Shield AI announced the official launch of its V-BAT Teams product this week. (Photo: Shield AI)

Having recently completed successful testing and demonstrations of its artificial intelligence piloting software for drone swarms, Shield AI has launched a new product that allows the company’s V-BAT uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) to work in teams to execute missions autonomously in GPS and communications-denied environments.

Shield AI said the V-BAT Teams product includes a modular Nvidia graphics processing unit that runs Hivemind, the company’s AI pilot. The product is located in the modular payload bay of V-BAT.

V-BAT Teams “will be on the battlefield in 2024,” Ryan Tseng, co-founder and CEO of Shield AI, said in a statement.

The AI flight software will first be used with a team of four V-BATs then doubling the number of UAS annually “for the foreseeable future,” Brandon Tseng, the company’s co-founder and president, said in a statement.

“Four V-BATs that work together in electronic warfare environments and as part of a human-machine team are an incredible force multiplier,” Tseng said. “Ultimately, V-BAT Teams, as the team size increases, give squads the combat power of a battalion, or battalions the combat power of a corps or division.”

Shield AI said the autonomous UAS teams allow for affordable, around-the-clock surveillance and targeting of “thousands of enemy assets.”

The V-BATs, at least equipped with the new Teams product, would seem a potential candidate for the Defense Department’s new Replicator Initiative, which seeks to purchase and field thousands of all-domain autonomous attributable systems during the next two years to help counter China’s military build-up.

V-BAT is a program of record. The company has said the UAS are deployed in 14 time zones and operate around the clock. The aircraft take off and land vertically but fly horizontally like fixed-wing aircraft.

In August, Shield AI completed testing of Hivemind aboard three V-BATs under a contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory’s AFWERX innovation unit. The company said at the time that the teaming technology would be ready to deploy in 2024 for use in electronically-contested environments.

In the demonstrations under the Air Force contract, the V-BAT team was used to detect, track, identify, locate, and report missions during simulated wildfires.

Earlier this year, Boeing said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Shield AI to explore leveraging the latter company’s capabilities in artificial intelligence and autonomy for autonomously piloting aircraft to military platforms.

“Integrating Boeing aircraft with our AI pilot would redefine what large aircraft, crewed or uncrewed, could do,” Brandon Tseng, president and co-founder of Shield AI, said in a statement.

This article was originally published by Defense Daily, a sister publication of Avionics International. It has been edited. Read the original version here >>

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easyJet partners with Airbus for a pioneering carbon-removal initiative using Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage technology, marking a significant stride in the aviation industry’s decarbonization efforts. (Photo: Airbus)

easyJet has become the world’s first airline to ink a deal with Airbus for their novel carbon-removal initiative, part of the Airbus Carbon Capture Offer. This initiative harnesses Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS) technology, providing global airlines with carbon removal credits to further their decarbonization aspirations.

DACCS operates by directly extracting CO2 emissions from the air using powerful extraction fans. Following extraction, the CO2 is then securely and indefinitely stored in subterranean reservoirs. Although it’s currently unfeasible to directly negate CO2 emissions resulting from aircraft operations, DACCS offers a solution by equivalently removing the same amount of CO2 from the atmosphere. This approach complements other carbon-reduction strategies, such as the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

In 2022, easyJet committed to a potential pre-purchase of durable and verified carbon removal credits, valid between 2026 and 2029, through Airbus. These credits will be furnished by Airbus’s partner, 1PointFive. The agreement between Airbus and 1PointFive encompasses a pre-purchase of 400,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits over a span of four years.

Airbus has been at the forefront of the aerospace sector’s decarbonization endeavors, with an ambitious goal to launch its inaugural hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft by 2035. Parallel to these efforts, Airbus continually refines its products and services to address climate change. They are also active proponents of several global decarbonization programs to curb the aviation sector’s CO2 footprint.

