growth of technology innovation in the Netherlands and anticipates holding its second BMN event in Eindhoven later this year. The company hosted its first Blue Magic event in 2019 in Belgium, with subsequent events held in 2020, 2021, and 2023. About GA-ASI General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., is the world's foremost builder of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Logging more than 8 million flight hours, the Predator® line of UAS has flown for over 30 years and includes MQ-9A Reaper®, MQ-1C Gray Eagle®, MQ-20 Avenger®, and MQ-9B SkyGuardian®/SeaGuardian®. The company is dedicated to providing long-endurance, multi-mission solutions that deliver persistent situational awareness and rapid strike. For more information, visit Avenger, EagleEye, Gray Eagle, Lynx, Predator, Reaper, SeaGuardian, and SkyGuardian are trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., registered in the United States and/or other countries. # # # Contact Information GA-ASI Media Relations asi-mediarelations@ 524-8101 SOURCE: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
26-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
GA-ASI Announces Investment in Dutch Technology Innovator Arceon
Selection Follows Successful Pitch During Blue Magic Netherlands Event SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / June 26, 2025 / General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) announces an investment in another Dutch business, Arceon, following the inaugural Blue Magic Netherlands (BMN) event held in November 2024. GA-ASI is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems and related mission systems. GA-ASI selected Arceon following a compelling pitch they made during the BMN event and after detailed business and technology discussions with GA-ASI and GA's affiliates, General Atomics Energy and General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems. Arceon joins Emergent Swarm Solutions and Saluqi Motors as companies receiving investment from GA-ASI following the BMN event. Arceon is revolutionizing high-performance ceramic composites through their innovative, fast, scalable, and cost-effective melt infiltration process. Their cutting-edge Carbeon carbon-ceramic components - engineered for applications such as nozzles, nozzle extensions, leading edges, nose caps, and airframes - are tailored to meet the increasing and rigorous demands of the space and defense sectors. "We are honored to collaborate with General Atomics in advancing hypersonic development. This milestone marks our official entry into the U.S. defense sector, presenting an extraordinary opportunity to demonstrate our technology on a global stage. We look forward, with great anticipation, to the journey ahead," said Rahul Shirke, founder and CEO of Arceon B.V. "We're excited to be working with Arceon," said Brad Lunn, managing director for GA-ASI. "Their technology could have a broad range of applications for GA, from high-temperature engine exhaust materials to hypersonics and fusion containment." At the Blue Magic investment and innovation conference in the Netherlands last November, GA-ASI and its partners heard pitches from innovative Dutch companies about the important technologies they are developing. The event was organized collaboratively between GA-ASI, the Dutch Ministry of Defense, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Brainport Development in Eindhoven, and Brabant Development Agency (BOM). GA-ASI is delivering eight MQ-9A aircraft to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF). GA-ASI is continuing to work with the Dutch government and Dutch industry in supporting the growth of technology innovation in the Netherlands and anticipates holding its second BMN event in Eindhoven later this year. The company hosted its first Blue Magic event in 2019 in Belgium, with subsequent events held in 2020, 2021, and 2023. About GA-ASI General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., is the world's foremost builder of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Logging more than 8 million flight hours, the Predator® line of UAS has flown for over 30 years and includes MQ-9A Reaper®, MQ-1C Gray Eagle®, MQ-20 Avenger®, and MQ-9B SkyGuardian®/SeaGuardian®. The company is dedicated to providing long-endurance, multi-mission solutions that deliver persistent situational awareness and rapid strike. For more information, visit Avenger, EagleEye, Gray Eagle, Lynx, Predator, Reaper, SeaGuardian, and SkyGuardian are trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., registered in the United States and/or other countries. # # # SOURCE: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. press release
Middle East Eye
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
UK Islamophobia definition to protect right to 'insult religions'
