Month: August 2023

eledyne FLIR Defense has signed a contract with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Norway, to provide its Cerberus XL mobile counter-unmanned aerial system (UAS) as part of a total C-UAS solution for Ukraine’s military. Cerberus XL combines an advanced thermal/visual imaging system with highly sensitive radar sensors onto a mobile platform to rapidly locate and track UAS targets. (Photo: Business Wire).

Kongsberg recently signed an agreement with the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU) to deliver counter-drone systems that will be donated to the war-torn nation. The IFU was established by the UK and international partners to identify and procure critical capabilities and deliver them quickly to Ukraine. Norway and the UK are among many nations that have contributed to the fund.

Cerberus XL combines an advanced thermal/visual imaging system with highly sensitive radar sensors onto a mobile platform to rapidly locate and track UAS targets. Kongsberg then feeds information from Cerberus into its remote weapons station to disable and defeat the threat.

“Teledyne FLIR is proud to partner with Kongsberg in delivering our next-generation Cerberus XL as part of a complete and robust system to protect Ukraine’s warfighters,” said Dr. JihFen Lei, executive vice president and general manager of Teledyne FLIR Defense. “We have a long history of providing state-of-the-art imaging solutions to Kongsberg, and this important joint effort only strengthens our relationship.”

In addition to the Cerberus systems, Teledyne FLIR is supporting Ukraine’s defense with other advanced military technology, including its Black Hornet nano-drone. The Black Hornet 3 is currently being used by Ukrainian forces through donations made by the British and Norwegian governments.

The National Air Traffic Service (NATS) of Britain shut down Monday, August 28 due to technical issues. The shutdown caused major problems for travelers on flights. The issue was resolved but the ramifications continued to reverberate throughout the system in Europe impacting travelers trying to return from abroad as well as those departing.

The agency said their automatic flight plans processing system malfunctioned. This required them manually input data and caused numerous delays and cancellations.

A statement made by video said the system was repaired. “It was fixed earlier on this afternoon. However, it will take some time for flights to return to normal, and we will continue to work with the airlines and the airports to recover the situation,” said NATS operations director Juliet Kennedy in a video on its website. “Our absolute priority is safety and we will be investigating very thoroughly what happened today.”

“The flight planning issue affected the system’s ability to automatically process flight plans, meaning that flight plans had to be processed manually which cannot be done at the same volume, hence the requirement for traffic flow restrictions. Our priority is always to ensure that every flight in the UK remains safe and we are sincerely sorry for the disruption this is causing. Please contact your airline for information on how this may affect your flight,” the statement said.

A note on London Heathrow’s site said, “Schedules remain significantly disrupted. We ask passengers to only travel to the airport if their flight is confirmed as still operating. We are working as hard as we can to minimize the knock-on impacts and assist those who have been affected.”

D-Fend Solutions, the provider of radio frequency (RF), cyber-based, non-kinetic, non-jamming, counter-drone takeover technology, has announced the launch of its new product, EnforceAir2. The next-generation product features the best offerings of the original award-winning EnforceAir technology with enhanced, expanded, and extended C-UAS capabilities. The system now comes with more power, performance, portability and range, all in a more compact and accessible system, the company says.

High-Performance, Purpose-Built C-UAS Cyber-SDR Hardware with Specially Designed PCBs

• Longer-Range Detection and Mitigation Coverage ranges
• Overcomes limitations of traditional commercial off-the-shelf SDR platforms
• Multiple receivers and transmitters; powerful real-time processing; advanced RF technology; compliance with radio regulations
• High-Performance MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) Antennas for improved radiation patterns and compact footprint form-factor implementation suitable for tactical or fixed applications

Man-Portable Backpack Option

The system’s brand-new backpack deployment provides flexible on-the-move full capability protection for tactical and stealth operations in a compact ultra-mobile solution:

• Covert use case suitability with concealed antennas and a rugged, slim, lightweight design
• Long-term power from hot-swap batteries providing long-duration, no downtime continuous operations

Seamless Operational Flexibility (SOF)

EnforceAir2’s multi-use deployment kit enables tactical teams to overcome deployment challenges and achieve total operational flexibility. This includes:

• Quick set-up, locking, and release mechanisms for rapid conversions between deployments
• Short to medium-term stationary deployment options for tactical teams
• Tactical, Vehicular, Stationary, and Man-Portable (backpack) deployments
• Best-in-Class SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) delivering unprecedented power and portability, in a compact, lightweight small form factor, with easy transport, and simple handling and set-up

“EnforceAir2 reinforces D-Fend’s strategic market position as the pioneer and leader in the groundbreaking technology category of RF-Cyber for counter-drone detection and mitigation, focused on control, safety and continuity,” said Yaniv Benbenisti, president and chief product officer of D-Fend Solutions. “As the threat escalates and proliferates, into more varied environments and scenarios, EnforceAir2 now brings unprecedented power, flexibility, and portability to security officials to confront and overcome the growing risks and challenging dangers.”

The death of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was confirmed after the plane he was flying on fell out of the sky in northern Russia near Kuzhenkino, Russia. The mercenary leader had tried to stage a mutiny against the Ukraine War was in fact on a plane that crashed, killing all on board. The Embraer Legacy was registered to one of Prigozhin’s companies.

Genetic testing was required to confirm that the bodies at the crash site were actually the names on the manifest for the flight, one of whom was Prigozhin. Russia’s civil aviation authority said some of the other passengers were members of his inner circle.

No cause has been given for the crash of the business jet, which is shown in footage obtained by BBC, falling from the sky somewhere between Moscow and St. Petersburg, where Prigozhin is from.

