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29 September 2022
As most current delivery drones can't manage more than a few pounds of payload, don't expect your new washer to be delivered by UAV any time soon.
Well, unless the <a href="https://www.sabrewingaircraft.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sabrewing</a> Rhaegal RG-1 is on the job.&nbsp;
A pre-production <a href="https://www.sabrewingaircraft.com/cargo-uav/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rhaegal</a> recently trounced the previous world record for a dead lift by a vertical takeoff drone by lifting 829 pounds of payload.
But there's even better news.&nbsp;
When the aircraft takes off conventionally&mdash;meaning not vertically, such as a helicopter&mdash;it can reportedly carry more than two tons of cargo up to an altitude of 22,000 feet, and outrace those Amazon vans at a speed of 230 mph.
&ldquo;This is only a fraction of what this aircraft can carry,&rdquo; said Sabrewing CEO Ed De Reyes. &ldquo;But it proves we&rsquo;re able to lift more cargo on our maiden flight than any previous cargo UAV that has ever flown.&rdquo;
Based on a helicopter engine developed by Safran&mdash;which uses a turbine-based motor called the Ariel 2E&mdash;Rhaegal can use 50-percent sustainable, eedstock-based aviation fuel, and its electric generator powers electric motors in four ducted fans. Power comes via a turbo-electric drivetrain systen that uses electric generators to convert mechanical energy from a gas- or steam-powered turbine into electric energy&mdash;a method used by some warships and merchant ships.
By making improvements to the blades, ducts, and shape of the aircraft&rsquo;s fans, Sabrewing was able to increase thrust by 30 percent&mdash;which was enough of an improvement to shatter the payload record.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re able to generate more propulsive energy&mdash;and much more efficiently&mdash;with a turbo-electric drivetrain and ducted fans than with batteries or directly driven by the turbine,&rdquo; says Sabrewing's chief technology officer Oliver Garrow. &ldquo;The Safran motor is currently cleared to use 50-percent sustainable aviation fuel, and we expect to be one of the first aircraft manufacturers to use hydrogen ,after Safran completes testing on their motor in the next couple of years.&rdquo;
Sabrewing has had some help in creating the Rhaegal. Leonardo Aerospace contributed to the avionics, Toray provided composite materials, Garmin assisted with navigation, Attollo Engineering worked on Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors, remote positioning technology from Spider Tracks, and software developed by California State University Channel Islands and three U.S. universities.
<h5>WATCH!</h5>
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Sabrewing Rhaegal Smashes Payload Record

Trending News

29 September 2022
While Hurricane Ian has weakened after devastating parts of Florida&mdash;destroying homes and other property and leaving more than 2.6 million residents and businesses without electricity&mdash;current reports show the storm should hit South Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane on Friday.
Ian has become one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the United States.
As drone pilots have been documenting the damage, here is a gallery of video of video footage. It's hard to watch, of course, but much appreciation to the brave pilots who are assisting with news updates and data for rescue efforts.
<h5 class="Component-root-0-2-63 p Component-p-0-2-54">NBC News</h5>
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<h5 class="Component-root-0-2-63 p Component-p-0-2-54">CBS Miami</h5>
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<h5>The Guardian UK</h5>
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<h5>The Independent</h5>
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<h5>M Live</h5>
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Drones Reporting on Hurricane Ian Destruction

