Podcasts about uas

The Marine Corps is gearing up to expand its first-person view drone capabilities in the New Year by purchasing 10,000 new platforms and increasing the number of troops who are trained on them, according to government contracting documents and service officials. Earlier this week, the Corps announced a standardized training program for small-sized unmanned aerial systems, which include several courses for attack drone operators, payload specialists and instructors. Several units, from III Marine Expeditionary Force in the Pacific to Marine Forces Special Operations Command are now authorized to immediately start these courses. Meanwhile, the service is also asking industry to make thousands of UAS for under $4,000 per unit, according to a request for information posted in December. The intent is for Marines to be able to modify these drones with “simple” third-party munitions and repair them on their own. The RFI also inquired about autonomy and machine learning integration for these systems. Over the next several months, the service will aim to certify hundreds of Marines to use FPV drones, according to the Pentagon, with the goal of having every infantry, reconnaissance and littoral combat team across the fleet equipped with these platforms by May. Officials said that these courses were shaped by recent certifications and the Drone Training Symposium in November, an event intended to solidify and scale training across the fleet. DefenseScoop also reported last week that the Marine Corps had certified forward-deployed Marines on FPV drones for the first time in November. More than two dozen troops with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed to the Caribbean trained for more than a month-and-a-half to qualify on various FPV drone capabilities, a significant milestone for the force after a year of navigating untrodden ground. The Army recently established an artificial intelligence career field that select officers can transfer into starting next month, DefenseScoop has learned. It is also considering the potential for warrant officers to join the new role. The service created the 49B “area of concentration” for AI and Machine Learning on Oct. 31, according to Maj. Travis Shaw, a spokesperson for the Army. Between Jan. 5 and Feb. 6, 2026. Army officers who already have a few years of service or more can apply for the role through the Voluntary Transfer Incentive Program (VTIP), which is meant to support the Army's manning needs. It was unclear how many officers the Army hopes to transfer into the job, but those selected will reclassify by Oct. 1, 2026, Shaw said. The service expects those personnel to have completed their transition into the AI field by the following year. The effort comes as the Department of Defense continues to boost the use of large language model AI systems for military purposes. Earlier this month, the Pentagon launched GenAI.mil, a hub for commercial AI tools — one that DefenseScoop reported military personnel were meeting with mixed reviews and a bevy of questions about how to use it in their daily operations. The Army has also been embracing LLMs and AI, including through its Army Artificial Integration Center (AI2C), which was established in 2018 to integrate those systems into the service. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

DLR National Experimental Test Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Innovations and Future ProspectsIn this episode of Space Café Radio, host Torsten Kriening talks about the inauguration of the DLR National Drone Research Center in Cochstedt, Germany, on December 8, 2025. Joined by Daniel Suelberg, the center's Head, they explore the strategic and operational reasons behind Germany's need for such a facility. The conversation covers the reduction of testing times for drone technologies, the importance of the newly implemented geozone, and the center's different mission profiles, ranging from drone technology development to airspace integration and security applications. Additionally, they discuss the global position of Germany in drone technology, the importance of counter UAS technology, and the dual-use reality of civil and security applications. Tune in for a comprehensive understanding of how the center aims to bridge the gap between research, industry, and regulatory bodies to accelerate drone technology development.Useful link:DLR National Experimental Test Center for Unmanned Aircraft SystemsSpace Café Radio brings you talks, interviews, and reports from the team of SpaceWatchers while out on the road. Each episode has a specific topic, unique content, and a personal touch. Enjoy the show, and let us know your thoughts at radio@spacewatch.globalWe love to hear from you. Send us your thought, comments, suggestions, love lettersSupport the showYou can find us on: Spotify and Apple Podcast!Please visit us at SpaceWatch.Global, subscribe to our newsletters. Follow us on LinkedIn and X!

In a twist of events, the FAA added not only DJI and Autel to the FCC-covered list, but also every drone produced in a foreign country, sending shockwaves throughout the industry. The FCC also added UAS Critical components produced in a foreign country to the covered list, including some that don't require FCC approval. A UAS Critical component is defined as Data transmission devices, Communications systems, Flight controllers, Ground control stations and UAS controllers, Navigation systems, Sensors and Cameras, Batteries and Battery Management Systems, and Motors.Before we go any further, I want to reassure you that YES, if you are a civilian flying your drone, you can still buy existing models of your favorite brand, foreign or not, while supplies last. No, your drone is not bricked. Only future models are affected. Being on the FCC Covered List means that the company cannot import, market, and sell NEW products in the United States. The FCC memo does mention a process by which the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security can make a specific determination that a given UAS does not pose a risk. At the moment, the process to do that is unclear. The news came through a 9-page memo in which the FCC explains that they bypassed the audit requirement that we have been talking about for a year now: "Although section 1709 requires a determination by an “appropriate national security agency,” rather than an Executive Branch interagency body, this determination satisfies the law because several appropriate national security agencies concurred in this determination." It is unclear who was part of the meeting but they indeed determined that "UAS produced in a foreign country pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons and should be included on the FCC's Covered List"They also provide "supporting evidence" as to what the national security threat is, including the fact that "UAS are also playing a critical enabling role on the battlefield in many modern conflicts. In Ukraine and Israel-Gaza, low-cost commercial UAS inflict extensive damage and have caused significant loss of life." and that "Drug Cartels are also reportedly using foreign-produced UAS to smuggle drugs into the United States and carry out attacks." I'm going to read a long paragraph here from the document but I think it' important for you to understand why you can't buy a new DJI drone model to fly with your kid at the park or to photograph a house for a realtor:"Permitting UAS critical components from foreign countries into the United States undermines the resiliency of our UAS industrial base, increases the risk to our national airspace, and creates a potential for large-scale attacks during large gatherings. Even when marketed as “commercial” or “recreational,” certain legal regimes in foreign countries can compel entities to provide real‑time telemetry, imagery, and location data above U.S. soil, or to change the UAS behavior via remote software updates. This poses clear risks that foreign countries could leverage UAS produced with critical components made in a foreign country to engage in intelligence collection, acts of terrorism, attacks on critical infrastructure in the U.S. homeland, or massive supply chain disruption." I'm going to repeat that this decision does not affect existing drones models. If you are working on federally funded projects, you likely may not be able to use a drone or brand that's on the covered list, even if it's an existing drone. It appears blue UAS and those on already approved DOD lists can still be flown.

