- Countermeasures
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- Drones Behaving Badly
Countermeasures is a weekly newsletter from High Point Aerotechnologies focused on the businesses and technologies shaping innovation across the counter uncrewed autonomous systems (C-UAS) space. I have added you to this note because we've talked about C-UAS and we hope to continue to find ways to collaborate. While we believe that only (unwanted) drones are intrusive, if this briefing misses the mark, we won't be offended if you choose to unsubscribe.
Highlights of the Week:
Drone within 8-ft of collision with Delta flight on approach at Orlando Airport
BlueHalo leverages Citadel acquisition to land $24M DOD C-UAS contract
AeroVironment acquires Planck AeroSystems, adds UAS navigation, autonomy tech
D-Fend partners with Syzygy Integration, adds C-UAS sensor integration capabilities
C-UAS Webinar on 23 August to feature Director, DOD Joint C-UAS Office
New Contract Notices for DOD, City of Anaheim C-UAS needs
Hard Landing: Drone Near Miss within 8ft During Delta Flight Landing
Near Miss in the Skies Above Orlando Airport
August 4, 2022: Seconds after a Southwest Airlines pilot warned of an unauthorized drone operating at 2,000ft, a Delta Airlines pilot on final approach to Orlando International Airport reported a near-miss collision as the drone passed within 8ft of the plane's cockpit. Authorities were unable to locate either the drone or pilot, and Orlando International Airport does not have a drone detection platform of record. Audio of the conversation between Air Traffic Control and the pilots is included below:
In the News: Drones Behaving Badly
FBI announces third nationwide arrest for drone smuggling in federal prisons
Unauthorized drone seized after flying over UK Commonwealth Games crowds
NYPD investigating following detection of drone during Yankees-Red Sox game
Gun smugglers caught using large drones to smuggle 11 guns into Canada
Two arrested after using drone to smuggle contraband into Georgia prison
Ambulance flight delayed after drone observed flying 50m from wing
FBI arrests man caught using drone to drop contraband into federal jail
Market News
AeroVironment adds advanced UAS navigation management in Planck acquisition
BlueHalo awarded $24M Department of Defense contract to procure multiple Titan C-UAS systems, selection as a DOD Program of Record. Titan is a AI/ML-powered, optionally manned RF-based Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) solution originally developed by Citadel Defense, acquired by BlueHalo in 2021.
AeroVironment announced the acquisition of Planck Aerosystems, a provider of advanced UAS navigation solutions. Planck’s products include embedded technologies and fully integrated UAS. While terms of the sale were not announced, AeroVironment has won $30M in DOD UAS-related contracts in the past 10 months.
DroneShield announced receipt and fulfillment of a follow-on order by a U.S. government agency for the company's portable and handheld C-UAS solutions. Neither order amount nor customer were revealed.
DeTect, Inc confirmed installation of dual-function bird and C-UAS radar solution. Delivery and installation of the Merlin BDR-DDR system occurred at Beale AFB and includes a radar-directed electro-optic infrared (EOIR) camera system and DroneWatcherRF-DR radiofrequency drone detection and interdiction capabilities. DeTect claims their TRUE3D radar scans and updates target data at a range exceeding 5km. Contract Info | FA468621P0028 | USAF Air Combat Command | 5yr Sole Source
D-Fend Solutions announces technical partnership with Syzygy Integration to add sensor integrator solution. The agreement integrates D-Fend's EnforceAir C-UAS with Syzygy's SNAP (Sensor Network Access Point) to enable EnforceAir to leverage additional inputs from camera systems, radars, and other sensor technologies.
Upcoming Community Events of Interest
August 23 | 1200-1300 EST | Webinar | USA C-UAS Efforts: A Discussion with DOD's Director of the Joint C-UAS Office
Maj. Gen. Sean Gainey (USA), Director of the Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office and Director of Fires in the office of the Deputy Army Chief of Staff for Operations, will speak at noon Eastern Aug. 23. Register Here.
Active Contract Notices
Small UAS Detection System | City of Anaheim, California | Due: 09/07/2022
Details: The City of Anaheim, Police Department is requesting proposals from experienced, responsible, and qualified firms to provide a system to detect small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) within Orange County, California.
Next Generation Identification and Awareness Initiative | DOD | Due: 04/01/2025
DOD seeks multiple solutions for C-UAS, including the creation of denied/degraded GPS, anti-RF C2 link jamming capabilities, and integration on group 1 and/or group 2 UAS.