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Unmanned edge
Unmanned edge

The Star

time4 days ago

  • Politics
  • The Star

Unmanned edge

IT was a covert operation straight out of a movie. Under the watchful eye of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, an army of long-range aerial drones was loaded into mobile wooden houses, ferried by trucks that stealthily crossed into Russian territory. The plan took almost two years to come to fruition. Then, early last month at several undisclosed locations, the wooden homes' retractable roofs opened. Swarms of Kyiv's drones buzzed into the sky, striking airbases in Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ryazan and Amur in a series of bombing runs. Images of the attacks quickly circulated and Ukrainian security expert Maria Avdeeva famously said: 'This will be in (the) textbooks.' Unsurprisingly, Russia responded swiftly – launching nearly 500 drones into Ukrainian skies to pound strategic military targets on the ground. The Russia-Ukraine war underscores a new era of warfare, one increasingly defined by artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. These technologies are not just complementary tools; they're transforming the battlefield, driven by a philosophy to reduce armed personnel's exposure to danger. In other conflict zones – including Gaza and Sudan – drones and cyber warfare (used, for instance, to disrupt missile trajectories or communications) are becoming increasingly prevalent. While conventional arms and manned vehicles remain critical, robotics and AI now represent a growing edge in military and security strategy – even in South-East Asia, where control over maritime zones, for example, is often a flashpoint. Malaysia, too, is working to keep its defences in step with these shifts. Alongside a recent RM12bil defence spending package – including purchases of Anka drones and missiles – the country is ramping up domestic capabilities in drone technology, cyber warfare, and stealth systems. Previously, it was reported that the ministry saw a 7.08% in increase in defence allocation under the 2025 Budget with RM21.13bil, up from RM19.73bil in 2024. Experts say this upgrading push must also include a multi-domain taskforce model and a clear talent pipeline to ensure long-term sustainability and effectiveness. A forward Stride Far from the spotlight and aptly acronymised, the Science and Technology Research Institute for Defence (Stride) – a government agency based in Selangor – is at the heart of these efforts to enhance the capabilities of Malaysia's armed forces. Stride director-general Nor Azlan Mohd Ramli says the agency is looking to equip the military with robust AI systems and robotics for both aerial and ground operations. 'AI is being explored to improve intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), predictive maintenance, logistics optimisation, and decision-support systems,' he says. Nor Azlan points out that Stride is also advancing autonomous platforms such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) to minimise personnel risk and increase mission success. 'In addition, Stride is strengthening internal capabilities by establishing dedicated AI research units and implementing capacity- building programmes to equip our personnel with the skills required to design, deploy and manage advanced AI systems.' Nor Azlan says the agency islooking to equip the military with robust AI systems and robotics for both aerial and ground operations. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star As outlined in Malaysia's Defence White Paper, Stride is spearheading efforts to achieve indigenous defence capabilities to enhance national security, self-reliance and technological sovereignty. 'Central to this effort is the development of a dedicated cyber force within the Malaysian Armed Forces, focusing on cyber threat intelligence, defensive and offensive cyber operations, and cybersecurity for operational technology,' Nor Azlan adds. 'We're expanding our portfolio of advanced unmanned systems to improve agility and reduce reliance on imported platforms. This includes modular, AI-capable land platforms, AI-powered UAVs tailored to local environments, and autonomous maritime systems for mine detection and coastal patrols.' And on preparedness against nuclear threats? A security insider put it simply: 'We have the capabilities.' Stronger circuitry Stride is also focused on intelligence-gathering tech. Nor Azlan says the agency is working to strengthen cyberdefence and intelligence capabilities. 'We plan to collaborate with local universities and the Malaysia National AI Office (NAIO) to develop AI-driven cyber threat detection platforms and encrypted communication systems for secure operational connectivity.' In the aerial domain, Stride is pursuing several R&D projects on UAVs for ISR, border monitoring, and tactical missions, all with integrated AI and autonomous functions. This forms part of Stride's broader vision of a self-reliant, agile and multi-domain-capable armed forces – able to counter threats across land, sea, air, cyberspace, and space. 