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the one-hundredth-and-twentieth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience' and the fifth* annual Large Scale Combat Operations Symposium. Hosted by COL Ricky Taylor, the Commander of Ops Group (COG). Today's guests are all seasoned observer-coach-trainers (OCTs) from across Operations Group, LTC Amoreena “Ammo” York, MAJ David Pfaltzgraff, MAJ Marc Howle, MAJ Amy Beatty, MAJ Jeff Horn, CSM Frank Enriquez, SGM Matthew Bollinger, and MSG Lacey Remillard as well as CW3 Roy Sandoval from the US Army Special Operations Command's Special Operations Training Detachment. Opening remarks were provided by GEN David Hodnes (Available only live via Teams), the Commanding General of Transformation and Training Command (T2COM) and BG Jason Curl, the Commanding General of the Joint Readiness Training Center. Our panel members are observer-coach-trainers with numerous decisive action training environment rotations between them. LTC York is the Task Force Senior for the TF Aviation (CAB / ATF). MAJ Pfaltzgraff is the BDE S-3 Operations OCT and MAJ Howle is the Protection OCT for Brigade Command & Control (BDE HQ). MAJ Beatty is the Executive Officer OCT and MSG Remillard is the S-3 Operations Sergeant Major OCT for Task Force Sustainment (BSB/DSSB). MAJ Horn is the Executive Officer OCT for the Fires Support Task Force. CSM Enriquez is the Command Sergeant Major OCT for Live Fires Division. SGM Bollinger is the Senior Enlisted S-2 Intelligence Advisor for the Intelligence Warfighting Function. CW3 Sandoval is the Rotational Planner for USASOC's Special Operations Training Detachment.   The purpose of the ‘LSCO Symposium' is to advance conversation on warfighting and share observations and lessons learned. We will discuss large scale violence today, but this discussion transcends mission sets. Train for high end competition and scale down as required. This episode synthesizes JRTC trends and best practices for preparing units for their hardest days of ground combat in Large-Scale Combat Operations across multiple domains. A central theme is that continuous transformation must be anchored to disciplined fundamentals. Leaders repeatedly emphasize that emerging capabilities—UAS, ITN, AI-enabled targeting tools, precision fires, and advanced sustainment systems—amplify poor discipline as much as they amplify competence. Units struggle when they trade foundational skills for technology, compress training timelines, or assume proficiency in basics like MDMP rigor, rehearsals, reporting, security, and sustainment forecasting. The discussion reinforces that formations are not failing because of a lack of tools, but because of gaps in training management, insufficient repetitions at home station, and an erosion of shared doctrinal language that enables synchronization under stress.    The episode also highlights how LSCO success depends on integration across warfighting functions over time, not single moments of convergence. Best-performing units demonstrate disciplined commander–staff and commander–commander dialogue, deliberate risk articulation, and active NCO involvement throughout planning and execution. Persistent challenges include rushed or truncated MDMP, weak course-of-action analysis, fragmented IPO/SPO processes, and poor sustainment visibility that leads to overstocking, vulnerable cache sites, and exposed logistics nodes. Survivability on a transparent battlefield emerges as a recurring lesson: units must balance dispersion with functionality, manage electromagnetic signatures, rehearse degraded communications, protect sustainment forces, and treat rear areas as contested terrain. Taken together, the episode underscores a clear JRTC message—winning the first battles of LSCO requires disciplined fundamentals, rigorous planning, and relentless rehearsal long before units ever make contact.  If you'd like to read along, you can visit our LinkTree account and view either Scenesetter (https://tr.ee/P8GenLNFvW) or EXSUM (https://tr.ee/HPpEc3ckHP).   Part of S01 “The Leader's Laboratory” series.   Don't forget to checkout our first, second, third, and fourth annual Large Scale Combat Operations Symposium, episodes sixteen, thirty, sixty-six, and ninety-three of ‘The Crucible.'   For additional information and insights from this episode, please check-out our Instagram page @the_jrtc_crucible_podcast.   Be sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the latest warfighting TTPs learned through the crucible that is the Joint Readiness Training Center.   Follow us by going to: https://linktr.ee/jrtc and then selecting your preferred podcast format.   Again, we'd like to thank our guests for participating. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and review us wherever you listen or watch your podcasts — and be sure to stay tuned for more in the near future.   “The Crucible – The JRTC Experience” is a product of the Joint Readiness Training Center.   *The first annual LSCO Symposium was conducted at Ft. Benning/Moore but hosted by the JRTC Team.

