Latest news with #BlackArrow
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
IDF probe: 12 foreign workers rescued in Mefalsim battle, IAF stopped larger invasion on Oct. 7
An IDF probe found that 12 foreign workers were rescued in the battle near Mefalsim, where the air force played a significant role; 16 people were killed. The IDF on Tuesday issued its October 7 probe for Kibbutz Mefalsim and the nearby Black Arrow monument area, noting that 13 members of security forces were killed, while other reports have shown that three members of the kibbutz were killed elsewhere. 13 persons were also kidnapped from the area, including some security forces. Among the 13 security forces killed by over 200 Hamas invaders were six from the IDF, six from the elite police Yamam (Counterterrorism) Unit, and one Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) fighter, Yossi Taher. Mefalsim had a population of around 1,050 before the war, and besides the battle there, 77 civilians were killed in a separate battle around Junction 232, on which the IDF will issue a separate probe at a later date. However, compared to other locations in terms of civilians, Mefalsim fared better due to help from security forces and its five local volunteer security teams early on. Most deaths also occurred in exchanges of fire between Israeli security forces and Hamas in the nearby environs. The main battle sites were the Sha'ar Hanegev junction, the kibbutz itself, and the junction near the kibbutz along with the Black Arrow monument area. The fighting at Sha'ar Hanegev junction lasted mainly from 6:30 a.m. until 8:45 a.m., with some continuing until around 11:00 a.m. Hamas invaders came into the area in three waves, first with 30 terrorists, then 50, and then 80. Taher and all six Yamam fighters fell during these battles. IDF soldier Ziv Dado was kidnapped and killed during one of the exchanges of fire, and his body was returned to Israel in a special operation in December 2023. Regarding Mefalsim itself, 30 terrorists penetrated inside around 8 a.m. and initially took 12 foreign workers hostage, but then Yamam and Shin Bet fighters managed to free them before they were taken to Gaza. By around 10:20 a.m., Israeli forces had operational control of the kibbutz. However, around 8:30 p.m., a Shayetet 13 soldier mistakenly opened fire on Israeli civilians in an approaching vehicle, wounding but not killing the civilians. Like in most IDF probes, the investigation did not indicate any disciplinary measure against the soldier for mistakenly shooting civilians. In the third area of battle, the Mefalsim junction, around Route 232, and the Black Arrow monument area, there was significant fighting from 6:30 a.m. until around 4 p.m. Security forces included a large mix of groups, among which were Maglan special forces and Battalion 931, who took losses and arrived early as reinforcements along with Yahalom fighters. Around 11:20 a.m., dozens of additional Gazan invaders tried to approach the area in around 10 vehicles. However, air force assets struck the area repeatedly, blocking their advance. This was one of the few examples where the Air Force was directly impactful on a specific battle near the Gaza border, as opposed to being helpful with the general situation. Generally, the air force didn't help in specific battles before 10:30 a.m. – four hours into the invasion – since either their forces were not in the area or their pilots were afraid to hit Israeli civilians. Only at 10:30 a.m. did Air Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Tomer Bar give blanket permission to pummel anyone moving across the Gaza border, which helped break further waves of invaders. Besides that, there were a few specific battles in which helicopters helped defend Israeli towns, but the efforts were short, poorly coordinated, and also plagued by concerns of hitting civilians. After most of the fighting was over, Gazan invaders also attempted three ambushes between October 8-10, with two wounding or leading to the deaths of multiple security forces and one on October 10 failing. Besides that, there were a few specific battles where helicopters helped defend Israeli towns, but the efforts were short, poorly coordinated, and also plagued by concerns of hitting civilians. After most of the fighting was over, Gaza invaders also attempted three ambushes between October 8-10, with two succeeding and leading to the deaths or wounding of multiple security forces, and one on October 10 failing.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Leidos Holdings (NYSE:LDOS) Commits US$10 Million To Transform AI In Health Care Detection
