Latest news with #GeneralAtomics
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Denmark buys four Sky Guardian drones for Arctic surveillance
MILAN — Denmark has purchased four U.S.-made long-range maritime drones from General Atomics, a step meant to boost the country's surveillance capabilities in the Arctic region. The Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization signed an agreement with NATO's Support and Procurement Agency, or NSPA, to acquire four MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, the government agency announced on July 22. The systems are expected to be delivered between 2028 and 2029 and will undergo a certification process to be able to fly in national and international airspace. Although no contract value was disclosed, DALO listed three specific areas of interest where the drones could operate: the Arctic, the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea region. The Arctic has become increasingly important for NATO's defense posture, especially in light of growing Russian presence and activities in the region. For example, Russian ice-class LNG tanker Alexey Kosygin, sanctioned by the United States, is expected to become operational in the second half of this year at the country's Arctic LNG 2 plant, as reported by Reuters. Having eyes in the sky is a priority for Arctic states, but acquiring drones that can operate in such a harsh environment can be challenging. The extreme cold impacts battery life, sensor performance and GPS signal quality. According to a General Atomics spokesman, the MQ-9B drones are ready to operate in cold temperatures. 'The MQ-9B is perfect for the Arctic Security mission and has been designed, tested and certified for operations in extremely cold climates – it routinely flies at very high altitudes [maximum above 40,000 feet] where outside air is usually between -40 and -70 Fahrenheit (-40 and -56,6 Celsius),' spokesman C. Mark Brinkley told Defense News. In its announcement, DALO highlighted that the drone purchase is being conducted in close cooperation with other allied NATO nations to ensure access to common knowledge. Neighboring Norway has also shown interest in acquiring the MQ-9B, as part of its quest to get long-range maritime drones. North Grumman's MQ-4C Triton is also in the running there. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Latest GA Autonomous Jet Demo Features Live Air-to-Air Engagement Capability
Autonomous Tasking With TacACE and Optix.C2 Showcase Maturity and Operational Readiness SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA / / July 17, 2025 / General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and General Atomics Integrated Intelligence, Inc. (GA-Intelligence) successfully completed a groundbreaking demonstration on July 8, integrating technologies across multiple affiliates to showcase long-range kill chain effects, including an autonomous air-to-air engagement. The flight integrated local and global sensor fusion to deliver real-time situational awareness and autonomous tasking to an airborne MQ-20 Avenger® through the Tactical Autonomy Core Ecosystem (TacACE) to close the kill chain and showcase the system's maturity and operational readiness for the warfighter. The event featured the integration of a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), a fully compliant government-owned autonomy implementation, and beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) Command and Control (C2). The MQ-20 unmanned jet, furnished by GA-ASI, acted as a CCA surrogate in a sensor Emission Control (EMCON) environment. It was operated autonomously and controlled using distributed-edge C2 nodes powered by Optix.C2 and Omniview software. Optix.C2, a product from General Atomics-Intelligence, provided low-latency, localized C2 functionality while remaining networked to the broader operational picture, enabling real-time coordination across multiple domains. Dr. Brian Ralston, President of GA-Intelligence, applauded the joint effort. "This demonstration illustrates the value of integrating cutting-edge and proven technologies across the GA enterprise. The Optix data platform and C2 capability enable rapid integration and experimentation to address critical DoD and IC needs." General Atomics successfully fused space-based sensing and tactical sensing with the C2 node during the flight, giving the aircraft access to a complete real-time threat picture for enhanced onboard autonomous decision-making. The demonstration also included live coordination of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and kinetic tasking through a unified operator interface capable of deployment in virtually any cloud environment. During the exercise, the live MQ-20 aircraft autonomously patrolled a designated Combat Air Patrol (CAP) zone, leveraging off-board sensors to demonstrate how passive collection techniques can inform autonomous platforms in real time. Four CCA surrogates - one live and three virtual - were directed by an operator to investigate multiple targets of interest. Upon identifying them as threats, the operator issued a command to initiate the BLOS engagement. The autonomous systems maneuvered into position, simulated missile launches, assessed battle damage, and returned to CAP without additional operator input. "This demonstration represents a substantial leap in autonomy and human-machine interfaces that are critical to the warfighter in the near-peer fight," said Michael Atwood, Vice President of Advanced Programs at GA-ASI. "By integrating Optix.C2 with TacACE, we're delivering a system that not only operates at the tactical edge but also enables rapid decision-making and execution across the battlespace. This is the future of warfare - scalable, autonomous systems that empower the warfighter to dominate at range." GA-ASI continues to develop and validate autonomy products that deliver scalable, collaborative aircraft behavior with minimal operator input. GA-Intelligence provided multi-sensor global fusion and engagement orchestration algorithms and interfaces. This latest milestone expands the company's autonomy portfolio with access to a complete threat picture while advancing critical-edge C2 capabilities and intuitive operator interfaces. 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. About GA-Intelligence General Atomics Integrated Intelligence, Inc. is a data science, software development, and systems engineering firm focused on developing advanced analytic capabilities to customers in both public and private sectors, with a strong emphasis on tools in support of spatio-temporal (space and time) data management, multi-source/multi-INT correlation and data fusion, tracking, entity resolution, location forecasting, and multi-domain global situational awareness (MDGSA) leveraging extremely high volume/velocity data sources. For more information, visit 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 while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US vendors tussle over Norway's maritime-surveillance drone business
