Latest news with #reconnaissance
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Manston Spitfire fuselage display marks efforts of Kent pilots
The fuselage of a Spitfire shot down during World War Two has gone on display at a museum to mark the efforts of Kent pilots who served as "spies in the sky".The Spitfire AA810 was part of the RAF photo reconnaissance unit (PRU), which played a crucial role in obtaining intelligence for Allied commanders to plan military down in 1942 and later pulled from a peat bog in Norway by a group of volunteers, the Spitfire AA810 was later rebuilt on the Isle of fuselage is now on display at the Spitfire and Hurricane Museum in Manston, Kent, as part of a bid to raise awareness of the Spitfire reconnaissance team. Museum manager Robert Westbrook said that while people normally associate the Spitfire's role as a "fighter plane during the Battle of Britain" it actually flew unarmed. He said it could only escape enemy fire due to its "speed and manoeuvrability".The museum is working with the Spitfire AA810 project team to highlight the stories of the pilots from Kent who flew these essential AA810 on display was piloted by a young Scottish apprentice engineer, Flt Lt Alastair "Sandy" Gunn, who was attempting to photograph a German battle bailed out but was captured, interrogated, imprisoned and later executed after the Stalag Luft III "Great Escape".The escape attempt was cemented in popular culture in the 1963 film of the same name, which starred Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough and James Garner. Descendants of Kent pilots who were part of the PRU have told the BBC their Wilson, from Deal, said her father joined the RAF when he was 21 and the family were "very proud" of his contributions to the said: "What he did was very brave but he was modest about it."She felt he should be "recognised and appreciated" for his role during the conflict."Even though each generation has changed - it's important to remember what happened in the past," she said. Guy Leaning, whose father Sqn Ldr Anthony Leaning also served as a "spy in the sky", said the PRU's efforts in the conflict were largely said the intelligence they provided helped the Allies win the war. He added: "I think the PRU isn't well known because they carried out secret operations but I am pleased my father, his friends and my two godfathers are recognised for their efforts."He said his father never talked about those who did not return."He lost a friend but they just carried on fighting," he said. The PRU was formed in September 1939 and during World War Two, the team captured more than 26m images of enemy operations and Hoskins, from West Sussex, is the director of the Spitfire AA810 2018, Mr Hoskins and his team recovered Gunn's aircraft from a peat bog in Norway and rebuilt it on the Isle of Wight. He said it was important to tell the stories of the brave pilots, adding: "More than 1,700 PRU pilots and navigators came from 23 different nationalities."According to the Spitfire AA810 project, 39 of the pilots were from Kent; 17 were killed during the operations while four were either captured or evaded capture.
Globe and Mail
27-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Red Cat Partners with ESAero to Support Manufacturing for Teal's Black Widow™
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCAT) ("Red Cat"), a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations, today announced a partnership with ESAero to provide critical AS9100 manufacturing capacity for the Black Widow sUAS and its subsystems. The AS9100 standard ensures a manufacturer has a quality management system in place to meet the stringent requirements of the aerospace industry. Teal Drones is a wholly owned subsidiary of Red Cat Holdings. The company's Black Widow drone is a small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) designed for short-range reconnaissance (SRR) missions. The system, which was down selected for the U.S. Army's SRR Program of Record contract, provides military operators with improved situational awareness, autonomous capabilities, and rugged performance in contested environments. 'As we ramp up production of the Black Widow to fulfill our SRR contracts and meet growing demand from U.S. and international customers, securing high-quality, aerospace-certified manufacturing capacity is critical,' said Jeff Thompson, Red Cat CEO. 'ESAero's facilities, combined with their deep engineering expertise, make them an ideal partner for Red Cat. This collaboration supports our ability to scale manufacturing, focus on continuous improvement, and deliver mission-ready sUAS platforms to the warfighters that depend on them.' ESAero is committed to supporting Red Cat's mission of delivering high-quality Made-in-America sUAS to its customers and the warfighter. With multiple AS9100-certified manufacturing facilities located in San Luis Obispo, CA, ESAero is well-positioned to enhance the production throughput of Teal's technologies for key customers. ESAero's vertically integrated facilities and robust supply chain are perfectly suited to bolster the production of components and subsystems for Black Widow in a schedule-driven manner. 'We have had a great relationship with Red Cat over the past year and a half supporting various developments, including the Teal 2 and Black Widow,' said Andrew Gibson, President, CEO, and Co-Founder of ESAero. 'During this time, we have made significant investments in our manufacturing capability for producing Group I – III UAS at scale, which we are thrilled to now provide to Red Cat and Teal. We believe this partnership will effectively and efficiently provide Teal the capacity they need to meet the production needs of their customers and the warfighter.' Red Cat and ESAero recognize the importance of strong partnerships within America's industrial base to meet the critical production needs of the warfighter. By combining Teal's core technology with ESAero's proven ability to scale production of advanced systems, Black Widow will be well positioned to be deployed rapidly and reliably. About Red Cat Holdings, Inc. Red Cat (Nasdaq: RCAT) is a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations. Through two wholly owned subsidiaries, Teal Drones and FlightWave Aerospace, Red Cat has developed a leading-edge Family of Systems. This includes the flagship Black Widow™, a small unmanned ISR system that was awarded the U.S. Army's Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) Program of Record contract. The Family of Systems also includes TRICHON™, a fixed wing