Leidos Holdings recently initiated a significant collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh, investing $10 million to advance AI applications in disease detection and management. This aligns with their longstanding commitment to health technology innovations. Meanwhile, the executive appointments of Daryle Lademan and Adam Clarke bring fresh leadership to their strategic and European operations, potentially stabilizing investor confidence. The successful flight test of the Black Arrow missile further underscores their advancements in the defense sector. These developments, while impactful, occur as the market remains flat in the short term with a 5.7% annual increase, leading to a flat stock performance last month. Be aware that Leidos Holdings is showing 1 weakness in our investment analysis. Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value. The recent developments at Leidos Holdings, including the collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh and executive leadership changes, align closely with the company's NorthStar 2030 strategy. This strategy emphasizes IT modernization and increased privatization, which are poised to impact revenue positively in healthcare and defense sectors. The collaboration could enhance AI capabilities, potentially boosting revenues through new AI-driven offerings. Additionally, solidified leadership in strategic and European operations may bolster investor confidence, contributing to future earnings stability. In a longer-term context, Leidos Holdings delivered a total return of 51.05% over the past five years, showcasing consistent growth despite recent flat stock performance. This compares favorably against the Professional Services industry's 7.4% one-year return. Such returns indicate resilience and a focus on transformation that has supported sustained growth. In the same year, Leidos outperformed the broader US market's 5.7% one-year return, demonstrating its relative strength amid competitive pressures. While the company faces potential competition and budgetary uncertainties, the successful test of defense technology and strategic share repurchases point to robust earnings forecasts supported by a strong contract backlog, including the notable $4.1 billion IFPC Enduring Shield contract. Current share price movements, with a 17.6% gap to the consensus price target of US$169.81, reflect market caution but also suggest potential upside if growth targets are achieved. Analysts' expectations hinge on Leidos meeting or exceeding projected revenue of $18.40 billion and earnings of $1.50 billion by 2028, essential metrics influencing future valuations and shareholder returns. Learn about Leidos Holdings' historical performance here. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include NYSE:LDOS. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Yahoo
AC-130J Ghostrider Gunship Launches Black Arrow Small Cruise Missile In New Video
The Black Arrow, also known as the Small Cruise Missile, has completed a guided flight test from an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship, the weapon's manufacturer, Leidos, has confirmed. The Black Arrow, which is intended to carry a range of different payloads, and not just a kinetic warhead, arrives at a time when the Pentagon is looking at harnessing the potential of lower-cost weapons that can be readily produced at scale to meet the likely demands of future conflicts. Leidos only recently announced the flight test although it occurred last November. The company also published a video of the test, showing Black Arrow being launched from a pair of Ramp Launch Tubes (RLT) mounted on the rear ramp of the AC-130J. The Black Arrow is released tail-first from the RLT, after which its single-piece pop-out wing deploys. The motor can then be seen starting. The weapon's subsequent impact into the ground is not shown in the video. As well as using the RLT, Leidos says that Black Arrow can be launched from a palletized system or conventionally released from a stores pylon on a fixed-wing aircraft. 'The test demonstrated aircraft compatibility, system performance, waypoint uplinks, guidance accuracy as well as integration with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Battle Management System (BMS),' the company said in a media release. The test was conducted as part of a Collaborative Research and Development (CRADA) agreement between Leidos, the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), and the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). Weighing around 200 pounds, the Black Arrow is intended to be a low-cost 'mission-adaptable delivery platform,' rather than a traditional munition. This means it can be configured for both kinetic and non-kinetic missions. At the same time, it's designed to facilitate spiral upgrades. The CRADA program for the SCM, now known as Black Arrow, began in 2022, since when the interest in so-called affordable mass has only grown. Leidos says it has used model-based system engineering practices as well as open system architecture to ensure that Black Arrow is affordable and can be built rapidly at scale, if required. 'SCM is a key capability, rapidly advancing AFSOC's ability to close long-range kill chains,' Col. Justin Bronder, SOCOM PEO Fixed Wing, said at the Special Air Warfare Symposium held at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, last month. Previously, we had gotten our first glimpse of what was then only known as the Small Cruise Missile when SOCOM included a picture of it in a briefing at the annual SOF Week conference in May of last year. At the time, SOCOM said the SCM was one of its top priorities and could be launched from the MC-130J Commando II special operations tanker/transport aircraft, as well as the AC-130J, and potentially other platforms. Adding standoff strike capabilities to aircraft like these is seen as a critical way to ensure their continued relevance, especially in future high-end conflicts, including a potential one in the Pacific against China. For the AC-130J, in particular, being able to address targets relatively quickly far from the current station it is on would allow it to support strikes across a much larger geographical area. Right