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week. First, the 2026 NDAA is set to give local police new counter-drone authority, SkyeBrowse releases its biggest update of the year with, a drones-for-good story out of Washington where a drone delivered a life jacket to a man trapped by a flood, and a man pleads guilty after flying his drone over the MLB All-Star game. Let's get to it.First up, the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, has passed the House and is now headed to the Senate. Tucked inside this 3,000-page bill is the SAFER SKIES Act, which for the first time creates a federal framework allowing state, local, and tribal police to detect, track, and even take down drones. Previously, this authority was limited to federal agencies like the DHS and DOD. Now, local officers who complete federal training will be able to use approved counter-UAS systems to mitigate drones that pose a "credible threat" to places like stadiums and critical infrastructure. The push for this was reportedly driven by the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup and the fact that the NFL has documented over 2,000 drone incursions per season for the last three years. The bill also introduces new felony penalties, with up to five years in prison for serious violations involving national defense airspace. And note, this is NOT yet law. This is only the House's version of the NDAA. We haven't seen the Senate version just yet, so this provision may or may not remain in the final law. We'll keep you updated as we see more. Next up, SkyeBrowse has just announced its biggest software update of the year. They've released two new processing modes: SkyeBrowse Rapid and SkyeBrowse Ultra. SkyeBrowse Rapid is designed for speed, especially for first responders in remote areas with bad reception. They claim it's 5 times faster in good reception and up to 20 times faster in bad reception. In one example, they took a 7-minute, 1.5-gigabyte video and processed it into a full 3D model in under two minutes. For those who need maximum detail, there's SkyeBrowse Ultra, which provides 4 times higher quality for photorealistic, lifelike 3D models. This feature will be available for their Premium Advanced customers. On top of that, they've also given their Freemium users a boost. Free users now have access to tools like annotations, drawing, clipping, and distance measurements, which were previously paid features. Our third story is in King County, Washington, where heavy rains caused the Snoqualmie River to flood rapidly, trapping a man on the roof of his vehicle. With the current too strong for responders to enter the water, a sheriff's deputy had a great idea. Instead of waiting for a helicopter, the deputy launched a drone, attached a life jacket to it, and flew it directly to the stranded man. Last up, a story of what NOT to do. A 47-year-old man from Georgia, Mitchell Parsons Hughes, has pleaded guilty to allegedly flying his drone over the 2025 MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park. According to prosecutors, he flew directly into the one-mile TFR that was active for the event. To make matters worse, he was flying an unregistered drone and had no Part 107 or TRUST. Security officials from the FBI, DOT, and FAA spotted the drone immediately and tracked him down. On December 5th, he pleaded guilty to knowingly violating national defense airspace. He was sentenced to six months of probation and a five-hundred-dollar fine. Join us later for happy hour in the community. We also have the live Q&A on Monday, and the Post-Flight show in the premium community, also on Monday. We'll see you then.https://dronexl.co/2025/12/14/drone-lifesaving-man-flood/https://dronexl.co/2025/12/12/man-flying-drone-mlb-all-star-game/https://dronexl.co/2025/12/15/ndaa-2026-local-police-take-down-your-drone/https://newsletter.skyebrowse.com/w/WmcZTrQzhMvDEnx1AEhqHQ/DBnBhE3BieCe02QZtYhivQ/X763PNWUdpoIM2dDLjPmFFUA

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the one-hundredth-and-nineteenth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.' Hosted by COL Ricky Taylor, the Commander of Ops Group (COG). Today's guest is the Commanding General for the fabled 82nd Airborne Division, MG Brandon Tegtmeier, All American 06. The 82nd Airborne Division specializes in joint forcible entry operations via vertical envelopment, both airborne and air assault, into denied areas with a U.S. Department of Defense requirement to respond to crisis contingencies anywhere in the world within 18 hours. They have the Hollywood call-sign of “All American” Division and the motto of “In Air, On Land.”   This episode explores trends and best practices observed through the lens of an airborne division preparing for large-scale combat operations, with a consistent emphasis on fundamentals, training management, and condition setting at echelon. The discussion reinforces that success at division level is anchored in company-level and below proficiency, arguing that brigades and divisions can adapt rapidly during a CTC rotation, but deficiencies in small-unit fundamentals cannot be fixed once in contact. A recurring theme is the deliberate decompression of training—allowing platoons, companies, and battalions sufficient time to learn, rehearse, and apply lessons rather than rushing through compressed events. This approach enables leaders to internalize battle drills, reduce cognitive load under stress, and fight effectively in JRTC's “friction factory,” where units are tested under sustained pressure, casualties, logistics shortfalls, and enemy contact.    From an operational perspective, the episode highlights how airborne formations must think differently about setting conditions across the fight, integrating intelligence, fires, sustainment, protection, and deception over time rather than relying on single convergence moments. Key topics include commander-driven MDMP, disciplined risk dialogue between commanders and staffs, and the necessity of clearly articulating information requirements to higher headquarters when organic collection assets are limited. The conversation also addresses emerging best practices such as protecting long-range fires, using maneuver forces to enable deep effects, embracing deception and EMCON to survive on a transparent battlefield, and offloading risk to robotics and UAS through formations like the MFRC. Sustainment realities for light forces—especially water and ammunition management following airborne or austere insertions—are repeatedly emphasized as decisive factors. Taken together, the episode presents a clear message: airborne divisions win by mastering fundamentals, deliberately preparing leaders at every echelon, and synchronizing effects over time to preserve combat power and maintain momentum in LSCO.    Part of S01 “The Leader's Laboratory” series.   Don't forget to check-out XVIII Airborne Corps' social media pages, their handles are ‘82ndAirborneDivision' on Facebook, ‘82ndABNDiv' on X, and ‘82ndairbornediv' on Instagram.   For additional information and insights from this episode, please check-out our Instagram page @the_jrtc_crucible_podcast.   Be sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the latest warfighting TTPs learned through the crucible that is the Joint Readiness Training Center.   Follow us by going to: https://linktr.ee/jrtc and then selecting your preferred podcast format.   Again, we'd like to thank our guests for participating. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and review us wherever you listen or watch your podcasts — and be sure to stay tuned for more in the near future.   “The Crucible – The JRTC Experience” is a product of the Joint Readiness Training Center.