The UK government has published more details about a working group set up to advise it on a possible definition of Islamophobia which would also protect the right to "insult" religious beliefs and practices. The membership of the working group appears to signal that the government is engaging with the recently launched British Muslim Network (BMN), but not the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) - the largest umbrella body claiming to represent British Muslims. Dominic Grieve, a former Conservative attorney general, has been appointed chair of the group with BMN co-chair Akeela Ahmed among its four other members. Earlier this year it emerged that the government was planning to create a working group to draw up an official definition for anti-Muslim discrimination. This suggested it was rowing back plans to adopt the definition proposed in 2018 by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Muslims. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters That definition, which the Conservative government rejected, was criticised by some as potentially stifling criticism of Islam, which the APPG strongly denied. Adopted by Labour in opposition, the definition characterises Islamophobia as "a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness". In September 2024, Labour's faith minister Lord Wajid Khan said that "the definition proposed by the APPG is not in line with the Equality Act 2010, which defines race in terms of colour, nationality and national or ethnic origins". Freedom of speech The new working group's terms of reference, published on Monday, include giving advice on "the merits of government adopting a non-statutory definition of unacceptable treatment of Muslims and anyone perceived to be Muslim, including what a proposed definition should be". This establishes that the government has not yet decided that it will adopt any definition of Islamophobia. In apparent reference to widespread criticism, the terms say that any proposed definition "must be compatible with the unchanging right of British citizens to exercise freedom of speech and expression - which includes the right to criticise, express dislike of, or insult religions and/or the beliefs and practices of adherents." Ahmed's inclusion in the working group comes just weeks after the official launch of the BMN in February with backing from faith minister Khan, and after Middle East Eye had previously revealed it had lost much of its Muslim support and was being backed by a charity set up by disgraced former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. Exclusive: British Muslim Network backed by charity set up by former archbishop Welby Read More » MEE reported ahead of the launch that several Muslim MPs privately said they would not attend after a series of controversies. Critics have suggested that the BMN's co-chairs and advisory board lack credibility, warning that the government could use the network to continue to avoid engaging with the Muslim Council of Britain. But the BMN's leadership has argued that the government should engage with a "whole range" of Muslim groups, including both the MCB and BMN. Consecutive governments have followed a policy of refusing to engage with the MCB - despite it having over 500 member organisations, including mosques, schools, local and county councils, professional networks and advocacy groups. Starmer's government adopted this approach and even ignored communications from the MCB during the far-right riots that raged across the country for over a week in August. The BMN does not claim to be a similarly representative body. But its representation on the new working group indicates that the government has chosen to engage with the organisation while continuing to boycott the MCB. Another notable omission from the membership list is Tell Mama, an Islamophobia reporting service funded by the communities ministry and accused of severely under-reporting hate crimes. The Guardian reported earlier this month that no grant will be provided to the organisation from the end of March, leaving it facing closure. Working definition Also on the working group is Professor Javed Khan, managing director of Equi, a new think tank which says it was "born out of the UK Muslim community". At the parliamentary launch of an Equi report last month, Khan told parliamentarians and civil society figures that the think tank was "seeing engagement" from the Labour government, including ministers and special advisers. "The government needs to be faith literate in its policy development," he said. Equi's report on Muslims in the British arts and culture scene notably warned that Muslim creatives are often "herded" into receiving funding from the contentious Prevent counter-extremism programme, which "often toxifies, devalues and limits artistic intent". British Muslim creators 'herded' into Prevent funding, says Equi think tank Read More » Grieve, the chair of the working group, previously chaired the Citizens' UK Commission on Islam, aimed at promoting dialogue between Muslims and non-Muslims, and wrote the foreword to the contentious APPG report on Islamophobia in 2018, calling it "food both for thought and positive action". He said last month that "defining Islamophobia is extremely difficult for perfectly valid reasons relating to freedom of expression", but noted that "perfectly law-abiding Muslims going about their business and well integrated into society are suffering discrimination and abuse". Baroness Shaista Gohir, a crossbench peer and CEO of Muslim Women's Network UK (MWNUK), is another member of the working group. MEE revealed in late February that an MWNUK event in parliament in March celebrating the "cultural contribution of Muslims in the UK" was supported by TikTok, the social media giant accused of censoring content on human rights abuses faced by Uyghur Muslims in China. Aisha Affi, an independent consultant, is also named as a member of the working group. The terms of reference say that the group will have six months to deliver a working definition of Islamophobia to ministers. It establishes that the government "has the right to disband the Group at any point and without notice if they deem that it is no longer meeting its aims and objectives".
