Latest news with #UnleashingAmericanDroneDominance
NDTV
4 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
US In Race With China To Claim "Best" Part Of Moon: NASA Chief
Washington: The United States is in a new space race with China to claim the most resource-rich part of the moon, NASA's interim administrator Sean Duffy said while announcing plans to install a nuclear reactor on the lunar surface by 2030. "We're in a race to the moon, in a race with China to the moon. And to have a base on the moon, we need energy," he said Addressing a press conference on Tuesday (local time) titled "Unleashing American Drone Dominance" held by the US Department of Transportation, which Duffy also leads. Duffy explained that energy is the key to setting up a permanent base, and that's why he wants a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor placed on the moon within the next five years. He said such a reactor would generate about the same amount of electricity that a typical US household uses in 3.5 days. The NASA administrator also said that there is a specific region on the moon that is especially valuable, and that both the US and China are eyeing it. "There's a certain part of the moon that everyone knows is the best," he said. "We have ice there. We have sunlight there. We want to get there first and claim that for America" he said. Water ice and continuous sunlight make certain parts of the moon, especially near the south pole, ideal for setting up a permanent base. These conditions are important for both sustaining human life and generating power. Duffy also addressed concerns about launching nuclear material into space. He made it clear that the reactor would not be active when launched from Earth. "We're not launching this live. That's obviously if you have any questions about that, no, we're not launching it live," he said. While comparing the Artemis lunar program to the historic Apollo missions of the 1960s and 70s, Duffy admitted that NASA's current efforts haven't captured public attention in the same way. "A lot of people don't know even what Artemis is. Everyone knew what Apollo was. We all knew. The whole world knew what Apollo was. We were going to the moon, Artemis is, we're going back," Duffy said.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
U.S. in race with China to claim ‘best' part of Moon: NASA Chief
The United States is in a new space race with China to claim the most resource-rich part of the moon, NASA's interim administrator Sean Duffy said while announcing plans to install a nuclear reactor on the lunar surface by 2030. 'We're in a race to the moon, in a race with China to the moon. And to have a base on the moon, we need energy,' he said. Addressing a press conference on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) titled 'Unleashing American Drone Dominance' held by the U.S. Department of Transportation, which Mr. Duffy also leads. Mr. Duffy explained that energy is the key to setting up a permanent base, and that's why he wants a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor placed on the moon within the next five years. He said such a reactor would generate about the same amount of electricity that a typical U.S. household uses in 3.5 days. The NASA administrator also said that there is a specific region on the moon that is especially valuable and that both the U.S. and China are eyeing it. 'There's a certain part of the moon that everyone knows is the best,' he said. 'We have ice there. We have sunlight there. We want to get there first and claim that for America' he said. Water ice and continuous sunlight make certain parts of the moon, especially near the south pole, ideal for setting up a permanent base. These conditions are important for both sustaining human life and generating power. Mr. Duffy also addressed concerns about launching nuclear material into space. He made it clear that the reactor would not be active when launched from Earth. 'We're not launching this live. That's obviously if you have any questions about that,' he said. While comparing the Artemis lunar programme to the historic Apollo missions of the 1960s and 70s, Mr. Duffy admitted that NASA's current efforts haven't captured public attention in the same way. 'A lot of people don't even know what Artemis is. Everyone knew what Apollo was. We all knew. The whole world knew what Apollo was. We were going to the moon; Artemis is. we're going back,' Mr. Duffy said.