Guy Laor, Vice President Operations and Strategy, Airwayz joined our editor-in-chief Claudia Bacco to discuss the achievements of the Israel National Drone Initiative (INDI) to date and the path forward. Airwayz has recently announced their role as the central orchestrator for phase 3 of the initiative.Prior to joining Airwayz, Guy actually worked at INDI focussing on UTM, UAS, and urban air mobility projects. He is an operations and airspace expert with a long background in both military and civilian aviation beginning his career as an Air Traffic Controller in the Israeli Air Force - where he still serves in reserve.Join the discussion to understand how this initiative is helping Israel to progress it's nationwide programmes and identify learnings that can be leveraged not only in this country but others working on these same topics.

PREVIEW — John Hardie — The Evolution of Drone Warfare in the Ukraine Conflict. Hardie analyzes the expanding, evolving role of unmanned systems in the Ukraine war. Early intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) drones, including the Turkish TB2, became progressively less effective as Russia improved integrated air defense capabilities. Subsequently, FPV (first-person view) combat drones became operationally critical, supplementing larger bomber-category unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)—often adapted agricultural equipment—deployed by both combatants, particularly Ukraine, to deliver precision munitions against distributed targets. 1953

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor magazine.Listen closely for your chance to win awesome prizes from Heli Life! Throughout 2025, every episode of The Hangar Z Podcast will reveal a secret word. Once you catch it, head to contests.verticalhelicasts.com to enter!Today's episode was recorded on the floor of APSCON 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona, at the Vertical Valor/Hangar Z booth. Each year the Airborne Public Safety Association presents awards in a wide variety of categories. We were lucky enough this year to record with a couple of those recipients, including our guest today.Deputy Nicholas Romano is a 25-year veteran of the Broward County Sheriff's Office, and recipient of this year's Unmanned Aerial Systems Award. Nicholas serves as the UAS coordinator for his department and has firmly established himself as a subject matter expert throughout Florida.We discuss his tech background as an investigator, what drew him to the UAS world, the value of the UAS unit working under manned air support, how UAS units are evolving, manned and unmanned integration, and what the future of UAS looks like in law enforcement.Thank you again for your support of the Hangar Z Podcast.Check out the other podcasts on the Vertical Helicasts platform which includes The Real Rescue Podcast, The Helicopter Podcast, The Valor Flight Crew Podcast, and the Vertical MRO Podcast.Thank you to our sponsors Becker Avionics, Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch and Wysong Enterprises.

In this episode of From the Crows' Nest, Ken Miller is joined by Mike Alperi, Deputy Program Manager of PMS 408 Expeditionary Missions Program Office at the Naval Sea Systems Command, to talk about his involvement in NATO Subgroup One and its cross-country collaborative Thor's Hammer exercise — an initiative that allows systems from different nations to be tested side-by-side against cutting edge UAS and IED threats.Alperi says the annual four-week program has greatly expanded over the last decade, growing from five participating nations in 2015 to 14 countries last year. Crucially, he says the scope of Thor's Hammer has grown over the years, from just counter-ID and counter-UAS training to countering emerging small radio frequency threats. Alperi says the subgroup shares the information from these tests with participating countries around the world, making sure key allies have the best information available as EW technologies continue to rapidly evolve.To learn more about today's topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.

Dr. Jamey Jacob is Executive Director of the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education and the Williams Chair in Energy Technology at Oklahoma State University. Under his leadership, OSU launched the Counter-UAS Center of Excellence, now the nation's central hub for coordinated research, development, testing and evaluation of counter-drone systems. Working closely with the Joint Force CUAS University at Fort Sill, the center assesses vendor technologies, establishes performance standards and accelerates next-generation defenses—all while addressing the growing national shortage of highly trained engineers in this mission-critical domain. With unique testing environments and deep alignment with military needs, OSU plays a pivotal role in strengthening national security and maintaining U.S. leadership in UAS innovation. Beyond directing the Center, Dr. Jacob is a Regents Professor of Aerospace Engineering and a nationally recognized leader in emerging aerospace systems, securing nearly $50 million in research funding from federal agencies and industry partners. He has testified before Congress on the critical need for sustained investment in drone research and advanced air mobility, and he leads major initiatives including the EDA-funded LaunchPad and UAS Flight Corridor, NASA's WINDMAP weather program, OSU's work within the Tulsa Hub for Ethical and Trustworthy Autonomy, and the NIST initiative developing certification standards for next-generation aircraft. A native Oklahoman, he holds degrees from the University of Oklahoma and UC Berkeley, and is an FAA Part 107 pilot with roughly 500 flight hours. In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Dr. Jacob talks about OSU's efforts to advance the nation's counter-UAS capabilities; what Ukraine's drone innovations reveal about the future of warfare, and how OSU's research in atmospheric science, public safety, and wildlife applications is shaping the next generation of drone operations.

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor magazine.Listen closely for your chance to win awesome prizes from Heli Life! Throughout 2025, every episode of The Hangar Z Podcast will reveal a secret word. Once you catch it, head to contests.verticalhelicasts.com to enter!Today's episode was recorded on the floor of APSCON 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona, at the Vertical Valor/Hangar Z booth. Each year the Airborne Public Safety Association presents awards in a wide variety of categories. We were lucky enough this year to record with a couple of those recipients, including our guest today.Deputy Nicholas Romano is a 25-year veteran of the Broward County Sheriff's Office, and recipient of this year's Unmanned Aerial Systems Award. Nicholas serves as the UAS coordinator for his department and has firmly established himself as a subject matter expert throughout Florida.We discuss his tech background as an investigator, what drew him to the UAS world, the value of the UAS unit working under manned air support, how UAS units are evolving, manned and unmanned integration, and what the future of UAS looks like in law enforcement.Thank you again for your support of the Hangar Z Podcast.Check out the other podcasts on the Vertical Helicasts platform which includes The Real Rescue Podcast, The Helicopter Podcast, The Valor Flight Crew Podcast, and the Vertical MRO Podcast.Thank you to our sponsors Astronautics Corporation of America, Robinson Helicopter and Spectrolab.