Middle East Eye
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Muslim Council of Britain denies endorsing British Muslim Network
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has distanced itself from the British Muslim Network (BMN) after Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, a former government minister, suggested that the new organisation had the MCB's support at a launch event on Tuesday. Addressing remarks made by Warsi in which she praised the organisers of the new network for reaching out to Muslim community organisations, Wajid Akhter, the MCB's secretary-general, told Middle East Eye that the MCB had not been approached by anyone from the BMN and had not endorsed it. "It has been brought to our attention that the Muslim Council of Britain has somehow endorsed a new organisation launched this week," Akhter, who was elected to the MCB leadership last month, told MEE. "No such endorsement has been given and no contact has been established or sought with the current leadership of the Muslim Council of Britain." Akhter's comments came after Warsi, a former Conservative minister under David Cameron who now sits in the House of Lords as an independent peer, said that the MCB was among Muslim organisations which had been approached ahead of the launch of the BMN and were supporting the initiative. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters "I am delighted that you have reached out to every Muslim community organisation that I could possibly think of, including the Muslim Council of Britain, and I am delighted that you have their support, too," Warsi told the audience. Warsi said that Zara Mohammed, the previous secretary-general of the MCB, had hoped to attend, and said that Miqdaad Versi, a spokesperson for the MCB, sent "best wishes" to the gathering. "I know that Zara, the current secretary-general who has just stepped down, was hoping to be here but couldn't be here because of other work commitments, and Miqdaad also sends his best wishes," she said. MEE has approached Mohammed and Versi for comment. Notable figures Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who nearly lost his seat in the last election to pro-Palestine activist Leanne Mohamad by 500 votes, and Labour's faith minister, Lord Wajid Khan, also spoke at the BMN's launch and praised the group. Streeting admitted that "successive governments and the Labour Party had not got the relationship right" with the Muslim community. Other notable figures who attended Tuesday's launch event included Brendan Cox (the widowed husband of the murdered Labour MP Jo Cox who has since remarried), who MEE understands is a key figure behind the network. Warsi personally thanked Cox during her speech. Figures from the Good Faith Partnership also attended the event, alongside Asim Hafiz, a British Army imam who was appointed as the UK Ministry of Defence's Islamic religious adviser. Earlier this year, Warsi became one of the first Muslim figures to publicly declare her support for the BMN in a report in the Times newspaper. Details of Warsi's reported involvement with the network came days after she was one of the main speakers at the MCB's annual dinner and criticised the government's policy of not engaging with the MCB, an umbrella organisation of about 600 mosques and community groups which has long been considered the main body representing and speaking for Muslims in the UK. Sir Stephen Timms, a Labour minister, was spoken to after he attended the MCB dinner. Labour's leadership reportedly "reminded" Timms of his "duty to uphold collective responsibility". Critics have accused the BMN of lacking credibility within Muslim communities and undermining the MCB's attempts to engage with the Labour government. The BMN's leadership has argued that the government should engage with a "whole range" of Muslim groups, including both the MCB and the BMN. The BMN does not claim to be a similarly representative body. But the faith minister's support signals that the government is likely to engage with the new body, despite its ongoing boycott of the MCB. Lost funding Last year, Middle East Eye first reported on plans to create a new Labour-supported Muslim group to engage with the government. MEE revealed earlier this month that the initiative had lost most of its backing, including hundreds of thousands of pounds in funding. Several Muslim MPs privately said they would not attend the BMN's launch. On Tuesday morning, BBC Radio Four asked BMN co-chair Akeela Ahmed whether "reports of withdrawals of offers of funding for your body and disquiet from some Muslim Labour MPs" were true. Ahmed replied: "It's not true. We are in very early days, we are in start-up days at the moment. We are privately funded, and we are speaking to people within the British Muslim communities about funding for the organisation, but we haven't had any funding withdrawn." Exclusive: British Muslim Network backed by charity set up by former archbishop Welby Read More » Qari Asim, an imam and another BMN co-chair, recently joined other Muslim scholars in signing the "Reconciliation Accords" with Jewish leaders, including Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis. The accords were presented as "rebuilding a meaningful trust between Muslim and Jewish communities" and the signatories, including Asim, met King Charles at Buckingham Palace on 11 February. The BMN's advisory board, made public this week, includes Abdurahman Sayed, the CEO of London's Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre, and Zahed Amanullah, a former director of the Concordia Forum think tank. Amanullah, currently a fellow at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, spoke at an event hosted by the UAE-backed "countering extremism" organisation Hedayah last December on countering antisemitism and Islamophobia.