Key industry-wide targets endorsed by Airbus and other aviation players include:

• Low Carbon Growth: The aviation industry has been proactive in devising and implementing robust strategies to curtail carbon emissions, even as the demand for air travel burgeons.
• Net-Zero Carbon Emission by 2050: Airbus spearheads innovations in aircraft architecture and aerodynamic design to reduce aviation’s environmental impact. Presently, all Airbus aircraft and helicopters can operate with a SAF blend of up to 50%, with a target to achieve 100% SAF compatibility by 2030.

Airbus has undertaken extensive research to expedite the shift to SAF, with trials involving unblended SAF to validate the fuel’s compatibility with aircraft and helicopter engines. Despite SAF fueling over 450,000 commercial flights since 2011, its global production remains a mere 0.03% of total fuel consumption. Reaching the industry’s ambitious goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 would necessitate ramping up SAF production to a staggering 449 billion liters.

To support the growth of the SAF ecosystem, Airbus has actively participated in new fuel pathway certifications, demonstration projects, flights, and political advocacy for over a decade. Their efforts have also birthed advocacy initiatives like the SAF User Group, aiming to expedite blended SAF utilization in helicopters.

Early last year, Airbus announced that it had started to deliver all aircraft produced at its facility in Mobile, Alabama, using sustainable aviation fuel blended with conventional jet fuel. World Energy and Signature Flight Support serve as partners to supply the SAF to Airbus.

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Reliable Robotics is advancing an aircraft automation system for the U.S. Air Force, aiming for continuous autopilot across all operational phases with remote pilot supervision, building upon recent collaborations with NASA and FAA endorsements. (Photo: Business Wire)

Reliable Robotics, a frontrunner in aircraft automation systems, is making headway towards a revolutionary autonomy solution tailored for the U.S. Air Force. With this advancement, the prospect of enabling autopilot throughout all aircraft operational phases—including taxiing, takeoff, and landing—is now within reach. Notably, this autonomy solution emphasizes remote pilot supervision.

This initiative echoes the recent collaboration between Reliable Robotics and NASA, where the two parties conducted flight tests to enhance airspace safety utilizing the FAA’s primary surveillance radar (PSR) data. The same technology was displayed during the Golden Phoenix readiness exercise at Travis Air Force Base, underscoring the company’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of avionic capabilities.

Reliable Robotics’ report under an Air Force-backed contract has identified three pivotal findings:

1. Adaptability of the System: The studied airframes can integrate the necessary system upgrades for remote operation. The modifications, particularly for navigation and communication, align with anticipated military operational settings.
2. Operational and Economic Efficiency: There’s potential for the Air Force to achieve commercial-like efficiency improvements without incurring the costs of manufacturing new aircraft.
3. System Reliability: The Remotely Operated Aircraft System (ROAS) is designed to meet FAA’s stringent certification requirements, even when integrated with larger airframes in the U.S. National Airspace System.

Last year, Reliable Robotics earned the FAA’s approval for its autonomous aircraft navigation system. This recognition, alongside the recently demonstrated automation capabilities on the Cessna 208 Caravan, underscores the firm’s innovation. According to Robert Rose, Reliable Robotics’ CEO, the focus remains on creating a high-integrity navigation system for full automation, extending from taxiing to landing.

As aircraft inch closer to full automation, the concept of remote pilots in ground control centers grows plausible. However, challenges in communication and situational adaptability require redressal before such a transition can be realized.

David O’Brien, Major General (Ret.), and Senior Vice President of Government Solutions at Reliable Robotics, commented that the company is “obsessed with enabling previously unimaginable capabilities for the U.S. Air Force through autonomy.”

He added, “Automating existing inventory at fractional costs will provide commanders unprecedented flexibility and safety in meeting acute operational demands with the smallest deployed human footprint.”

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Teledyne FLIR announced the launch of Prism ISP, an advanced image signal processing software optimized for embedded systems, enhancing imaging quality in thermal and multispectral applications. (Photo: Teledyne FLIR)

This week, Teledyne FLIR, a subsidiary of Teledyne Technologies, unveiled the inaugural version of its cutting-edge Prism ISP—a sophisticated Image Signal Processing software development kit (SDK) tailored for embedded systems. This SDK is designed to optimize performance in both thermal and multispectral realms.