Above: Adam Kyle and student Jacob Heimo check final mission parameters before launching a practice flight of the SenseFly eBeeX.
28 September 2022&nbsp;
As it moves to lead the country in the study of drone use in agriculture, <a href="https://www.warren.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Warren County Community College</a> is developing the curriculum and technology to offer students career training in the fast-growing field &ndash; and farmers a resource that could dramatically change their practices.
The college, a national leader in education and training about the design, operation, and maintenance of drones, is now developing the curriculum for the precision agriculture program and acquiring and outfitting equipment to offer students specific skills in the field. Adam Kyle, a drone pilot with multiple certifications and recent graduate in drone piloting from the top aeronautics university in the country, has come on board at Warren to build the new program.
Students will be able to access the unique training in the fall of 2023. Kyle is working with leaders in agriculture and experts in the specific use of drones in farming to develop course parameters and make certain students have access to the latest equipment.
&ldquo;The use of drones in agriculture is very new, and for me it is exciting and rewarding to be able to work with the experts at Warren to build a program that will train pilots skilled in this use of autonomous systems,&rdquo; says Kyle. &ldquo;At the same time, we&rsquo;ll be exploring new ways to use drones in agriculture and helping farmers understand their benefits and how to put them to use.&rdquo;
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.gminsights.com/pressrelease/agricultural-drones-market" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Market Insights</a>&nbsp; (GMI) forecasted in 2021 that the <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/drone-industry-analysis-market-trends-growth-forecasts-2017-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drone market</a>&nbsp; in agriculture would exceed $1 billion that year and ship 200,000 units annually by 2024, attributing the growth to awareness about the capabilities of drones and discovery of a broader spectrum of uses in agriculture.
Dronefly, meanwhile, has <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.dronefly.com/drones-in-the-field-infographic-agriculture-drones" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that about a third of farmers are using drones and another third say they plan to.
&ldquo;The agricultural drone market is emerging as a profitable industry under the commercial sector,&rdquo; reports GMI. &ldquo;These products help farmers by providing soil and crop data and by taking pictures to assist in crop management, while adding components such as navigation systems with GPS which improve positioning accuracy.&rdquo;
It notes that drones equipped with infrared, hyperspectral, and multispectral cameras &ldquo;support the decision-making process&rdquo; on farms. Images captured by multispectral cameras serve as an effective tool for plant health and soil analysis along with identification of weeds, pests, and pesticide needs. They can also help determine spacing issues, and allow for a quick visual inspection of crops, fencing, herds, and other farm assets.
It noted that fixed wing agricultural drones have accounted for about 70% of the revenue because they can carry heavy payloads and cover long distances. Improved imaging will develop, the report notes, and improved imaging software will increasingly improve.
&ldquo;The crop scouting applications are forecast to have significant growth prospects owing to utilization in reducing the fertilizer and pesticide wastage, further increasing the crop yield,&rdquo; report states.
Agrifarming magazine, like many other publications covering the industry, sees steady growth in the use of drones in the sector and recently <a href="https://www.agrifarming.in/category/agriculture-farming">described</a> their various uses and listed the drones best suited for use in agriculture.
Efficiency on the farm is key, and &nbsp;DroneFly&nbsp;<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.dronefly.com/pages/drones-in-the-field-infographic-agriculture-drones" target="_blank" rel="noopener">estimates</a> that drones can spray fertilizer, for example, 40 to 60 times faster than doing so by hand.
Students in the new Warren program might include those already working in agriculture who wish to improve their practices, Kyle said, or drone piloting students interested in developing or working for services that would contract with farms.
Kyle says he wants students to understand how drones can be used in agriculture to quickly check on property without the need for trips into the field. But they also can potentially check on plant and soil health with infrared equipment, evaluate moisture levels and even apply needed chemicals.
&ldquo;With the application of nutrients or herbicides, for instance, they might be particularly useful in a small plot of land or an area where trees or other obstructions make traditional crop dusting uneconomical or unsafe," says Kyle. "We actually are just beginning to discover all the ways they can be used in farming.&rdquo;
Kyle got involved with drones as a teen and decided to pursue a career in drone piloting through Embry&ndash;Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL. He became interested in their use in a variety of fields, including agriculture.
During a conference for Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International last year, he met Warren President Will Austin, and began discussing the prospects of establishing a precision agriculture program at the college.
&ldquo;We often work with local farmers, and we make sure our students are exposed to the ways that drones can be used to improve crop yield and make farmers work easier and more efficient,&rdquo; says Austin. "However, we&rsquo;ve really wanted to expand our knowledge base about that work, and train students in the field. I think precision farming with uncrewed vehicles is going to grow incredibly fast, and I&rsquo;d like Warren students to be in a position to fill the jobs and opportunities that will develop.&rdquo;
Austin, a UAS pilot himself, has made the use of the aircraft in agriculture a priority. He is completing an additional degree in Space Operations at Embry-Riddle, where he is focused on agriculture-based satellites and the required systems to download raw digital data to process into usable orthomosaic formats for farmers.
&ldquo;We will need to integrate satellites into our program," says Austin, "as this will provide us with the macro level data to assess the impacts of climate change on the current planting and harvesting schedules, where drones can provide us micro-level actionable data so we can narrow our focus.&rdquo;
Austin says space, drones, artificial intelligence, and agriculture research united appear to represent essential scientific inquiry to produce enough food locally as the worldwide economic supply systems reduce imports to the United States.
&ldquo;Our team at Warren sees this as their secondary mission now&mdash;added to educating the workforce of tomorrow.&rdquo;
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/1bqEFQaVVkE3QuNqFVIu3oJiQma9gilFTypemCFY.jpg" alt="" width="679" height="510" />
Adam Kyle (right) discusses multispectral photography and vegetation indices processing with second year agriculture student Tom Knibbs.
Warren&rsquo;s rapidly expanding drone education program will take a huge leap this fall with two new facilities and a broader range of courses. Austin expects enrollment in the program to quadruple over the next few years, and the colleges offerings in the field to grow accordingly.
He recently announced the hiring of Sai Sankar an expert in drone and robotics education and development, to help guide its rapidly expanding programs in those fields.
Sankar has been named Teaching Administrator for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics at the college, where he will direct the broad expansion of its robotics and drone programs, housed in two new facilities opening this fall &ndash; a new building and a renovated facility that has been the center for the program.
Kyle and Sankar will collaborate on the development of the new program, including acquisition of the software that allows the uncrewed equipment to evaluate crops and equipment that would allow for spraying. Kyle says his priority is acquiring the proper equipment and fitting it to the agriculture-related tasks.
He is particularly interested in developing a program that would quickly allow for a indexed assessment of crops or soil that can determine if they are falling within a suitable range. He&rsquo;s been working with farmers to better understand their needs and exploring drone use on farms where it has been successful.
&ldquo;It is clear that drones can make farming more productive &ndash; including on smaller farms that may be struggling,&rdquo; says Kyle. &ldquo;When I talk to people in agriculture about ways they can be used, they are very excited about the possibilities. It will be really rewarding to work with people in the drone arena, experts in the agriculture and interested students as we build this program.
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WarrenUAS develops new program for agricultural drone use