now the aircraft can drop Small Diameter Bombs, at a range of dozens of miles. That would be enhanced massively with a small cruise missile. A missile with a 200 mile range would allow the AC-130 to strike targets anywhere within a 125,664 square mile circle around it. An SDB, with say a range of say 30 miles when dropped from the AC-130's launch altitude and speed, allows the aircraft to strike anywhere within a 2,827 square mile circle. So we are talking about a massive difference here in capability Then there is using the aircraft as a standoff weapons delivery platform in a high-end fight where it's direct fire capabilities will be of less value due to the range of modern enemy air defenses. You can learn all about the future of AC-130 in our video below: Before that, in 2021, SOCOM issued a contracting notice regarding a Stand-Off Precision Guided Weapon Program Cruise Missile outlining interest in a weapon of this type. The specifications included a range of between 200 and 400 nautical miles (around 230 and 460 miles) while the weapon was required to fit inside a standardized cylindrical Common Launch Tube (CLT). The size and weight of the SCM/Black Arrow rules out its carriage in a CLT, which can accommodate payloads up to 42 inches in length and 5.95 inches in diameter, and has a 100-pound weight limit, according to SOCOM. The Stand-Off Precision Guided Weapon Program Cruise Missile notice also outlined a requirement for an electro-optical/infrared seeker, with plans to incorporate a multi-mode seeker package 'able to acquire and/or reacquire targets in flight.' Other key attributes specified in the notice were a long-range, datalink connection to Situational Awareness Data Link (SADL) (threshold) and SADL/Link-16 (objective), resilient GPS/INS to work in a denied GPS environment, 'a sensor capable of identifying targets once over the target area, and a payload to effect the target,' the notice added. Leidos says it's under contract with SOCOM to continue Black Arrow test and evaluation activities throughout 2025. At this stage, however, it's unclear what additional platforms it might be tested on, or what kinds of payloads might be involved. The size and weight of Black Arrow would render it suitable for carriage by a wide range of platforms, including drones. Black Arrow also arrives at a time when the U.S. military, more generally, is looking at low-cost air vehicles that could be turned into cruise missiles, as well as electronic attackers. Central to these concerns is the ability to expand the available industrial base to help stock up on more affordable weapons ahead of a future high-end conflict, such as one against China, and sustaining those inventories in a protracted fight. The Air Force is now running the Enterprise Test Vehicle (ETV) program, with a view to addressing some of these supply chain issues, and particularly as a stepping stone to a new lower-cost cruise missile. Leidos subsidiary Dynetics — alongside Anduril Industries, Integrated Solutions for Systems, Inc., and Zone 5 Technologies — was selected in July of last year to design, build, and flight test an ETV concept. Interestingly, the Dynetics offering for the Air Force's ETV program looks to be very similar to the SCM/Black Arrow. With testing of the SCM/Black Arrow continuing under SOCOM contract, and with the same design apparently also being offered for the Air Force's ETV initiative, it will certainly be interesting to see what's next in store for the Leidos product. Contact the author: thomas@
Telegraph
02-03-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Meet the British space entrepreneur helping to break Europe's reliance on Musk
In a small factory in the Highlands of Scotland, near the wind-swept beaches of the Moray Firth, a British attempt to compete with Elon Musk's SpaceX is nearing completion. Nestled 30 miles from the legendary Loch Ness and close to Cawdor, the historic fiefdom granted to Shakespeare's Macbeth, it is a world away from SpaceX's sprawling Starbase in Texas. But it is here that Phillip Chambers, chief executive of space start-up Orbex, believes Europe could begin to loosen Musk's grip over the space industry and end its over-reliance on America for access to the stars. Orbex, which last month received £20m from the British taxpayer for its maiden mission, is hoping to reach space with its Prime rocket later this year. Prime would be the first British-made rocket to to reach orbit since Black Arrow, which last flew in 1971 from a launch site in the Australian outback. Unlike Black Arrow, Orbex is hoping to use a launch site in the United Kingdom. SaxaVord Spaceport on the Shetland Islands will host its first mission. Chambers, who leads Orbex, says Britain's ability to reach space should not be 'taken for granted', adding: 'We're in a world where we can't depend on the US for everything any more.' Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, where access to communications satellites has proved crucial and a growing rift between the US and EU, Mr Chambers says: 'I think we would be foolish not to own our own [space launch] capability.' But the path to building a domestic British launch industry has been anything but smooth. The Conservatives injected millions of pounds into the space sector and began efforts to find a suitable home for a British launch base almost a decade ago. Boris Johnson, the former prime minister, later promised to turn the UK into 'Galactic Britain'. However, a first attempt to send a satellite into orbit from UK soil ended in failure, as Virgin Orbit fired a rocket from a converted Boeing 747 in a mission from Cornwall in January 2023. Weeks later, the company was bankrupt. Since then, a clutch of start-ups, including Orbex, have made it their ambition to launch a rocket from the UK and finally bring the country into the space race. Other rivals, such as Scotland's Skyrora or Germany's Rocket Factory Augsburg are also hoping to launch from Britain. Orbex has been the beneficiary of Labour's largesse in the form of a convertible loan – debt that can turn into equity – meaning the taxpayer could ultimately become a shareholder in the business. However, success in space is never guaranteed. In addition to the government cash, Chambers says Orbex will need to raise a total of £50m in the medium term. Orbex's latest company accounts, signed off in September, say the cash is necessary to turn the loss-making start-up into a revenue-generating launcher. Without it, the business's going concern status would be in doubt. SpaceX may be worth $350bn (£278bn), but in its early days, the company came close to running out of cash multiple times, needing bailouts from Elon Musk. It had three failed launches until its first success with Musk's Falcon 1 rocket in 2008. Orbex's Chambers says SpaceX has 'executed really well', but points out it also had 'tens of billions of dollars' of US government support, including 'very important early contracts' as the business scaled up. Funding for new space companies is tight, with private funding rounds falling from $18bn in 2021 to $5.9bn last year, according to consultants Novaspace. Chambers, a 44-year-old former software entrepreneur, says the government funding 'takes us roughly halfway, we are still absolutely out fundraising' with an aim to 'achieve our first launch towards the end of this year.' It is ultimately aiming for 10 launches from Shetland per year. For Orbex and rival companies hoping to launch from Britain, the thinking is that the UK and the EU can become anchor customers for their businesses. 'Given what's happening politically, I do think there's now an even bigger impetus to build sovereign capability,' says Chambers. Europe previously used Russia's Soyuz launchers for its missions but the war in Ukraine ended that relationship. More recently, Musk's erratic behaviour, political interference and close ties to Donald Trump's White House have left Europe looking for alternatives to SpaceX, despite its track record. The European Space Agency (ESA), meanwhile, has suffered significant delays with its home-grown heavy-lift rockets, such as Ariane 6, which are typically launched from French Guiana in South America. Chambers says there was a recognition from the British Government and Europe that abandoning sovereign launch capabilities would be a 'massive mistake'. The UK has since 'changed tack', with Chambers saying: 'We do want to have a national capability, and we at least want to give ourselves an option.' The company's first attempt to reach space will be made with its Prime rocket, a 62ft launch vehicle that uses biofuels to reach space. It is capable of carrying about 150kg to low-earth-orbit, which is around 300 miles above the Earth. The vehicle has been built in Scotland, in a factory in Forres in Sutherland, which employs 140 people. Should the mission be a success, Orbex has a more ambitious goal. The company is preparing to build a medium-sized launch vehicle, called Proxima, which Chambers says could be a European 'workhorse' that would be 'close to being able to compete with the likes of SpaceX'. To do this, Orbex is hoping to win a share of business from the European Space Agency launcher challenge, which could award space companies €150m (£124m) to build new domestic rockets. The ESA is not an EU body and counts the UK as a member. If it fails to secure the funding, it is not clear if the project could progress. The company is in talks with the National Wealth Fund about further investment. Chambers says this could support 500 jobs in Scotland and could ultimately launch missions from bases such as Kourou, in French Guiana. He even suggests the UK's Ascension Island, in the Atlantic, as a possible future launch base. But the project has not been welcomed by everyone. Orbex dismayed the Scottish government in December last year when, with little warning, it pulled the plug on building its own spaceport, in Sutherland. The project had previously enjoyed millions of pounds in Scottish funding. This was a 'purely commercial' decision, says Chambers and the 'most capital-efficient, short-term solution'. The company will be keeping its lease and Chambers says it hopes to one day build its planned base, although he notes the UK 'doesn't need the capacity for two spaceports right now'. The question is, will it ever? Chambers joined Orbex in 2024, replacing the company's founder, Chris Larmour. There are no aerospace or rocket companies on his CV. After working as a software entrepreneur he later worked in investment at Denmark's Heartcore Capital, an Orbex shareholder. He founded Peakon, a workplace software business which was sold for $700m in 2021. 'The learning curve is absolutely steep,' says Chambers, 'it's an incredibly complex job and I feel incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to run the UK's launch company.'