MILAN — Competition is heating up for Norway's envisioned Arctic-capable, long-range maritime drones, as two American manufacturers have entered the race. As part of the 2025-2036 Norwegian Defense Pledge, Oslo has committed to acquiring new unmanned aerial systems to be stationed at the Andøya Air Station, some 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the Norwegian Ministry of Defense contacted U.S.-based manufacturers including Northrop Grumman and General Atomics with a request for information. A General Atomics spokesman told Defense News in March that the company had already responded to the solicitation pitching its MQ-9B SeaGuardian, while Northrop Grumman officials have said they are offering the MQ-4C Triton. Meanwhile, a Norwegian defense official said the drone project remains at a concept stage. 'At this stage, Forsvarsmateriell (NDMA) is working closely with the Norwegian Air Force to support a concept selection study – because we are still defining requirements and evaluating operational needs, no flight tests have been scheduled and no final decision point has been set,' Brigadier General Jarle Nergård, director of NDMA Air Systems Division said. Still, competition for the prospective business has drawn out direct comparisons among the American vendors. Jane Bishop, vice president and general manager of global surveillance at Northrop Grumman, published an article on the company's website on June 25 criticizing the MQ-9B. She described the competitor drone as a 'medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) system capable of only about half the service ceiling' of Triton. 'The lower service ceiling has also led to increased risk, as losses have been seen over the past year with multiple MALE aircraft being shot down,' the article states. It also noted that if Norway were to select the General Atomics' drone, it would need to buy approximately 'four times as many units as more capable HALE [the category of the Triton] aircraft.' A spokesman for General Atomics said the company had no comment. The survivability of both American drones has been challenged by some experts in the past. In her article, when mentioning losses, Bishop was likely referring to an incident where three U.S. drones were shot down in April by the Houthis in Yemen – which were Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles, not the SeaGuardian variant. Northrop systems have not been immune either to adversaries acquiring more sophisticated counter-drone capabilities. In 2019, an Iranian surface-to-air missile shot down the U.S. Navy Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (or BAMS-D) drone, which was a predecessor to the MQ-4C Triton. An important capability for Norway will be to have the chosen drone complement the country's P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol fleet to assist them in monitoring large bodies of open water found across its territory. Norway has acquired five P-8As, with the first units delivered in 2022, that have gradually replaced the Nordic country's aging fleet of P-3 Orion and DA-20 Jet Falcon aircraft. Both the SeaGuardian and the Triton can interface with the P-8, according to the manufacturers. Previously, the U.S. partnered with Australia to jointly develop the Triton's interoperability with the Australian P-8s, while the SeaGuardian also conducted an unmanned-manned teaming with the British Royal Air Force's P-8 aircraft in 2021. Norwegian officials have not disclosed the amount they will dedicate to the purchase of long-range maritime drones. The government recently announced that it has invested approximately $620 million to support the maritime coalition, led by the United Kingdom, to develop and produce unmanned surface vessels in Ukraine using Kongsberg technology.
AllAfrica
27-06-2025
- Business
- AllAfrica
Malaysia quietly flying Turkish drones over South China Sea
In June 2025, Malaysia took a decisive yet understated step in fortifying its maritime domain awareness by confirming the deployment of three Turkish-made Anka‑S unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drones will operate from Labuan, with the first sorties expected to commence later this year over the South China Sea. Yet the symbolism of such deployments—especially in a region as fraught and strategically sensitive as the South China Sea—must be carefully interpreted. This is not about picking sides between the United States and China. Nor is it a belligerent signal to any one power. Instead, Malaysia's choice reflects a doctrine of quiet diplomacy: one that prioritizes sovereignty without provocation, and preparedness without escalation. Whenever the South China Sea is invoked in regional headlines, it is often painted as a zero-sum contest between China and Southeast Asia. That portrayal misses the nuance of Malaysia's approach. For decades, Malaysia has pursued a policy of principled engagement—asserting its maritime rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) while maintaining constructive, often warm, ties with China. Malaysia's procurement of surveillance drones does not undermine that tradition. Rather, it reinforces our commitment to defend our interests with clarity and calm—not capitulation, nor confrontation. The Anka‑S, designed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), was chosen through a transparent international tender that included bids from the United States' General Atomics (offering the MQ‑9 Reaper) and China's AVIC (offering the Wing Loong II). That Malaysia selected Turkey was not a rejection of the US or China per se—it was a choice based on strategic fit, affordability, reliability, and non-politicized defence procurement. The Anka‑S platform, with its 24–30 hours of endurance, encrypted satellite communications, synthetic aperture radar, EO/IR cameras, ground-moving target indicators (GMTI), and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems, provides a vital capability in monitoring activity across Malaysia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) without compromising our diplomatic equilibrium. It is also essential to note that these drones are unarmed. They are surveillance platforms, not strike systems. Malaysia is not militarizing its maritime space; it is strengthening maritime situational awareness in a region with complex and overlapping claims, illegal fishing, piracy, and growing commercial activity. The message is straightforward: Malaysia is watching—not menacing. Malaysia is asserting its rights, not staking new claims. More than a defense acquisition, the Anka‑S symbolizes a maturing partnership between Malaysia and Turkey. As a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN and NATO's second-largest military force, Turkey stands at a unique intersection of East and West. It maintains a robust relationship with both the United States and China and has earned a reputation for pursuing independent diplomacy. Turkey's strategic balance, reflected in its engagement with Russia, Europe, and the Muslim world, resonates with ASEAN's own non-aligned but active diplomacy. In many ways, Türkiye is a mirror of Malaysia's geopolitical posture: firm in its sovereignty, flexible in its partnerships. Turkey's defense industry also offers something often missing in dealings with traditional great powers—mutual respect and shared technological growth. The Anka‑S is a product of indigenous Turkish development, allowing greater room for customization, training, and potential co-production. In Malaysia's case, the infrastructure and training for the drones are being carried out in collaboration with local firm G7 Aerospace, enabling knowledge transfer and economic spillover benefits. Future upgrades, including weaponization (if Malaysia ever chooses that path), can be managed with full transparency and independence. So why Turkey and why now? The answer lies in both regional and global dynamics. ASEAN member states are becoming increasingly cautious in navigating the intensifying US-China rivalry. On one hand, the United States has urged allies and partners in Asia to increase defense spending and adopt its Indo-Pacific strategy, often with veiled suggestions of containment. On the other, China has expanded its military and coast guard presence in regional waters, testing the boundaries of maritime diplomacy. Yet Malaysia remains steadfastly neutral committed to peace, but not pacifism. The selection of Turkey is a clear signal that Malaysia can strengthen its defence posture without falling into the orbit of either superpower. The Anka‑S is not part of any military bloc or encirclement agenda. It is a tool of sovereign surveillance, rooted in international law and national interest. Türkiye also offers strategic reliability without overreach. It has forged strong defence ties with both NATO and non-NATO countries, including Pakistan, Qatar, and Indonesia. Its drones, including the Anka‑S and the famed Bayraktar TB2, have been combat-proven in multiple theatres—from Syria and Libya to Nagorno-Karabakh and Ukraine. While Malaysia is not adopting these UAVs for combat, the reliability and endurance of the Anka‑S speaks volumes about its maturity as a platform. Moreover, Türkiye is not just a defence provider—it is a geopolitical partner. Its increasing engagement with Southeast Asia through trade, cultural exchange, and religious diplomacy—particularly as a Muslim-majority nation—makes it a natural fit for deeper strategic relations with Malaysia and ASEAN. Its presence offers a third way for countries seeking alternatives to the binary of Washington and Beijing. In this context, Malaysia's decision to field the Anka‑S is not merely a technical or tactical decision. It is a quiet yet profound statement of national resolve. Malaysia seeks not to provoke, but to protect. Not to align blindly, but to cooperate wisely. We remain firm in our rights under UNCLOS, especially in defending our maritime zones—but we will continue to engage China, the United States, and all partners through dialogue and diplomacy. Let there be no misreading: Malaysia's vision of the South China Sea is not as a flashpoint of rival empires, but as a shared space requiring shared responsibility. With the Anka‑S circling above, Malaysia does not signal hostility—but capability. This is what sovereign agency looks like in the 21st century—eyes wide open, posture firm, diplomacy intact. Malaysia's approach to the South China Sea is neither naive nor aggressive. It is rooted in quiet strength, strategic foresight, and a refusal to be drawn into great power theatrics. By working with Turkey, a bridge between the Atlantic and Asia, Malaysia is building more than defense capacity—it is shaping a future where ASEAN nations assert their own narratives, on their own terms. Phar Kim Beng, PhD, is professor of ASEAN studies, International Islamic University Malaysia . Luthfy Hamzah is senior research fellow, Strategic Pan Indo Pacific Arena, Kuala Lumpur .
South China Morning Post
20-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
F-47's loyal wingmen drones ‘huge deal' for US sixth-gen air dominance programme
Full-scale models of the autonomous drones intended to serve alongside the US Air Force's sixth-generation fighter jets were on display at the Paris Air Show this week, with an official from one maker confirming their development was focused on the Indo-Pacific. Advertisement Jackson Lingane, communications manager at Anduril Industries – a major supplier of unmanned platforms to the US Air Force – said that once commissioned, its YFQ-44 known as Fury, was likely to be deployed in flashpoints that included the Taiwan Strait. '[The US Air Force] has been very transparent, it is focused on Indo-Pacific fights,' he said. 'One of the reasons Anduril Industries is here at the Paris Air Show is we think the science and shape applied in Fury also has a lot of application for European allies.' The YFQ-44 is included in the Increment 1 package of weapons for the F-47 sixth-generation fighter jet and its collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) drones that are in development as part of the US Air Force's next-generation air dominance (NGAD) programme. At the General Atomics booth, another full-scale model was on display – of its YFQ-42A drone that is also part of the NGAD's Increment 1 programme. Advertisement