28 September 2022
By&nbsp;Wang Qi
After entering the 21st century, new energy represented by hydrogen energy, with its advantages of high efficiency, no pollution and zero emission, has been increasingly valued by countries all over the world.
As a main form of hydrogen energy application, hydrogen fuel cells are two to three times higher than traditional lithium batteries in terms of energy density, and are superior to traditional lithium batteries in terms of ease of use and safety, and will not produce secondary pollution. Compared with traditional internal combustion engine power, hydrogen fuel cells are pollution-free, zero-emission, and low-vibration, and are one of the best choices for long-endurance drones.
In recent years, domestic and foreign companies have successively launched fixed-wing UAVs and multi-rotor UAVs with hydrogen fuel cells as the main energy source, but the research and development of hydrogen-energy vertical take-off and landing fixed-wing UAVs has always been blank.
On May 30, 2019, <a href="https://www.jouav.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JOUAV</a> signed an agreement with Doosan Innovation. JOUAV Co., Ltd. was responsible for the hydrogen-powered UAV platform system, and Doosan was responsible for the hydrogen-powered UAV fuel cell system. The first flight of the hydrogen-powered technology demonstrator was achieved that year.
The JOUAV CW (DJ)-25H hydrogen-powered VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) jointly developed by JOUAV and Doosan Innovation has the characteristics of zero emissions, no noise, low vibration, and low maintenance costs.
<h5>JOUAV CW (DJ)-25H Specs</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/EO99nNQ9kuVDgF1nJCJDLGP9munE6Uint91r4ouB.png" alt="" width="695" height="390" />
Wingspan：14.4 feet
Fuselage Length：6.8 feet
Maximum Flight Time：5.5 hours
Maximum Payload：8.8 lbs.
<h5>About JOUAV</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/ifAmNb8bXJsQg04R6dEDpInWpTAZsMNyuFBJV2fc.png" alt="" width="706" height="395" />
JOUAV was established in April 2010 and based in Chengdu, China. In 2015, CW-20 was released, it is the first industrial-grade VTOL fixed wing UAV in China. On February 2021, JOUAV became the first listed company in China stock whose main business is UAV and related technology. Current models comprise CW-007, CW-15, CW-25E, CW-40 and CW-100, with the weight covering 6.8~105 kg and endurance covering 1~10 hours.
JOUAV has been constantly enriching CW series drones are widely used in surveying and mapping, pipeline power inspection, security monitoring, emergency and other fields. The hydrogen-powered vertical take-off and landing fixed-wing UAV launched this time is an ice-breaking attempt by JOUAV in continuous innovation, high-efficiency, green energy and sustainable development.
Promoting green and low-carbon development with clean energy is the fundamental path for mankind to cope with global climate change, and it is also the key to sustainable development and building a better life.
The application of hydrogen energy is an effective way to achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. CW-25H will further promote the green development of industrial drones with its leading fuel cell system and excellent flight performance.
<h5>WATCH!</h5>
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<h5>Meet the Author</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/N7LcFwtQvCc7Afqst8uKeFwVsrJXQ5DaYjbJsWit.png" alt="" width="143" height="186" />
Wang Qi is the market director of JOUAV with extensive experience in VTOL UAV global market development. Qi is committed to the development of high-tech products and UAVs, VTOL UAV in emergency response and mapping GIS industries.