News18
4 days ago
- Politics
- News18
US in Race With China to Claim Best Part of Moon: NASA Chief
Washington, DC [US], August 7 (ANI): The United States is in a new space race with China to claim the most resource-rich part of the moon, NASA's interim administrator Sean Duffy said while announcing plans to install a nuclear reactor on the lunar surface by 2030.'We're in a race to the moon, in a race with China to the moon. And to have a base on the moon, we need energy," he said Addressing a press conference on Tuesday (local time) titled 'Unleashing American Drone Dominance" held by the US Department of Transportation, which Duffy also leads. Duffy explained that energy is the key to setting up a permanent base, and that's why he wants a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor placed on the moon within the next five years. He said such a reactor would generate about the same amount of electricity that a typical US household uses in 3.5 NASA administrator also said that there is a specific region on the moon that is especially valuable, and that both the US and China are eyeing it.'There's a certain part of the moon that everyone knows is the best," he said. 'We have ice there. We have sunlight there. We want to get there first and claim that for America" he ice and continuous sunlight make certain parts of the moon, especially near the south pole, ideal for setting up a permanent base. These conditions are important for both sustaining human life and generating also addressed concerns about launching nuclear material into space. He made it clear that the reactor would not be active when launched from Earth.'We're not launching this live. That's obviously if you have any questions about that, no, we're not launching it live," he comparing the Artemis lunar program to the historic Apollo missions of the 1960s and 70s, Duffy admitted that NASA's current efforts haven't captured public attention in the same way.'A lot of people don't know even what Artemis is. Everyone knew what Apollo was. We all knew. The whole world knew what Apollo was. We were going to the moon, Artemis is, we're going back," Duffy said. (ANI)
The Hill
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hill
Pentagon seeks to slash red tape for mass drone production
The Trump administration is slashing red tape to quickly equip troops with more small, easily replaced drones in a bid to keep up with the likes of Russia and China, the Pentagon's chief technology officer told NewsNation's Kelly Meyer in an exclusive interview. Emil Michael, the under secretary of Defense for research and engineering, said the U.S. is speedily moving to reduce bureaucratic barriers and expand the quantities and types of drones U.S. troops can use to defend American bases, forces and interests. 'You've got to cut the red tape out,' when it comes to drone production, he told Kellie Meyer from The Hill's sister network. 'A lot of the regulations around what you could build and how you could build it, and even how you could test it were limited in the last administration.' Drones are the new frontline of modern conflicts, featuring prominently in Russia's war in Ukraine and Israel's conflicts in the Middle East. Nowhere were drones displayed so mightily that in June with Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb, where Kyiv spent months smuggling hundreds of small drones deep inside Russia for coordinated strike that destroyed upwards of 40 Russian warplanes on five airbases. The operation showed that even far reaching targets were not safe from drone attack, including the United States, a country buffered by two oceans and no significant adversary on its borders. Case in point, in late 2024 and earlier this year, military bases and sensitive sites struggled to counter swarms of unauthorized drones that flew over them at night, leading to concerns about security and possible spying. But the United States is currently outpaced by Russia and China in military drone use, a gap caused by a dearth in companies approved to make drones for the U.S. military as well as limited equipment and expertise needed to mass-produce drones, according to a new report released Tuesday by The Heritage Foundation. Only 14 companies currently can make drones for the Defense Department while just one Chinese company, DJI, accounts for 70 percent of all worldwide drone sales and makes millions of drones each year, putting Washington at a disadvantage. U.S. law bars the military from buying Chinese drones. 'Given its current capabilities, the United States in all probability would not be able to win a drone war with China,' the report states, pointing out that the 20 models and hundreds of copies Washington would be able to deploy today are dwarfed in comparison to Beijing's millions of unmanned aerial vehicles. Michael insisted, however, that the United States is not only keeping up in the drone race but also 'going for dominance,' pointing to President Trump's June 6 executive order titled Unleashing American Drone Dominance.' The order directs federal agencies to fast-track approvals for U.S. drone manufacturers and protect the supply chain from 'undue foreign influence.' That was followed by a series of new policies and investments, announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last month, to make it easier for defense officials to buy drones and train troops to use them. 'Lethality will not be hindered by self-imposed restrictions, especially when it comes to harnessing technologies we invented but were slow to pursue. Drone technology is advancing so rapidly, our major risk is risk-avoidance,' Hegseth wrote in a July 10 memo. 'The department's bureaucratic gloves are coming off.' Michael echoed that viewpoint. 'We're going to have the best technology, we're going to have mass production, and to do that, we're going to cut the red tape, and we're going to let innovation happen in private industry,' Michael said in the interview. 'You're going to see us become dominant, more dominant than we already are in unmanned warfare.' He did not give a timeline for the U.S. to produce enough drones to meet the Pentagon's needs – a feat that will take significant investment and time to grow such a domestic industry – but he said that the administration has 'invested hundreds of millions of dollars through various programs' for the effort. 'The idea is to have an industrial base that could produce hundreds of thousands of these per month over time, because that's what we're seeing out there in the world right now,' he said. While the United States is adept at developing large, sophisticated and expensive unmanned aircraft such as the Predator and Reaper – both costing tens of millions of dollars each – its industrial base struggles to produce the smaller, inexpensive drones that dominate the conflicts in Ukraine and Middle East and are made with Chinese components. To fast-track more drones for the U.S. military, Micahel said the Pentagon will now hold two events per year known as the Technology Readiness Experimentation, or T-REX, where manufacturers can demonstrate their drones. T-Rex, started under the Biden administration's now defunct Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve, gives live-fire exercises and prototype demonstrations to help military users assess the technology for real-world use. 'Some of them are just gathering intelligence, or gathering an understanding of what's happening on the battlefield. Some are carrying weapons. Some are countering other drones,' he said of the range of drones tested. 'They could be anything from a few pounds to, you know, a couple 100 pounds, and they could be launched in different ways too. . . . that's because there's so many situations that they may have to be used to defend a military base, defend on a battlefield.' In addition, 18 drone prototypes – all which passed through the T-REX program – are currently under accelerated development at the Pentagon. The U.S. government also conducted a wargame on how to defend military bases in the United States from drone attacks in March in Alaska.