The timing of the crash raised questions of a possible Kremlin-directed hit. Prigozhin’s fate has been speculated over since his mutiny attempt against Russian military leadership earlier this summer. He was said to have been in the process of being exiled to Belarus.

Flugenhafen Zurich AG in Switzerland has ordered 60 Bruker DE-tector flex explosives and narcotics trace detectors to support their airport security measures. The installations are planned over a 24-month period in 2024 and 2025 to enhance the screening of passengers at Switzerland’s busiest airport. The next-generation, high-performance Bruker DE-tector flex systems are intended to replace earlier explosive trace detectors (ETD) at Zuerich Airport. First-generation Bruker ETD detectors are already deployed at Geneva Airport in Switzerland.

The Bruker DE-tector flex is a next-generation transportable explosives and narcotics trace detector that meets the requirements of two important security applications in airports. By wiping surfaces with multi-use, disposable swabs, and inserting them into the DE-tector flex, traces of two classes of explosive and narcotics substances can be identified automatically within seconds. The new DE-tector flex system is certified by ECAC (European Civil Aviation Conference) and utilizes a non-radioactive ionization source.

“We are very pleased to have been selected for the next-generation security project at Zuerich Airport to provide innovative technologies and solutions that support the safety and security of the public and the aviation industry,” said Dr. Andreas Kamlowski, president of the Bruker Optics Division.

A walk-through security scanner that can cut airport passenger queues is seeking to raise investment. A series of demonstrations for investors in August is showing how the Sequestim scanner uses space technology to detect hidden objects.

By detecting heat from the human body, which acts as a light bulb, it can easily detect and identify concealed items, even through heavy clothing. Originally developed by researchers at Cardiff University to study the most distant objects in the Universe, the scanner films people as they walk by. 

Unlike the body scanners now in use at airports, no radiation is shone at the passenger, and nobody sees the images, which in any case do not show intimate physical details.

“Walk-through security screening is the Holy Grail for the aviation industry. Passenger numbers have risen incredibly fast post-pandemic,” said Ken Wood, CEO, Sequestim. “The International Civil Aviation Organisation – a UN specialized agency – predicts that by the end of 2023, numbers of travellers on most routes will have grown beyond peak passenger numbers in 2019.

“Following a four-year cycle of investment, refinement and technological advance, Sequestim has a product that will impact the global security market. It is now ready for private equity investment.

“By embracing AI, the scanner can learn to recognize threats. With passenger numbers expected to double in 20 years, Sequestim can cut waiting times and revolutionize the security experience, giving travelers more time to enjoy airport shops and restaurants. At the same time, we will empower security to keep people safe.”

The company, which is 20 per cent owned by Cardiff University, has worked closely with Rapiscan Systems, which manufactures security equipment and systems designed for checkpoints, cargo, vehicle, baggage, parcel, and air cargo security inspection.

“A walkthrough body screening system that can meet the high standards of the European Civil Aviation Conference and the USA’s Transportation Security Administration in real time would revolutionize aviation security,” said Ken Mann, CTO, Rapiscan Systems. “Sequestim’s high resolution imaging and ability to discriminate a range of items and materials shows significant potential for people screening applications.”

Sequestim was incorporated in 2016 as a joint collaboration between Cardiff University and QMC Instruments to commercialize the next generation of imaging technology developed for security screening applications.

Potential investors who would like to view a demonstration of Sequestim during August should contact Ken Wood, CEO: ken.wood@sequestim.com

Remote sensing company Birdstop raised $2.3M in funding to expand its constellation of BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) drones across the nation’s critical infrastructure, grow its AI capabilities, and deliver more data-driven value to customers. The round was led by Lerer Hippeau and included Anorak Ventures, Correlation Ventures, Data Tech Fund, Graph Ventures, Techstars, Timberline Holdings, as well as strategic investors in energy and telecommunications. 

From its NASA-style mission control in California, Birdstop operates a network of drones across the nation akin to a constellation of satellites on the ground. Birdstop’s patented technology uses a suite of risk mitigation measures including a proprietary low altitude airspace deconfliction system to ensure the highest level of safety even when the operator is thousands of miles away. Birdstop has received several of the nation’s top Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approvals to conduct complex BVLOS operations.

Birdstop analyzes and protects power grids, telecom networks, and other national critical infrastructure. In addition to routine monitoring and inspection, Birdstop remote sensing is mobilized on-demand for extreme circumstances from natural disasters to security breaches. Birdstop coverage is already active in several states including Alabama, California, and Texas, providing real-time intelligence to customers managing both public and private sector assets. In addition to infrastructure users, over 20 other industries — from agriculture to construction to first response — can leverage Birdstop coverage to enhance situational awareness and real-time intelligence.

With the opening of a new R&D facility in Alabama, Birdstop has begun scaling production of its systems, starting with its airspace intelligence beacon.

Birdstop was founded by its CEO Keith Miao, former Google data scientist and Earth Institute satellite imagery analyst. Other leaders at Birdstop include Jatin Kolekar, head of software, who brings a decade of experience at the frontier of drone technology, Robert Reynoso, software engineer, who operated a global network of Internet balloons at Google Loon, and Timothy McPhail, principal R&D engineer, who managed cellular infrastructure with drone imaging at American Tower.

“We all use Google Maps, but few of us have seen a physical satellite. At Birdstop, we take the same approach for drones. Our customers receive data and intel but the drones are invisible to them,” says Keith Miao, CEO. “We take away all the complexities of drones, robotics, and FAA regulations, so that users simply dial into their assets in real-time, on-demand.”

“Developments in drone technology and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) regulation over the past decade are allowing Birdstop’s vision to be realized for the first time,” says Andrea Hippeau, partner at Lerer Hippeau. “Birdstop’s ability to generate real-time intel remotely is a huge step forward for the industry.”