Evolving Tech: JOUAV DJ25 is World's First Hydrogen VTOL Drone

26 September 2022
The Droning Company's roving reporter Chris Fravel met with <a href="https://www.autelrobotics.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Autel Robotics</a>&nbsp;Global Vice President of Technology &amp; Training Jon McBride at the 2022 Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas, September 6-8, to discuss Autel's Dragonfish line.
"We discussed all manner of applications for this impressive piece of enterprise drone technology including search and rescue, long range data collection, intelligent flight systems, flight application interface, after-sale training and support, and more," reported Fravel. "The Dragonfish Series' unique tilt-rotor design simplifies operation while maximizing performance and efficiency. McBride and his team pride themselves on not only providing drone technology that is trusted and reliable, but also service after the sale that ensures Dragonfish owners understand how to safely and effectively operate their drone as well as how to process the data collected by it."
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/dNLhsnLSb2LECTLd4zIyxClyQLQhWQIuWUc6EmnZ.png" alt="" width="696" height="232" />
The Dragonfish series includes three models: the Dragonfish Lite, Dragonfish Standard, and Dragonfish Pro. With a flight time of 81 minutes, 126 minutes, and 158 minutes, respectively, while carrying a payload, each model can greatly improve work efficiency. In addition, the Dragonfish is mission ready right out of the box and includes powerful AI tracking capabilities.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/2LBUdHvslDgUL7RQG4yeVatKDsW5kdxtt3ASXw1h.png" alt="" width="699" height="233" />
<h5>WATCH!</h5>
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UAV Expo Product Spotlight: Autel Dragonfish Series