Small Cap Breaking News You Can't Miss!Here's a quick rundown of the latest updates from standout small-cap companies making big moves today.XTM – Non-Dilutive Fintech Funding Via RWA Tokenization (CSE: PAID) (OTCQB: XTMIF) (FSE: 7XT)XTM Inc., a North American earned wage access and instant pay fintech, has signed a binding LOI with AGORACOM RWA DBX to tokenize Preferred Shares in its U.S. subsidiary, XTM USA.Key points: • Structure targets non-dilutive capital, with no new common shares issued • XTM USA holds the core AnyDay™ IP and contracts, tied to 150,000+ daily wage earners projected in 2026 • AGORACOM RWA DBX gets a six-month exclusive mandate to design and coordinate the tokenization and listing strategy • Tokens will be backed by Preferred Shares in XTM USA, aiming to tap emerging RWA investors while XTM maintains full operating controlIf successful, this could become a model small-cap RWA financing structure, giving XTM new growth capital while protecting its cap table.Draganfly – Border Security Drone Gains Multi-Agency Attention (CSE: DPRO) (NASDAQ: DPRO) (FSE: 3U8A)Draganfly's Outrider™ Border Drone has completed live mission demos with the Cochise County Sheriff's Office along the U.S.–Mexico border, attracting interest from multiple U.S. law enforcement, federal and military agencies.Highlights: • Outrider is NDAA-compliant and North American–built, a key requirement for U.S. government programs • Heavy-duty profile with up to 100 lb payload and up to 7 hours of flight time • Demonstrated use cases included persistent surveillance, emergency response support, and air–ground coordination • Event generated multi-agency procurement interest, positioning Draganfly in the growing U.S. homeland security and public-safety drone marketThe Cochise County Drone Summit showcases Draganfly as a domestic, mission-ready drone supplier at a time of rising demand for compliant UAS solutions.Midnight Sun Mining – High-Grade Copper Over 1.5 km at Dumbwa (TSX-V: MMA) (OTCQX: MDNGF)Midnight Sun Mining is advancing a promising copper discovery at the Dumbwa target on its Solwezi Project in Zambia's Copperbelt. New results continue to build a picture of a sizeable, high-grade system.Key drill results and momentum: • 1.0% copper over 22 m (DBW-25-010) • 0.98% copper over 15 m and 0.79% copper over 5.25 m (DBW-25-009), plus supporting intervals • Nearly 1.5 km of mineralized strike now defined in a north–south corridor • 51 holes completed, 5 ongoing, and ~75 more holes planned (~15,000 m) to test a further 3 km of strike • Five rigs turning, with a sixth rig expected in early 2026, and drilling to continue through the rainy seasonLocated beside major producing operations in the Zambia–Congo Copperbelt, Dumbwa is shaping up as an emerging copper story with district-scale upside.Pacific Ridge – One of the Best Holes Yet at Kliyul Copper-Gold Project (TSX-V: PEX) (OTCQB: PEXZF) (FSE: PQW)Pacific Ridge Exploration has reported one of its strongest drill holes to date at the Kliyul Main Zone (KMZ) in north-central British Columbia, reinforcing both grade and scale potential at its flagship copper-gold project.2025 drill highlights: • Hole KLI-25-070: • 489.8 m of 0.56% CuEq (0.84 g/t AuEq) from near surface • Including 289.0 m of 0.77% CuEq (1.15 g/t AuEq) • With a higher-grade core of 85.0 m at 1.47% CuEq (2.19 g/t AuEq), including 37.5 m at 2.49% CuEq (3.72 g/t AuEq) • Hole KLI-25-071: • 421.0 m of 0.24% CuEq (0.35 g/t AuEq) • Including 91.0 m of 0.47% CuEq (0.70 g/t AuEq) • KMZ currently hosts an Inferred Resource of 334.1 Mt at 0.33% CuEq, and mineralization has now been extended 110 m to the west within the resource pit shellWith a 6 km underexplored mineralized trend and multiple additional targets to test, Kliyul is emerging as a large-scale copper-gold system in a premier Canadian mining jurisdiction.

Get your free copy of the Lowdown here:  https://www.lowdownnews.us/This week on The Lowdown, Rain breaks down the biggest stories shaping aviation and global defense. From the growing drama around the E-7 Wedgetail to new counter-drone weapons and intelligence developments across Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific, this episode dives deep into the headlines that matter.We start with the Air Force and NATO's shifting stance on the E-7 AWACS replacement and why survivability is becoming a major concern in high end air combat. Rain explains how the E-7 compares to the aging E-3, why funding stalled, and what a stopgap C2 solution might actually look like as hypersonic missiles and long range threats spread across the battlespace.Next, we look at the Air Force's push for cheaper counter-air options as drones continue to reshape modern conflict. Rain breaks down real cost comparisons between AMRAAM shots, laser guided rockets, and the proposed 500 thousand dollar missile aimed at small UAS defense.In the Snapshot segment, we highlight a series of major global updates including the Turkish C-130 crash, the Marine Corps' past C-130 mishap, new AI driven munitions storage plans, the reported Iranian training on the Su-57, Russia's intelligence ship operating off Hawaii, and the latest news on Taiwan's incoming MQ-9 and F-16V aircraft.Aviation, national security, and global defense trends all in one episode.For full breakdowns, sources, and the weekly Threat of the Day, subscribe to The Lowdown newsletter. It is free and lands straight in your inbox.