'We are actively developing the integration of AI across military domains to enhance mission effectiveness and reduce operational risk. AI applications in ISR reduce the cognitive load on operators and support faster, more accurate decision-making,' Nor Azlan says. He adds that Malaysia's adoption of AI is grounded in ethics, as laid out in the National AI Roadmap (2021-2025) and aligned with global standards. 'Key principles include human oversight – ensuring critical decisions, especially involving force, remain under human control.' Challenges remain, including talent gaps and institutional readiness. But Nor Azlan believes that with strategic alignment, ethical governance and international partnerships, Malaysia is on track to become a regional model for responsible and effective AI in defence by 2030. The cog Defence today is no longer business as usual; it demands a more dynamic policy cycle, says Dr Muhammad Danial Azman, deputy executive director at Universiti Malaya's International Institute of Public Policy. He says the building of a world-class cyberforce must begin by establishing cyberdefence as a fundamental pillar, alongside land, sea and air. 'The Defence Ministry should set up a Cyber Defence Command on par with Armed Forces Headquarters – with its own budget, training wing, and acquisition unit,' says Danial. Danial says the building of a world-class cyberforce must begin by establishing cyberdefence as a fundamental pillar. — Photo provided This command, he stresses, must have clear career pathways and rank structures to retain cyberoperators in long-term service. 'Reforms should also include a dedicated cybercadet programme, with commissioning courses in threat hunting, incident response, and secure coding. 'We need a permanent cyberrange at Pulada (Army Combat Training Centre) or (national research and development centre) Mimos to run live-fire exercises, red and blue team drills, and joint war games with traditional forces,' he says. A cyberrange is a simulated environment which mirrors real-world cyberattacks and IT world infrastructure. Danial also recommends partnerships with CyberSecurity Malaysia and PETRONAS Digital for staff secondments and intelligence sharing. To grow the talent pipeline, Danial suggests embedding cybersecurity modules in SPM and matriculation syllabi, as well as introducing an accredited Bachelor of Science in Cyber-defence at public universities with compulsory internships at the Defence Ministry. 'Postgraduate scholarships linked to service commitments could also help build capacity in the new cyberdefence command.' Vital requirement AI and cyber capabilities are no longer optional, says Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia's cyber and technology policy programme director Farlina Said. They are necessary. 'As cyber becomes its own theatre of war, AI-driven attacks can paralyse infrastructure and assets. This has been especially visible in Europe, where cyber tools are deployed against digital and physical infrastructure – or used to influence the information space.' Farlina adds that to keep pace, Malaysia must modernise its armed forces in anticipation of current and future threat trends. Farlina says that to keep pace, Malaysia must modernise its armed forces in anticipation of current and future threat trends. — Danial agrees, noting that Malaysia continues to face non-traditional threats such as smuggling, piracy and hybrid coercion – requiring constant surveillance, adaptable littoral patrols and rapid air support. Following the recent defence acquisitions like medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs, Danial says it will help bridge gaps in maritime domain awareness, providing 24/7 ISR coverage over the exclusive economic zone. 'Littoral combat ships (LCS) can expand presence in shallow waters for anti-submarine, mine-clearing and boarding ops. 'FA-50 light fighters can support air policing, pilot training and fast-response strikes.' Danial says these align directly with Malaysia's need for layered deterrence and maritime security. However, he stresses that there are several policy innovation challenges that need to be immediately considered, such as the lack of an unmanned-manned integration doctrine for combined UAV-ship-air task groups. 'Existing SOPs are still oriented around Cold War-style service- centric operations. There are also personnel bottlenecks. Pilot and sensor-operator training pipelines for MALE UAVs and FA-50s currently cannot scale at procurement rates. Naval crews are unfamiliar with the new LCS mission systems and maintenance requirements.' The challenges also include issues concerning sustainment and supply chain, in which spares provisioning and commercial- contract arrangements have not been overhauled to support rapid deployment cycles. 'Over-reliance on foreign OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) for after-sales support risks mission pauses in high-tempo scenarios.'