VTOL for extended endurance and range, and FANG™, the industry's first line of NDAA compliant FPV drones optimized for military operations with precision strike capabilities. Learn more at About Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. (ESAero) ESAero produces Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and advanced aerospace technologies for commercial and military applications. An established leader in the field, ESAero has been demonstrating for decades its core competencies in the design and manufacturing of innovative, reliable, and scalable aircraft systems including power and battery management systems. Based in San Luis Obispo, California, ESAero provides vertically integrated AS9100 certified services in R&D, engineering, design for manufacturing, rapid prototyping, testing, and serialized production expanding in the thousands. With over 130,000 ESAero has the capacity, capability, and facilities to scale and accelerate manufacturing to support its partners and customers. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "contemplate," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "seek," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "target," "aim," "should," "will" "would," or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on Red Cat Holdings, Inc.'s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled "Risk Factors" in the Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2023. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Red Cat Holdings, Inc. undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law. Contact: INVESTORS: E-mail: Investors@ NEWS MEDIA:
Arab News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
That ‘tourist' in the forest might be a Russian spy, Latvia warns
MIDD offered advice on how to identify possible reconnaissance and sabotage also warned that Russian saboteurs might also attempt to incite unrest or assassinate 'socially significant individuals'WARSAW: They might look like lost tourists — unkempt and overloaded with gear — or hikers with military haircuts, survival gear and no clue how to behave in the Latvia's intelligence agency said Wednesday that they might actually be Russian saboteurs and its annual report, Latvia's Defense Intelligence and Security Service, known by Latvian acronym MIDD, offered advice on how to identify possible reconnaissance and sabotage an increasingly relevant concern given regional tensions and a string of arson and other acts of sabotage, which Western governments blame on Russia — allegations that Moscow has repeatedly list of telltale signs is striking: slovenly appearance, mismatched military or sportswear, and a knack for asking locals suspicious questions. According to the security service, such groups may linger near military or critical infrastructure sites, pose as humanitarian workers or stay in remote areas without showing any interest in may carry specialized medical kits, maps or radios — items better suited for clandestine operations than camping Latvian guidance comes as countries across the region, including new NATO members Sweden and Finland, have been issuing booklets with advice on how to survive war or a natural Poland is now preparing its guidelines, while Norway recently published a book with advice on how to survive for one week.'We live in an increasingly turbulent world,' it says. 'Even though in Norway most things generally function as they normally would, we must remain aware that extreme weather, pandemics, accidents, sabotage — and in the worst case acts of war — can impact us.'MIDD, one of Latvia's three security services, alongside the State Security Service and the Constitution Protection Bureau, warned that Russian saboteurs might also attempt to incite unrest or assassinate 'socially significant individuals.'Their activities might also be focused on 'studying the position of the target country's society and inciting unrest directed against the existing government.'The agency cautioned that appearances can deceive.'The Ukrainian experience shows that Russian special services are able to adapt,' the report says. Not all spies will fit the mold, and suspicions must be judged in also warns that if a sabotage group is spotted, leave the James Bond heroics to the professionals.'If you do think you might have spotted a sabotage group on Latvian soil, MIDD does not recommend tackling them yourself,' it said. 'Instead report your suspicions to the State Police, special services, or the nearest armed forces unit.'
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Keesler AFB hurricane hunters gear up for 2025 season
BILOXI, Miss. (WJTV) – With the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season around the corner, hurricane hunters at Keesler Air Force Base want Mississippians to be ready. Each year, 10 aircraft based in Biloxi fly straight into hurricanes, collecting critical data from inside the storm. Crews that make up the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron fly at 10,000 feet and drop instruments into the eye wall. The tools measure wind speed, direction and pressure. The data from the tools will be sent to the National Hurricane Center, where it helps shape the storm's projected path. From there, state and local emergency officials use the data to decide which areas may need to be evacuated. Hurricane season is just a month away. Are you prepared? 'Even though now there are satellites, and there is radar, as it gets closer to land, they cannot replace the direct measurements that we take that then go to the forecasters and into the models to help people on the ground make decisions and evacuate in times,' explained Maj. Amanda Nelson, a Weather Officer for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. Crews said the work is dangerous, but it helps make sure communities get the warning they need. 'We risk our lives. We're out there flying. We want people to listen and pay attention to the information because the technology that's out there today. The ability to broadcast those evacuation calls, I mean, it's second to none. It's at the power of your fingertips now. So, there's no excuse not to have that information,' said Lt. Col. Sean Cross, chief of Public Safety and pilot with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. The hurricane hunters said storm surge and flooding are often the deadliest parts of a hurricane. They urged anyone in a storm's path to take evacuation orders seriously. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Weather Forecast Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV.