Prism ISP is uniquely optimized to operate on low-power GPUs produced by tech giants Qualcomm and NVIDIA. The software provides an array of image enhancement functionalities, including noise reduction, super-resolution, electronic image stabilization, and more. It offers an integration of infrared (IR) and electro-optical (EO) video fusion, turbulence mitigation, and locally adaptive tone mapping.

The Prism ISP libraries play a pivotal role for integrators across defense, commercial, and industrial sectors. By integrating Prism ISP, developers can significantly elevate imaging quality when capturing AI data at the edge. This not only refines performance but also reduces developmental expenditures and fast-tracks product launch timelines.

For developers and perception engineers, Prism ISP seamlessly interfaces with Teledyne FLIR’s prominent thermal cores, such as Boson, Tau 2, Hadron, and Neutrino, enhancing image processing capabilities. The software’s application on low-power processors also paves the way for improved target recognition and object tracking, catering to multiple applications like ground ISR, air-to-ground operations, and counter-drone interventions.

Teledyne FLIR has also upgraded its Prism AI software. The revamped perception software facilitates more accurate object detection, classification, and tracking in both thermal and visible light spectrums. With an expanded library now inclusive of models trained on the world’s most extensive application-specific thermal image datasets, Prism AI is especially valuable in areas like ground intelligence, air-to-ground operations, and counter-drone initiatives.

Dan Walker, vice president of product management at Teledyne FLIR, commented, “Prism ISP is critical to thermal-based AI system development, offering an unprecedented performance while reducing development costs. Within our end-to-end, computational imaging ecosystem featuring Prism AI, Teledyne FLIR can now support a wider array of projects and custom development that utilize low-power, embedded processors at the edge.”

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L3Harris Technologies, Leidos, and MAG Aerospace are collaborating on the U.S. Army’s HADES program to provide advanced aerial intelligence aircraft for rapid data collection against sophisticated adversaries. (Photo: L3Harris)

L3Harris Technologies, Leidos, and MAG Aerospace are joining forces to lead the advancement of the U.S. Army’s High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program. The collaboration aims to develop a fleet of aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, enhancing the ability to gather reliable intelligence against sophisticated adversaries rapidly.

Jason Lambert, President of ISR at L3Harris, commented on the announcement: “We have decades of missionization experience on business jet platforms and our L3Harris, Leidos and MAG Aerospace team brings several years of investment in building, operating and proving the Army’s concept of operations for modern multi-domain missions. No team is more experienced in producing and delivering Army aerial ISR solutions.”

Tim Freeman, SVP at Leidos, emphasized the synergy in this partnership, saying: “Our proven experience designing and operating the Leidos Special Mission Aircraft for ARTEMIS, together with this team’s capabilities, will help ensure HADES is a success.”

MAG Aerospace’s recent accolade, the ATHENA-R contract, signifies their investment in next-gen multi-domain ISR platforms. Matt Bartlett, President at MAG Aerospace, remarked, “MAG Aerospace has made substantial investments in the U.S. Army’s next generation, multi-domain ISR platforms as evident by our recent award of the ATHENA-R contract, and we look forward to using our knowledge and experience to help deliver the HADES Program of Record. HADES will provide deep sensing solutions as a key enabler to the Army’s Long-Range Precision Fires priority, and we offer the Army the most experienced team to integrate, test, validate, operate and deliver the next generation surveillance platforms.”

The experience of the L3Harris-led HADES team in the ISR business jet arena is extensive. Notably, L3Harris and Leidos have played significant roles in the Army’s Airborne Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare System and the Airborne Reconnaissance Targeting and Exploitation Multi-Mission Intelligence System programs, respectively. Additionally, MAG Aerospace, in partnership with L3Harris, is at the forefront of the ATHENA-R program, delivering enhanced ISR aircraft.

L3Harris’ current involvement in the Army’s Multi-Domain Sensing System program’s Phase 2 is particularly noteworthy. They’re pioneering the development and integration of electronic and communication intelligence sensors for the HADES platform. This system, to be integrated on the Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft, promises enhanced capability, survivability, and coverage, pivotal for U.S. combat commands.