A few of Stride's ‘gadgets'
A few of Stride's ‘gadgets'

The Star

time4 days ago

  • Science
  • The Star

A few of Stride's ‘gadgets'

HOW does the Science and Technology Research Institute for Defence (Stride) envision the modernisation of Malaysia's military capabilities – such as through robotics, aerospace, or advanced materials – translating into tangible operational advantages for the country's armed forces in the coming decade? Stride director-general Nor Azlan Mohd Ramli outlines several key initiatives that cover operations in the air, on the ground and at sea as part of the Malaysia's 'Future Force' concept. He says among the key initiatives are Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV), co-developed with local industry, which supports missions ranging from surveillance and logistics to potential combat operations. 'Future enhancements will incorporate swarm capabilities and advanced sensor suites.' And apart from the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) as border monitoring and in tactical combat missions, in the maritime domain, Stride is developing unmanned maritime systems to conduct mine detection, coastal patrols and anti-piracy operations, expanding Malaysia's autonomous maritime capabilities. At the same time, Nor Azlan says, to complement those efforts, innovations in materials science are also underway. 'The development of lightweight composite materials for military application aims to increase durability, extend platform lifespans, and reduce maintenance costs. For instance, in the field of fabric technology, Stride has developed TropiKamo®, a near-infrared (NIR) camouflage fabric meticulously designed for optimal performance in tropical climates. Engineered to provide effective concealment across both the visible and infrared spectrums, this advanced material significantly enhances stealth capabilities in Malaysia's jungle and semi-urban operational environments, says Nor Azlan. Meanwhile, also in place is Stride's Centre of Excellence for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Technology, which will serve as a national testing hub to certify systems to international standards, improve resilience to electromagnetic interference (EMI), and support the safe integration of electronic and weapon systems. 'By reducing reliance on foreign testing centres, the EMC facility will also help elevate locally developed defence technologies to export-ready standards, thereby reinforcing industrial empowerment and technological independence.' Nor Azlan says between 2025 and 2035, Stride's initiatives are set to deliver measurable impact for the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), including improved operational efficiency, cost savings and enhanced deterrence. 'Upgraded C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Recon-naissance) systems will enable seamless coordination across all operational domains.' He stresses that the MAF are expected to possess fully integrated, rapid-response capabilities, enabling effective action against simultaneous threats across multiple operational domains. 'Unmanned systems are anticipated to assume a significant share of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and logistics roles, potentially reducing personnel casualties in high-risk environments. Overall, Nor Azlan says indigenous UAVs and UGVs, coupled with strengthened cyber defence capabilities, will reinforce Malaysia's deterrence posture, supporting missions against piracy, smuggling and territorial incursions. 'Locally developed and tested advanced materials will ensure system reliability in Malaysia's tropical operating environments. 'These advancements will also increase Malaysia's participation in regional initiatives such as Asean and Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) exercises, enhancing defence diplomacy and regional stability.'

K-12 Education Is Changing: Can Stride Lead the Next 25 Years?
K-12 Education Is Changing: Can Stride Lead the Next 25 Years?

Yahoo

time5 days ago

  • Business
  • Yahoo

K-12 Education Is Changing: Can Stride Lead the Next 25 Years?