Cision Canada
31-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
U.S. Drone Industry Investment Surging Amid Sweeping Legislative Reforms
NEW YORK, /CNW/ -- A recent article from drone industry insider, said that: "The drone industry in the United States is experiencing a surge in investment and capital flow, as a series of legislative measures and executive directives reshape the procurement and manufacturing environment for both established and emerging drone companies. Recent months have brought a flood of funding announcements, with sector analysts citing a direct connection to strengthened national policy and focused government demand." It continued: "May through July 2025 have seen major investment rounds for American drone manufacturers and allied suppliers. Standout examples include Firestorm Labs' $47 million Series A —led by major defense and technology investors—intended to accelerate domestic, modular drone production for federal contracts. Quantum Systems, a key player in dual-use and military aviation technologies, completed a €160 million Series C round in May 2025, further underlining investor appetite for companies positioned to serve government needs. Likewise, Unusual Machines (UMAC) witnessed a dramatic 40% surge in its stock price following announcements of expanded Pentagon procurement budgets and relaxed purchasing rules. High-profile public offerings, such as AIRO Group 's successful IPO in June, have been accompanied by substantial private and public funding across the sector, with analysts on platforms like Nasdaq noting a sharp spike in capital formation and confidence among U.S.-based drone firms." Active Companies in the Drone Industry today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), EHang Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EH), AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS), Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO). also discussed The Legislative Engine Behind The Sector's Momentum, saying that: "This wave of investment activity is not happening in a vacuum. It traces directly to a package of legislative and regulatory moves in Washington, including: Executive Order: " Unleashing American Drone Dominance" (June 2025), which mandates prioritization of U.S.-made drones for all federal agencies, streamlines procurement processes, and introduces targeted funding lines for "consumable" drone assets. - DoD Procurement Directive (July 2025), which accelerates purchase timelines and expands budgets, ensuring military branches can rapidly deploy domestically produced drone platforms. - FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and accompanying tariffs and restrictions, which impose new barriers on foreign drones and provide direct grant support to American manufacturers. - Grant Programs under new acts, allowing state and municipal agencies to tap federal funding for the procurement of American drones, exponentially widening total addressable demand." It concluded: "These sweeping actions have collectively signaled to investors that government commitment to domestic drone production is not only robust but rapidly escalating. Multiple funding announcements and investor statements specifically cite these legislative shifts as underpinning new rounds of capital deployment." ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) ZenaDrone Initiates AUVSI Membership Upgrade, Enabling Leadership on Drone Policy and Strengthening US Defense and Government Engagement - ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) ("ZenaTech"), a business technology solution provider specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), Enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, today announces its drone subsidiary ZenaDrone has initiated upgrading its membership to the Advocacy level with the influential Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), enabling it to join both the Defense Advocacy Committee and Air Advocacy Committee. This upgrade enables the company to engage alongside top US drone and defense innovators, such as Skydio, Anduril, Leidos and Shield AI, to elevate its leadership role in shaping critical drone policy and procurement as well as deepening relationships with important stakeholders and decisionmakers. "This is a clear investment in speed to market and long-term procurement success," said Shaun Passley, Ph.D., ZenaTech CEO. "By joining AUVSI's Defense and Air Advocacy Committees, ZenaDrone gains direct access to the policy, compliance, and acquisition conversations that shape Department of Defense agency procurement. It positions us alongside trusted defense leaders and innovators, accelerating our path to Green and Blue UAS certification by strengthening our ability to meet the security, interoperability, and regulatory expectations of federal buyers and leverage growth opportunities." Through an upgraded Advocacy membership, ZenaDrone will be able to collaborate with AUVSI's network of industry leaders and regulators to influence federal drone policies and shape the future of the drone industry in the US. This participation provides direct access to federal decision-makers, enabling influence on key policy areas such as BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) regulation and streamlined procurement, while ensuring the company's drone platforms remain aligned with the evolving