26 September 2022
Following a detailed six-month audit of its drone operations, governance, and safety standards, the Verizon corporate drone program has become the first recipient of the International Standards for Business Aircraft Operations (<a href="https://ibac.org/is-bao" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener follow" data-wpel-link="external">IS-BAO</a>) registration for best practices.
The independent audit validates safety, administration, and operating standards, and also paves the way for expansion of drone operations, such as beyond visual line of sight flights. Verizon is currently one of only two U.S. drone operators to receive an IS-BAO registration.
&ldquo;This achievement demonstrates that Verizon is truly operating above and beyond the current legal standards for commercial drone operations, and that we are deploying drones to the same high standards as traditional commercial aviation,&rdquo; says Dustin Schocken, head of Verizon Drone Use and Compliance (VZDUC). &ldquo;These results validate Verizon&rsquo;s advanced Safety Management System and the entire operating ecosystem in which we fly drones to support our business and our customers.&rdquo;
Since the inception of Verizon's drone program in 2017, more than 17,000 flights totaling over 4,000 flight hours have been launched. The drones are constantly in the air to perform network testing and performance monitoring. They collect images and use software to develop 3D models of network&nbsp; infrastructure, enabling quick and efficient inspection and upgrades. The drones also increase job safety, as engineers don't have to climb towers. Instead, they can use drones to do their inspection duties. In addition, Verizon uses drones to swiftly restore network access to customers during natural disasters.
&ldquo;Congratulations to Verizon Aviation RPAS for achieving IS-BAO and for their commitment to safety," says S-BAO Programme Director Andrew Karas. "The Verizon team worked hard for this accomplishment and provided valuable input to IBAC for RPAS safety standards development similar to our manned operator standards, and reflect efforts made for the industry, and by the industry.&rdquo;
The purpose of the IS-BAO is to forge standardized, safe, and highly professional aircraft operations. The voluntary IS-BAO safety standard is administered by the International Business Aviation Council, a global business aviation advocacy group.&nbsp;

Verizon corporate drone program receives first IS-BAO registration

23 September 2022
The Droning Company's resident "Drone Geek," <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxOTa4LLKjx-qMsF0V9ong" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Fravel,</a> interviews Will Hudler and Brett Kanda of <a href="https://brincdrones.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BRINC Drones</a> at the 2022 Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas, Sept 6-8, 2022.
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Video Interview: Chris Fravel at BRINC Drones

23 September 2022
With more than a few tech evangelists predicting eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle) air taxis will be transporting fares for test flights by 2024&mdash;and that the industry could be in full swing by 2030&mdash;massive investments in aircraft and infrastructure presage an urban air mobility (UAM) system built around clean-energy aircraft. Companies such as United Airlines have already dropped multi-millions to assemble eVTOL fleets that promise to revolutionize air travel, eradicate carbon emissions, and create a green future for the airline industry.
But forward-looking aviation companies aren't limited to developing eVTOLs. Australia's <a href="https://skyportz.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Skyportz</a>, for example, seeks to build a "destination network" of vertiports in the country to move both people and freight. The first Australian veriport design was debuted on August 30, and is set for construction at Caribbean Park in Melbourne&mdash;the fastest-growing commerce precinct outside of the city's central business district.
&ldquo;With the development of a vertiport in a business park, we are breaking the nexus between aviation and airports," says Skyportz CEO Clem Newton-Brown. "For this industry to succeed, it needs to have policy makers pushing the envelope to support new mini airports in locations people want to go. Community support is going to be the key to the development of these services. The community is going to have to see the benefits. Electric air taxis will be a new era in aviation where clean, green, and quiet small aircraft can take people to places they want to go&mdash;be it work or leisure. The Caribbean Park vertiport is the first in a network of sites we will establish in advance of [eVTOL] aircraft becoming widely operational.&rdquo;
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/pGBjNCTrHYaX4KKrOJrhh1VhUEiYrT4Tj2rNPX3H.jpg" alt="" width="263" height="370" />
Clem Newton-Brown
The Caribbean Park vertiport is being designed by the Sydney, Australia architecture firm, <a href="http://www.contrerasearl.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contreras Earl</a>.
"We are proud to have designed Australia&rsquo;s first vertiport&mdash;a beautiful, sculptural, ground-breaking terminal that contributes to the evolution of architecture and to the future of our communities and cities," says Rafael Contreras, Director, Contreras Earl Architecture. "We founded our firm to design original, inventive buildings like Skyportz, as we believe architecture and technology should evolve together. Using advanced technology, we developed an efficient modular design made with recyclable aluminum. The system is lightweight, prefabricated, and assembled on site, so that it can be adapted and configured for a broad range of settings and scaled for mass production."
The component-structured vertiports&mdash;which Contreras Earl designed with site-specific input from aviation consultants <a href="https://www.arup.com/expertise/services/infrastructure/airport-planning" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arup</a> and <a href="https://to70.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">To70 Aviation</a>&mdash;can be packed into shipping containers and delivered anywhere in the world. <a href="https://www.beta.team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beta Technologies</a> is set to provide battery-charging stations. For Caribbean Park, the plan is to include three active landing pads and multiple charging bays. The vertiports can be retrofitted into structures such as multi-level car parks and existing heliports, and can be utilized as bars, cafes, or event spaces until the time is right to activate the sites as eVTOL destinations.
&ldquo;Skyportz is offering the property industry a chance to get on the front foot and install these lightweight, affordable vertiports in advance of being able to actually use them," says Newton-Brown, who acknowledges that countries have not yet adopted regulations and standards for these new vertiports. "But there is no point developing air taxis and other eVTOL services if the aircraft can't land in new locations."
On September 14, Skyportz has opened its vertiport database to accept registrations across the globe for potential sites.
<h5>WATCH!</h5>
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Evolving Tech: Skyportz Preps for eVTOL Future