What if the solutions to humanity's greatest challenges — on Earth and beyond — have already been invented by nature? In this forward-looking talk, evolutionary biologist and astrobiologist Dr. Lynn Rothschild explores how life's patterns, materials, and mechanisms, refined over billions of years, can serve as a blueprint for building better futures on Earth and other planets. Drawing on insights from deep time, Dr. Rothschild will open the doors to “nature's hardware store” — a vast, largely untapped reservoir of biological strategies available to scientists, engineers, and innovators. From self-healing materials and bio-inspired architecture to regenerative systems for space exploration, she reveals how biology is shaping the frontiers of technology and inspiring bold, surprisingly practical solutions to complex problems. Grounded in astrobiology and evolutionary insight, this talk invites us to rethink innovation through the lens of life itself and to explore what's possible when we tap into nature's storehouse of intelligence to solve the challenges of tomorrow. Lynn J. Rothschild is a research scientist at NASA Ames and Adjunct Professor at Brown University and Stanford University working in astrobiology, evolutionary biology and synthetic biology. Rothschild's work focuses on the origin and evolution of life on Earth and in space, and in pioneering the use of synthetic biology to enable space exploration. From 2011 through 2019 Rothschild served as the faculty advisor of the award-winning Stanford-Brown iGEM (international Genetically Engineered Machine Competition) team, exploring innovative technologies such as biomining, mycotecture, BioWires, making a biodegradable UAS (drone) and an astropharmacy. Rothschild is a past-president of the Society of Protozoologists, fellow of the Linnean Society of London, The California Academy of Sciences and the Explorer's Club and lectures and speaks about her work widely.

A lively and politically charged episode featuring interviews on the death of Dick Cheney, the future of the U.S. dollar, and a look inside Grand Forks' "Drone Coast" tech ecosystem. The show broadcasts live from The Hive in Grand Forks, kicking off with a defense of investor Kevin O'Leary against what the host calls irresponsible journalism. The main political conversations center on the legacy of former Vice President Dick Cheney following his passing and a passionate caller debate about the role of Islam in America. Financially, the program dives into the Fed's recent actions and the explosive potential of a gold-backed U.S. dollar. Wrapping up, the host interviews Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Lisa Damath about her run and takes listeners inside the cutting-edge drone technology being developed in North Dakota.   ⏱️ Standout Moments   0:01:54: The host addresses "shoddy journalism" and defends investor Kevin O'Leary's involvement in North Dakota's tech scene. 0:05:44: David Fisher of Landmark Capital breaks down the Fed's non-unanimous rate cut and the forecast for the dollar's future. 0:09:50: Exclusive news report: The Trump administration is exploring revaluing gold to potentially back the U.S. dollar, with predictions of gold prices hitting $20,000 to $55,000. 0:15:23: The host remembers former Vice President Dick Cheney as a friend and a strong VP, setting up the main political discussion. 0:20:25: A passionate caller pushes back on the host's opinion of Cheney, arguing his legacy is "the allowing of Islam nation to invade the United States." 0:28:44: Karl Rove joins the program to share his memories of the late Dick Cheney, highlighting his "extraordinary record of service" as a former Chief of Staff, Defense Secretary, and Vice President. 0:37:37: Tom Sawyer from Grand Sky discusses the escalating threat of counter-UAS (drone) warfare and the urgent need for layered American defenses, citing innovation in Ukraine. 0:45:00: Interview with Lisa Damath, newly announced candidate for Governor of Minnesota, who outlines her reasons for running, citing the state's record spending, tax hikes, and an almost six billion dollar deficit. 0:52:05: Johnny Ryan from The Hive discusses the Grand Forks "Drone Coast" ecosystem, where private industry and the military are collaborating to develop autonomous technologies to "beat China."

The Department of Homeland Security's non-federal government partners in communities across the U.S. can now apply for funding grants for certain counter-drone capabilities to address national security and safety threats posed by the illegal and nefarious use of unmanned aircraft systems. Officials wrote in a notice published online last week: “The funding enables state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, along with first responders and public safety entities, to acquire detection and tracking technologies designed to safeguard public spaces and critical infrastructure.” DHS estimates that $250 million will be obligated for the program in fiscal 2026 alone, and more money is expected to flow. Decisions about individual awards will happen between 30 and 60 days of the application submissions. The department expects to make 12 awards, with the financial assistance amounts to-be-decided and ranging across the winners. All projects will have a performance period of 36 months. Notably, the awardees will not be permitted to use the federal funding to purchase “Enhanced Detect, Track, Identification (DTI) systems,” including those that “capture, record, intercept, demodulate, decrypt, or decode signals” between UAS and ground control stations. Due to significant legal restrictions, privacy concerns and federal airspace regulations, SLTT entities don't currently have official authorization to employ those types of technologies. Drone threats associated with surveillance, disruption, or attacks, have intensified across the nation in recent years. The U.S. military is significantly expanding work and investments to deploy defensive weapons, modernize electronic warfare capabilities, enhance sensor protection and other tools to protect its facilities in the United States and abroad. And with America hosting major, upcoming global events, agencies and officials have been calling for coordinated efforts to more aggressively confront the risks. Anduril's prototype drone developed for the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program has taken its first live flight, the service announced Friday. The company conducted the flight of the unmanned fighter jet — known as the YFQ-44A — on Friday at a test location in California, the Air Force said in a press release. Beginning live flight tests of the CCA prototype “expands the program's knowledge base on flight performance, autonomous behaviors and mission systems integration,” the service noted. The announcement that Anduril has moved into the flight test stage comes after General Atomics conducted the first flight of its CCA offering in August. Both companies are vying for Increment 1 of the CCA program, which is part of the Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) family of systems. General Atomics and Anduril received contracts for the first CCA increment in 2024, while the Air Force is also working with Shield AI and RTX to provide the drone's mission autonomy. With both airframe vendors now in the next stage of the program, the Air Force is one step closer to making a final production decision for Increment 1 — expected in 2026. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