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
First British-made rocket to launch from UK soil
A British-made rocket will attempt to reach space from home soil for the first time later this year, with the project going ahead after receiving £20m in taxpayer funding. Peter Kyle, the Technology Secretary, announced the investment package for Scotland-based space company Orbex on Wednesday, paving the way for it to launch its first rocket from the Shetland Islands by the end of 2025. The start-up is building the 62ft Orbex Prime launcher at a factory in Forres, the north of Scotland, which will be tasked with carrying small satellites to orbit. Orbex, which employs around 140 people, is one of a number of space businesses racing to be the first to complete a successful launch from Britain after the failure of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit in 2023. It is hoped that a successful mission could set the UK on a path to providing an alternative to more established space giants, such as Elon Musk's SpaceX, while also giving Britain the ability to carry out its own space missions. Mr Kyle told The Telegraph that the upcoming launch was a 'unique opportunity' for the UK to get ahead of its European rivals and would bring 'prestige' to the domestic space sector. He also highlighted how the investment forms part of Sir Keir Starmer's attempt to 'hardwire' growth into all Cabinet decisions. Mr Kyle said: 'Space is one of the global high-growth sectors. We want to seek to harness that.' He added that the UK would not be merely trying to imitate SpaceX's recent efforts launching satellites, claiming that Britain will not just become a 'mini-America'. 'We do have unique assets here because of our geography and skills,' he said. If Orbex completes its project, it will be the first UK-made rocket capable of orbital missions since Black Arrow, which last flew in 1971. Black Arrow completed just one orbital mission, which was conducted from a base in the Australian outback, and never flew from the UK. By contrast, Orbex is plotting its launch from SaxaVord, a spaceport on the island of Unst in the far north of the UK. Other companies, such as Edinburgh's Skyrora and German business RFA are also hoping to host missions from the former RAF base. Meanwhile, a rocket base in Norway is also competing to become the first location in Western Europe to host a successful orbital mission. Prior to receiving its £20m investment from the Government, Orbex had planned to manage its own rocket base on the Scottish mainland. However, it pulled the plug on the project last year to focus on developing its low-carbon rocket design. The decision to drop the Highlands spaceport was met with dismay from local groups, including Highlands and Islands Enterprise – a development agency – which said it was 'deeply disappointed' by the move. However, Mr Kyle said the UK's space strategy was now 'much more focused', claiming that the department had inherited a 'series of really interesting projects that just did not add up'. 'There was no broader thinking,' he said. He said that the UK would soon be able to 'design, test, build and launch British rockets, carrying British satellites, from British soil'. The investment in Orbex will be in the form of a convertible loan – a type of debt that can be converted into equity. Separately, asked whether No 10 would reconsider some of its tax rises to focus on growth, Mr Kyle said global companies were most concerned about cutting red tape and planning reform. He also said the UK needed to 'grasp with both hands' the opportunity offered by AI. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