In 2021, the Army announced its selection of L3Harris and Raytheon Technologies for a prototype program within the service’s HADES intelligence-gathering aircraft program.

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Curtiss-Wright was awarded a five-year, $34 million firm-fixed-price IDIQ contract by the Naval Surface Warfare Center to provide Modular Open Systems Approach-based airborne data recorder technology. (Photo: Curtiss-Wright)

Curtiss-Wright has secured a five-year, $34 million firm-fixed-price indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract with the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC). The contract encompasses providing Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) based airborne data recorder technology. This technology is earmarked for deployment on both U.S. and Australian manned and unmanned maritime aircraft.

A highlight of this agreement is the provision of Keyed Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Airborne Recorder (K-BAR) Network Attached Storage (NAS) solutions. This will include a comprehensive range of equipment such as chassis, docking stations, removable storage modules, and lab cable sets. Drawing from its stature as a premier supplier of MOSA-based encrypted, solid-state network-attached storage subsystems, Curtiss-Wright’s commitment is clear: to deliver top-tier, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) open architecture K-BAR NAS equipment. Such equipment will bolster the capabilities of the MQ-4C Triton aircraft and the forthcoming PMA-290 aircraft models.

This sole source contract signifies a deeper collaborative thrust. It promises to extend training and dedicated engineering services in support of the K-BAR equipment. This endeavor will be undertaken by the Defense Solutions division of Curtiss-Wright, which operates under its Defense Electronics segment.

Lynn M. Bamford, Chair and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corporation, remarked, “We are pleased to have been selected by the Naval Surface Warfare Center to provide our rugged airborne network attached storage technology and support services for Naval manned and unmanned aircraft programs. This award reflects our commitment to provide the most advanced and reliable open architecture data storage systems in support of our warfighters.”

Rooted in a lineage tracing back to aviation pioneers Glenn Curtiss and the Wright brothers, Curtiss-Wright is a center of innovation in the aerospace and defense sector. Today, with a workforce of approximately 8,400 highly skilled professionals, the corporation continues to offer engineered solutions that address the needs of not only the aviation industry but also commercial power, process, and industrial sectors.

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Modernization of the cockpit and critical mission systems is included with the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye with DSSC 6. (Photo: Northrop Grumman)

Northrop Grumman will evolve the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye cockpit and computing architecture with Delta System Software Configuration 6 (DSSC 6) as part of a new contract awarded by the U.S. Navy, the company announced this week. 

Variants of the E-2 are utilized by air forces around the globe. The platform is used for navigational assistance, communications, and guidance with search and rescue operations. The E-2D in particular provides surveillance for fleet protection in addition to dominant and continuous interoperable command and control.

“Northrop Grumman has a long partnership with the U.S. Navy on the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye program to ensure with this fleet modernization that we continue to outpace evolving threats into the 2040s and beyond, with this proven airborne battle management command and control aircraft,” commented Janice Zilch, vice president, multi-domain command and control programs.

Modernization of DSSC 6 will incorporate both Hawkeye Cockpit Technology Refresh and Theater Combat ID, according to Northrop Grumman. Its new open mission systems architecture will allow new capabilities to be integrated rapidly.

The “entire Navy fleet will be retrofitted with updated cockpit, navigation technologies and mission systems, beginning in 2029 and throughout the 2030s,” the company stated.

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United Airlines has ordered 50 aircraft from Boeing and 60 aircraft from Airbus. (Photos: Boeing, Airbus, United)

Boeing and United Airlines announced on Tuesday that the airline is exercising options to order fifty 787-9 Dreamliners. Also on Tuesday, Airbus shared that United placed an order for 60 more A321neo aircraft.

In addition to ordering 50 more airplanes from Boeing, United also secured an additional 50 options. CEO Scott Kirby remarked, “This order takes our already successful United Next plan into the next decade and beyond.”

“I’m convinced our strategy is the right one as we continue to add new, larger aircraft to take full advantage of our growing flying opportunities both internationally and domestically,” he added.

The airline now has the largest order book for Dreamliners—150 firm orders—and could become the world’s largest operator of 787s.