Episode Summary: In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney talks to Lt. Gen. David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Charles Galbreath, Kyle “Puma” Pumroy, Todd “Sledge” Harmer, and Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski about the top defense issues this month in Washington, D.C. and beyond. ​​​​​​ Our team digs into where the defense bills stand in Congress as well as the national security impact of the government shutdown. We also discuss the latest Ukraine news, plus several spacepower developments—everything from Chinese gains on orbit to the role orbital aggressors play in modern spacepower. Plus, we explore organizational happenings, like the decision to role the ICC function into A5/7, not pursue Space Force Futures, and downgrading USAFE to a 3-star billet. We wrap up by highlighting the new small UAS test efforts at Grand Forks AFB and jump into the renewed debate on whether too much is being spent on Air Force R&D vs procurement and readiness. Credits: Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin  Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) Guest: Kyle "Puma" Pumroy, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) Guest: Todd “Sledge” Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #rendezvous

In this newscast: The Juneau School Board swore in three members and honored two outgoing members at a meeting Tuesday; Though Alaskans approved ranked-choice voting nearly 5 years ago, the debate about whether it actually benefits voters persists. At a Chamber of Commerce luncheon this afternoon, two speakers shared what they think of the system; Juneau's new hydroelectric utility passed one of its last hurdles this week toward expanding the capital city's energy grid; A beloved maintenance employee at the University of Alaska Southeast starred in a low-budget sci-fi comedy a decade ago. This week, some UAS students screened the film to honor their friendly campus handy-man

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Should drones have the right of way over airplanes? The FAA has proposed just that (under certain conditions) in its recent Part 108 rule, but Christian Ramsey says it doesn't have to be bad news for GA pilots. The UAS expert and private pilot explains how drones and GA aircraft can share airspace below 400 feet, including the potential use of new electronic conspicuity devices. Christian also worked on the ADS-B network roll-out, so he shares his thoughts on datalink traffic and why it's essential for safety. In the Ready to Copy segment, you'll learn about unique drone applications, ADS-B tips, and whether angle of attack indicators matter.* Part 108 summary: https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/fact_sheets/Fact_Sheet_BVLOS.pdf* Christian's article on ADS-B traffic: https://uavionix.com/blog/a-rant-about-ads-bs-role-in-preventing-mid-air-collisions/* Lightspeed Zulu 4: https://www.sportys.com/lightspeed-zulu-4-aviation-headset.html

Adam Woodworth, CEO of Wing (Alphabet's drone delivery company), joins us to talk about making delivery ubiquitous and why drones should be an equal player alongside other delivery methods. Adam argues we've already passed the “risk peak” for UAS integration: the industry now has the operational data to validate safety targets, and the safest path is to fly more because drone trips displace riskier car trips. He traces Wing's journey from Google X to Part 135 air carrier, the shift from “drone company” to “delivery company,” and what's changed in the last 18 months as regulatory processes became predictable enough to plan and scale.We go inside Wing's growth flywheel in Dallas: ~20 locations, 100k+ deliveries last quarter, and days approaching 2,000 orders. Plus partnerships with DoorDash and Walmart, expansion to Charlotte and new metros, and lessons from Australia and the UK (including hospital logistics). Adam shares why noise complaints dropped after design and routing changes, how one pilot can now oversee dozens of aircraft, and what Part 108 should fix to keep progress moving. We close on the big claim: within a decade, drone delivery can handle the majority of last-mile demand.

SummaryIn this conversation, Chris Brose, President and Chief Strategy Officer of Anduril, joins Sal and Mark to discuss the company's mission to revolutionize defense technology by integrating commercial innovations into military applications. He emphasizes the need for mass-producible military capabilities, the importance of adaptability in modern warfare, and the challenges posed by the current U.S. acquisition system. Brose also highlights the significance of collaborative combat systems and international partnerships, particularly through the Ghost Shark program with the Australian Navy. He expresses optimism about the future of U.S. defense, advocating for a shift towards a more agile and innovative approach to military production and strategy.Chapters00:00: Introduction to Anduril and Its Mission04:26: The Unique Position of Anduril in Defense09:02: The Shift in Military Strategy and Production Needs13:11: Designing for Mass Production and Scalability17:50: Innovations in Collaborative Combat Systems23:35: The Ghost Shark Program and International Collaboration28:02: Challenges in the U.S. Acquisition System34:34: Deployability and Operational Integration of New Systems39:41: Cost-Effective Solutions for Modern Warfare45:01: Optimism for the Future of U.S. Defense

Scott Hennen tackles a wide range of topics, from personal news to national politics and local North Dakota issues. He discusses his upcoming birthday trip to Dallas and the legacy of Ross Perot, including a seven-figure donation by Ross Perot Jr. to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, ND. Agriculture is a key focus, with Farm Family Director Bridget Riedel outlining the current economic challenges for farmers, citing high input costs, rising equipment prices (up about 20% in the last three years), and wildly volatile fertilizer costs. The host also touches on local events like a split in the Sioux-Gopher hockey series and a pie auction for District 24 Republicans. The episode features two major interviews: Former Governor Chris Sununu (R-NH): Sununu joins to discuss his work as co-chair of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) Commission on America's Rural Future, which is holding field hearings in North Dakota and Minnesota this week to address the disconnect between federal programs and rural communities. He also clarifies his relationship with President Donald Trump. Congresswoman Julie Fedorchuk (R-ND): North Dakota's lone House member discusses the status of the government shutdown and the need for "pragmatic Democrats" to resolve the appropriations battle. She also gives an update on North Dakota's leadership in the growing counter-UAS and AI industries, emphasizing the state's energy resources as a huge opportunity. Plus, a segment with the Lions Club highlights their work in diabetes awareness and retinopathy screening