Stride, Inc. LRN continues to redefine digital education at a time when dissatisfaction with traditional public schooling is hitting historic highs. In its fiscal third-quarter 2025, this online education provider reported a 17.8% year-over-year revenue jump to $613.4 million—beating estimates by $20 million—driven by a 21% surge in total enrollment. Career learning revenue alone grew 33% to $223.9 million, bolstered by 34% enrollment numbers highlight the structural tailwinds favoring Stride. As highlighted by the company in its fiscal third-quarter earnings call, February Gallup Polls suggest that nearly 90% of parents now explore non-college career paths for their children, and more than 15% have considered full-time online schooling—up sharply from pre-pandemic levels. Stride is actively meeting that demand through its career-focused middle and high school programs, tutoring platforms, and innovations like K12 Zone and geo-based social pods that blend digital and real-world management raised its full-year revenue and operating income guidance for fiscal 2025 and is already on track to surpass its 2028 CAGR targets three years early. Despite a slight EPS miss due to higher share count from convertible notes, Stride's fundamentals remain robust, with adjusted operating income up 47% and gross margin expanding 190 basis points to 40.6%.Yet, challenges remain. State-level enrollment caps and the lack of traction in lower grades could limit upside. Still, if Stride can expand its footprint and capitalize on shifting education preferences, its ambitions to lead the next 25 years of K-12 innovation may not be far-fetched. Can Stride Stay Ahead of Chegg and Coursera in Online Learning? As Stride charts its path for the next 25 years of K-12 transformation, competitors like Chegg CHGG and Coursera COUR are also shaping the future of digital education—albeit through different models. Chegg, best known for its study tools and textbook services, is pivoting toward AI-driven learning support. While Chegg doesn't directly compete in K-12 full-time enrollment, its tools increasingly serve high schoolers preparing for college or workforce credentials. Chegg's push into personalized learning may pressure Stride to deepen its academic support meanwhile, is expanding its footprint in online credentialing and high school dual-enrollment programs. Coursera has partnered with universities and governments to offer scalable, low-cost education alternatives—posing a growing challenge to Stride as career education becomes mainstream in K-12. As Stride strengthens its middle and high school pathways, it must continue to differentiate itself from both Chegg and Coursera to maintain its leadership. LRN Stock's Price Performance Shares of this Virginia-based education company have trended downward 8.3% over the past three months, underperforming the Zacks Schools industry and the S&P 500 index. LRN Share Price Performance Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Stride's Valuation Trend Stride stock is currently trading at a discount compared with the industry peers, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 2.17, as evidenced by the chart below. LRN Valuation Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Earnings Estimate Revision of LRN LRN's earnings estimates for fiscal 2025 and 2026 have remained unchanged over the past 60 days at $7.09 and $7.76 per share, respectively. However, the estimated figures for fiscal 2025 and 2026 imply year-over-year growth of 51.2% and 9.4%, respectively. EPS Trend Image Source: Zacks Investment Research LRN stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Stride, Inc. (LRN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Chegg, Inc. (CHGG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Coursera, Inc. (COUR) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research

Stride Announces Date for Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Earnings Call
Stride Announces Date for Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Earnings Call

Business Upturn

time23-07-2025

  • Business
  • Business Upturn

Stride Announces Date for Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Earnings Call

By GlobeNewswire Published on July 23, 2025, 02:00 IST RESTON, VA, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Stride Inc. (NYSE: LRN) announced today it plans to discuss its fourth quarter and full fiscal year 2025 financial results during a conference call scheduled for Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. eastern time (ET). A live webcast of the call will be available at To participate in the live call, investors and analysts should dial (800) 715-9871 (domestic) or +1 (646) 307-1963 (international) and provide the conference ID number 8901384. Please access the website at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call. A replay of the call will be posted at as soon as it is available. About Stride Inc. Stride Inc. (NYSE: LRN) is redefining lifelong learning with innovative, high-quality education solutions. Serving learners in primary, secondary, and postsecondary settings, Stride provides a wide range of services including K-12 education, career learning, professional skills training, and talent development. Stride reaches learners in all 50 states and over 100 countries. Learn more at Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.

Stride vs. Grand Canyon: Which Online Colleges Stock is a Better Buy?
Stride vs. Grand Canyon: Which Online Colleges Stock is a Better Buy?

Yahoo

time08-07-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Stride vs. Grand Canyon: Which Online Colleges Stock is a Better Buy?