22 September 2022
So much evolving and new tech was showcased at the 2022 Commercial UAV Expo, and one of the highlights for data-collection initiatives was <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.yellowscan-lidar.com/products/voyager/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The YellowScan Voyager LiDAR.</a>
From Chris Fravel's show report: "The YellowScan High-end LiDAR solution was extremely capable of high-demand data collection missions with a 193-point point density and up to 15 echoes throughout each scan. With its laser scanner&rsquo;s wide field of view, the entirety of the points are oriented towards the ground, meaning no loss of points. This also means 1.5 million points per second will be usable, which would not be the case with a 360&deg; scanner. The best part? The YellowScan Voyager is compatible with just about any enterprise drone platform."
<h5>WATCH!</h5>
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UAV EXPO PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: YellowScan Voyager LiDAR 

<div class="m-detail--body">
22 September 2022
As part of the secretive U.S. Air Force Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, a new stealth fighter is reportedly being developed and tested that can control a flight of "wingman" drones&mdash;called Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)&mdash;that can bedevil enemy air defenses, survey high-risk areas, and deliver weapons.</div>
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<div class="jw-aspect jw-reset">The facility of manned jets to control multiple drones is rapidly emerging&mdash;or is even already already here&mdash;and a sixth-generation stealth fighter with more speed, covertness, maneuverability, and lethal capacity is seen as part of a "family of systems" to address changing military threats.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>
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<div class="m-detail--body">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="m-detail--body">&ldquo;Will there be manned platforms in two variants?" pondered Air Force Acquisition Executive Andrew Hunter. "We definitely want to think that through. The first task is to deliver a manned platform. We will evaluate along the way, as there is an incremental approach to the possibility of variants."&nbsp;Air Force Secretary</div>
<div class="m-detail--body">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="m-detail--body">Frank Kendall has gone on record as stating the manned variant of the emerging sixth-generation Next-Generation Air Dominance family of systems may simultaneously control as many as five drones. That said, precise configurations and details of the NGAD manned and unmanned platforms under a security cloak&mdash;or still being evolved for key operational imperatives.&nbsp;</div>
<div class="m-detail--body">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="m-detail--body">&ldquo;We need an aircraft that can perform operations in denied airspace and make sure we have the ability to establish freedom of maneuver," said Hunter. "We&rsquo;ve had successful uncrewed platforms going back decades. It&rsquo;s challenging to have a platform able to operate in denied air space. We also need that [drone] platform to be affordable, so we can get some mass&mdash;not something too expensive that we can&rsquo;t afford to lose. We are doing design trades. It needs to be able to assist the mission of the NGAD system, and it will involve a weapons-carrying capacity to work with a piloted aircraft.&rdquo;&nbsp;
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<div class="jw-aspect jw-reset">Multiple, networked CCAs working in close coordination with a manned &ldquo;host&rdquo; plane will reduce latency by not needing to send data through a ground station, streamline time-sensitive data, and massively shorten sensor-to-shooter time. For example, an armed combat drone could autonomously identify targets, allowing a human decision maker to destroy enemy threats from a safe distance. Furthermore, AI-enabled data processing could analyze a host of mission variables from disparate sensor information.&nbsp;</div>
<h5 class="jw-aspect jw-reset">WATCH!</h5>
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