operational needs and priorities of US defense and government agencies. This involvement comes at a pivotal time, as recent Executive Orders and policy directives from the White House and Department of Defense accelerate support for NDAA-compliant, secure, and domestically produced drone technologies. These directives now move toward implementation, requiring practical policy frameworks and procurement processes—an area where ZenaDrone aims to contribute meaningfully. Founded in 1972, AUVSI is the largest nonprofit advancing uncrewed and autonomous systems through innovation, policy, and collaboration. It connects government, industry, and academia to drive safe, efficient integration of emerging technologies. The Air Advocacy Committee shapes policies to expand drone operations in national airspace, while the Defense Advocacy Committee influences defense acquisition policies and promotes NDAA-compliant drone technology. Continued… Other developments in the drone/UAV & Military industries include: Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO), an award-winning developer of drone solutions and systems developer, recently announced the sale of Commander 3XL Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems to a globally recognized defense contractor specializing in persistent surveillance technologies for military operations. A trusted partner to U.S. and allied defense forces for decades, the client is one of the world's leading providers of persistent surveillance platforms. Its systems are deployed across key Department of Defense (DoD) and allied installations, delivering reliable, persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The Commander 3XL's modular payload architecture, extended endurance, and AI-enabled mission control make it an ideal asset for military-grade surveillance programs. The systems will support perimeter security, early warning, and real-time situational awareness, operating seamlessly alongside and integrated with persistent platforms and ground-based command centers. EHang Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EH), the world's leading urban air mobility ("UAM") technology platform company, recently announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Reignwood Aviation Group. Leveraging their respective strengths, the two parties will collaborate under China's national strategy for developing the low-altitude economy, guided by the principles of technology empowerment, scenario-driven innovation, and global expansion. Together, they aim to set a global standard for integrating traditional general aviation with next-generation electric vertical take-off and landing ("eVTOL") aircraft. According to the agreement, Reignwood Aviation Group plans to deploy eVTOLs at scale, prioritizing at its operational hubs in key cultural and tourism destinations. The partnership will begin with consumer-facing applications such as low-altitude tourism and related ground services. Over time, the cooperation will further expand to UAM field to build a three-dimensional urban transportation network. In the long term, the two parties aim to expand to more scenarios and low-altitude services including passenger transportation, aerial logistics, emergency response, etc. AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain autonomous systems, recently revealed Skyfall—a potential future mission concept for next-generation Mars Helicopters developed with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to help pave the way for human landing on Mars through autonomous aerial exploration. The concept is heavily focused on rapidly delivering an affordable, technically mature solution for expanded Mars exploration that would be ready for launch by 2028. Skyfall is designed to deploy six scout helicopters on Mars, where they would explore many of the sites selected by NASA and industry as top candidate landing sites for America's first Martian astronauts. While exploring the region, each helicopter can operate independently, beaming high-resolution surface imaging and sub-surface radar data back to Earth for analysis, helping ensure crewed vehicles make safe landings at areas with maximum amounts of water, ice, and other resources. The data Skyfall collects could also advance the nation's quest to discover whether Mars was ever habitable. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS), a Technology Company in the Defense, National Security and Global Markets, recently announced that it will publish financial results for the second quarter 2025 after the close of market on Thursday, August 7th. Management will discuss the Company's operations and financial results in a conference call beginning at 2:00 p.m. Pacific (5:00 p.m. Eastern). The call will be available at Participants may register for the call using this Online Form. Upon registration, all telephone participants will receive the dial-in number along with a unique PIN that can be used to access the call. For those who cannot access the live broadcast, a replay will be available on Kratos' website. DISCLAIMER: (MNU) is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. MNU is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. MNU and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. MNU'S market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. 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