The demand for digital educational alternatives is continuously growing as parents and students are increasingly focused on seamless and hassle-free ways to earn degrees. Over the past few years, this shift seems to have intensified as technological evolution reaches its peak and AI-focused alternatives are readily available with a click of a finger. Fitting like a piece in this puzzle are key education providers of the market, like Stride, Inc. LRN and Grand Canyon Education, Inc. LOPE, sharing a common goal of transforming education through offers full-time online K-12 programs to students looking for an online alternative, mainly expanding its current focus on career learning and adult certification programs. On the other hand, Grand Canyon Education engages in offering operational and educational support services to universities it partners with, alongside delivering strategized online program management to on-campus and online students across undergraduate, graduate and doctoral dive deep and closely compare the fundamentals of the two stocks to determine which one is a better investment now. This Virginia-based education company, with a market cap of about $6.03 billion, is witnessing record enrollment growth trends, driven by demand strength for online full-time K-12 programs and career education. This, coupled with ongoing regulatory reform trends and its strategic business initiatives, is catalyzing the growth prospects. The demand patterns of students and parents shifting toward tech-based alternatives and career-focused programs are fueling its upcoming prospects, especially now when LRN is mainly focused on enhancing its career education the company's focal shift is paying off, offering it revenue visibility and profitability prospects in the upcoming period. The robust market trends for career-focused and tech-based alternatives, alongside its diversified career-focused offerings, resulted in 32% year-over-year enrollment growth in Stride's Career Learning segment during the first nine months of fiscal 2025. Moreover, during the same time frame, total enrollment grew 20% year over year. With the ongoing regulatory reform trends in the United States education industry, the demand for online full-time K-12 programs and career education is robust, proving incremental for Stride's fiscal 2026 outlook and long-term to robust trends, the company raised its fiscal 2025 revenue guidance to $2.37-$2.385 billion, reflecting 16.2-16.9% year-over-year growth. This complements its current focus on reaching fiscal 2028 targets, highlighting revenues growing in the range of $2.70-$3.30 billion, reflecting a 10% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from fiscal strategic investments focusing on school-as-a-service offerings, a personalized learning model and improving user experience of its products position it well to witness such trends in the upcoming period, despite the ongoing macro uncertainties and inflationary pressures. This Arizona-based educational technology company, having a market cap of about $5.2 billion, is gaining from its diversified university partnerships, workforce development programs and tech-based offerings. The market's shift toward online education alternatives and career-enhancing programs is also proving favorable for LOPE. The company is consistently seeking to grab onto opportunities that align with developing workforce programs and capitalize on them to elevate its revenue visibility and profitability prospects. As of March 31, 2025, Grand Canyon Education offered education services to 22 university partners across the United States. During the first quarter of 2025, enrollments at the Grand Canyon University grew 5.8% year over year to 123,773, with enrollments from university partners at LOPE's off-campus classroom and laboratory sites (or hybrid campus) increasing 12.1%. Grand Canyon Education, along with its 22 partner institutions, is making notable investments to align its programs with the workforce requirements in the market. Since January 2023, LOPE has rolled out 48 new programs, aiming to launch more than 20 programs annually. The programs align with high-demand fields, including education, healthcare, public safety, manufacturing and engineering and tech, ensuring that the students are able to capture the labor market opportunities. Moreover, the company continues to work with employers directly to address their workforce to the favorable market trends and its strategic in-house initiatives, LOPE laid out an upbeat 2025 outlook. For the year, it expects service revenues to be between $1,079.8 million and $1,099.8 million, up 4.5-6.5% year over year. Operating margin is expected to be between 27.3% and 28%, up from 26.7% reported a year ago. Moreover, earnings per share (EPS) are expected between $8.36 and $8.70, up 8.2-12.5% from $7.73 reported in 2024. As witnessed from the chart below, year to date, Stride's share price performance stands above Grand Canyon Education. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Considering valuation, over the last five years, Stride is trading below Grand Canyon Education on a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio basis. The undervaluation of LRN compared with LOPE advocates for a comparatively attractive entry point for investors in favor of the former. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LRN's fiscal 2025 EPS indicates 51.2% year-over-year growth, while the fiscal 2026 estimate indicates an increase of 9.4%. The fiscal 2025 and 2026 EPS estimates have remained unchanged over the past 60 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LOPE's 2025 and 2026 earnings estimates have remained unchanged over the past 60 days. However, the estimated figures of 2025 and 2026 reflect 8.8% and 10.5% year-over-year growth, respectively. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Grand Canyon Education's trailing 12-month ROE of 30.9% significantly exceeds Stride' average of 23.4%, underscoring its efficiency in generating shareholder returns. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Both Stride and Grand Canyon Education offer compelling exposure to the growing online education market, backed by solid earnings profiles and favorable Zacks Ranks. However, Stride stands out as the stronger investment case today. It not only boasts superior near-term earnings growth estimates but also trades at a more attractive valuation. While LOPE offers impressive ROE and operational stability, its premium valuation and slower growth trajectory make it less appealing from a risk-reward standpoint at current both stocks currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), given LRN's combination of growth momentum, stable EPS projections and discounted valuation, investors seeking higher upside in 2025 may find Stride the more promising pick in the online education space. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (LOPE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Stride, Inc. (LRN) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research 登入存取你的投資組合

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