Photo credit: Fighterman FFRC | SCMP
Some new footage has emerged of what could quite possibly be China’s triangular 6th-generation fighter jet chasing a two-seat Chengdu J-20S. We can see that it has a tailless design, along with a modified delta wing as well as a central fuselage section that appears to be inspired by the J-20.
British soldiers have successfully tested their drone-killing Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW) for the first time, and it can take down an entire swarm for the cost of a nice meal at a restaurant. Put simply, it utilizes high frequency waves to disrupt or damage critical electronic components inside devices like drones.
Unlike the recent New Jersey drone sightings, BAE Systems’ STRIX isn’t silent, but it did managed to complete its first flight. This Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) uncrewed aerial system is fully autonomous, with a remote pilot providing safety overwatch who was not required to intervene.
Archer Aviation partnered with Anduril to develop a hybrid VTOL military aircraft, and received $430 million in additional equity capital today. Participants in this funding round include Stellantis, United Airlines, and several new institutional investors, including 2PointZero, a subsidiary of UAE’S largest listed entity, IHC.
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, and Rain, a leader in autonomous aerial wildfire containment technology, used an autonomous Black Hawk helicopter to demonstrate how it can be commanded to take off, identify the location as well as size of a small fire, and then accurately drop water to suppress the flames.
The US Space Force has begun using CHAPPIE, a quadruped robot dog designed for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) field operations. Not just any robot, this one has an extensive list of capabilities and customizations, including remote CBRN sensing capabilities using the agency’s current inventory of detectors.
Northrop Grumman’s M230LF Dual Feed Bushmaster Chain Gun boasts two ammunition feed paths for the first time and can easily change rounds at the flip of a switch. It’s currently at Technology Readiness Level 6, enabling the capability to undergo live fire demonstrations in early 2025.
Rheinmetall’s Mission Master XT looks like a miniature tank, and it was designed to take down drones. It utilizes the company’s Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS), which means the vehicle comes equipped with integrated tracking and acquisition capabilities.