United received its first 787-9 Dreamliner in 2014 as the aircraft’s launch customer in North America. The airline was also the launch customer for the 787-8 variant.

According to Boeing, “The enhanced efficiency and performance of the 787 reduces fuel use and emissions by up to 25% compared with the airplanes it replaces, depending on the configuration. The 787-9 has a globe-spanning range that allows carriers to fly up to 7,565 nautical miles while seating up to 296 passengers.”

This week’s order of 60 Airbus A321neo aircraft also supports United’s “United Next” program to bring new planes into its fleet. The airline has previously placed orders for 50 A321XLR and 70 A321neo aircraft.

Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International, commented, “Upon introduction of the A321neo into its fleet in the coming weeks, United will take full benefit of Airbus’ Airspace cabin, providing an exceptional customer and cabin crew experience completely in phase with the United Next initiative. With regard to operations, the A321neo’s fuel efficiency, lower carbon footprint and lower maintenance and operating costs will be a game changer.”

According to Airbus, “The A321neo provides superior environmental performance featuring the lowest CO₂ emissions per seat in its class. By incorporating new generation engines and Sharklets, the A321neo brings a 50% noise reduction and more than 20% fuel savings and CO₂ reduction compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft.”

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Garmin announced that it will be providing the Garmin G3000 integrated flight deck to BETA Technologies. (Photos: BETA)

This week, Garmin announced that it will be providing the Garmin G3000 integrated flight deck to BETA Technologies. BETA will be incorporating the G3000 into its electric fixed-wing aircraft, the CX300, as well as its A250 eVTOL aircraft. 

The eVTOL’s entry into service is planned for 2026, and the fixed-wing CX300 may enter into service in 2025. In March, BETA announced plans to certify its fixed-wing electric aircraft alongside its eVTOL.

Phil Straub, Garmin Executive Vice President & Managing Director of Aviation, remarked, “We’ve been strategically working with BETA for several years in their effort towards bringing a sustainable aviation solution to the market. It’s an honor to have our integrated flight deck chosen for the revolutionary A250 and CX300 aircraft, and we are thrilled to be part of BETA’s mission to grow the electric aviation market.” 

According to the announcement from Garmin, the flexible architecture of the G3000 flight deck “enables BETA to leverage the latest in flight deck technologies while seamlessly integrating BETA’s innovative fly-by-wire system and human-machine interface designs for electric propulsion and novel operations in an eVTOL aircraft.”

On Monday, BETA opened its production facility at the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport. It’s an 188,500-square-foot facility that is dedicated to the manufacturing and assembly of BETA’s electric aircraft.

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Boeing announced this week that it selected RTX to collaborate on the X-66A flight demonstrator. (Photo: Boeing)

NASA’s Sustainable Flight National Partnership focuses on technological developments to reduce commercial aviation’s CO2 emissions. The partnership includes the X-66A Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project.

“Boeing’s X-66A program is focused on developing the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) concept, which could enable significant improvements in fuel efficiency and reduced emissions for next-generation single-aisle aircraft,” according to the release from RTX.

Boeing announced this week that it selected RTX to collaborate on the X-66A flight demonstrator. Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace—two of RTX’s business units—will provide engines, nacelles, and engine accessories, and will support ground and flight testing. The testing is expected to kick off in 2028.

Geoff Hunt, SVP of Engineering & Technology at Pratt & Whitney, commented, “We’ll work with Boeing to apply GTF engines to the X-66A and help demonstrate the potential of its pioneering truss-braced wing design.”

The GTF engine, which entered into service in 2016, can improve fuel efficiency by as much as 20%. The engines also reduce noise emissions significantly.

(Photo: Pratt & Whitney)

The nacelles that Collins will provide to support the X-66A program aid in controlling airflow, reducing noise, safeguarding the engine, and facilitating thrust reversal. Additionally, Collins provides the air turbine starters, electronic controls, heat exchangers, and other control system components for Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engines.

Other sustainable aviation technologies that RTX is working on include “engine readiness for unblended 100% SAF, hybrid-electric propulsion, and hydrogen fuel,” according to the company.

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