Starting next year, the Army will be able to domestically mass-produce upwards of 10,000 small unmanned aerial systems each month, according to the service. Army Materiel Command is leading a new pilot program dubbed “SkyFoundry” that will allow the service to rapidly develop, test and produce small drones using innovative manufacturing methods. Officials are currently identifying multiple facilities where the platforms will be designed and produced. The department expects it can manufacture at least 10,000 UAS per month once the first site is up and running, Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Mingus said Tuesday. He said during a fireside chat at the annual AUSA conference: “We'll be at 10,000 a month by this time next year, if not more.” The effort comes as the Pentagon looks to ramp up production of small drones across the services following Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's “Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance” directive, issued in July. The memo requires low-cost, attritable drones to be fielded to every Army squad by the end of 2026 and calls on the military to partner closely with domestic industry to scale up manufacturing. Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., sent a letter Tuesday to acting CISA Director Madhu Gottumukkala raising concerns about staffing levels and the direction of the nation's primary cybersecurity agency, writing that the “Trump Administration has undertaken multiple efforts to decimate CISA's workforce, undermining our nation's cybersecurity.” Swalwell, the ranking member on the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, called out the agency for its reported shift of cybersecurity personnel to the Department of Homeland Security's deportation efforts, on top of the approximately 760 people that have been let go from the agency since January. Swallwell wrote: “Amid reports that the Department of Homeland Security is now forcibly transferring CISA's cybersecurity employees to other DHS components, it has become apparent that the Department's exclusive focus on its mass deportation campaign is coming at the expense of our national security,” calling it “further evidence of the Administration's failure to prioritize cybersecurity” how CISA is engaging in Reductions in Force that could threaten its capacity to prevent and respond to cybersecurity threats. In the letter, he demanded that DHS cease all efforts to cut CISA's workforce, reinstate employees who were transferred or dismissed, and provide details on the impacts of the agency's workforce reductions. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

Join host Dr. Arun Seraphin for a conversation with Dr. Steve Harber of Parallax Advanced Research and the Ohio Aerospace Institute. In this episode, Dr. Harber discusses neuromorphic artificial intelligence, an approach to AI that models computing after the human brain's efficient, adaptive neural networks. The discussion highlights the advantages of neuromorphic AI over traditional computing in power consumption, processing, and its ability to intuitively learn, as well as possible defense applications in edge computing, UAS operations, and electronic warfare. The episode dives into the maturity of the technology and the challenges to developing an entirely new way of computing.To receive updates about Emerging Technologies Institute activities please join our mailing list here: https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/sign-up http://emergingtechnologiesinstitute.orghttps://www.facebook.com/EmergingTechETIhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ndia-eti-emerging-technologies-institute https://www.twitter.com/EmergingTechETI

Join host Dr. Arun Seraphin for a conversation with Dr. Steve Harber of Parallax Advanced Research and the Ohio Aerospace Institute. In this episode, Dr. Harber discusses neuromorphic artificial intelligence, an approach to AI that models computing after the human brain's efficient, adaptive neural networks. The discussion highlights the advantages of neuromorphic AI over traditional computing in power consumption, processing, and its ability to intuitively learn, as well as possible defense applications in edge computing, UAS operations, and electronic warfare. The episode dives into the maturity of the technology and the challenges to developing an entirely new way of computing. To receive updates about Emerging Technologies Institute activities please join our mailing list here: https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/sign-up http://emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org https://www.facebook.com/EmergingTechETI https://www.linkedin.com/company/ndia-eti-emerging-technologies-institute https://www.twitter.com/EmergingTechETI

Broadcasting live from the 19th Annual UAS Summit and Expo at the Alaris Center in Grand Forks, Scott and Kevin discuss the critical role of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), or drones, in national defense and their transformative commercial applications in agriculture and infrastructure. Key guests, Grand Sky founder Tom Sawyer and Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski, highlight the area's rapid innovation and economic growth, positioning Grand Forks as "the base of the future." In the "Money, Markets, and Metals" segment, David Fisher of Landmark Capital explains the global "debasement trade" driving the bull market in gold and silver, and praises President Trump for securing deals with Pfizer and AstraZeneca to lower prescription drug costs for Americans. The hosts also take a moment to honor Charlie Kirk on his birthday, who is being posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Political commentary focuses on the "No King's Rally" absurdity and the ongoing Schumer shutdown, which Senator John Hoeven confirms Democrats are prolonging to coordinate with the rally. Standout Moments: Host reflects on the UND hockey sweep over the St. Thomas Tommies, humorously using the derogatory term "cake-eaters." (00:01:21) David Fisher announces that major pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and AstraZeneca have signed deals allowing 100 million American patients to save up to 80% on prescriptions due to President Trump's "Most Favored Nation" negotiation. (00:03:57) David Fisher explains the "debasement trade," detailing how massive unmanageable global debt is forcing central banks to inflate their way out, driving a major bull market in gold and silver. (00:04:36) Host announces that President Trump is awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk's family on what would have been his birthday. (00:10:48) Grand Sky founder Tom Sawyer explains that UAS technology is used for the "dull, the dirty, and the dangerous work," and notes that counter-drone development is critical for national defense after Ukraine used drones to decimate the Russian Air Force. (00:16:03) The hosts and a caller mock the absurdity of the "No King's Rally," pointing out that the rally itself proves there is no king in America, and reveal Democrats are coordinating with the protest to delay the government shutdown resolution. (00:20:47) Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski speaks about the area's relentless pursuit of UAS technology, stating that Grand Forks Air Force Base is now called "the base of the future." (00:33:04) Senator John Hoeven confirms the Air Force has picked Grand Forks Air Force…

With: Nicholas Nelson (Archangel) • Dan • Lomax • MadsTL;DW• Defence-first wins on capability and returns; primes are partners and channels.• Helsing: buys platforms/revenue for access; layers AI—different from Anduril's buy-TRL-tech + scale model.• Beyond drones: biggest gap/opportunity is tactical EW.• Procurement: more fast lanes (SOF, pilots); primes getting easier to work with.• AI: real profits exist (esp. NVIDIA), but value chain is fragile; expect a correction, not a collapse. Picking winners more important than timing.Content with Time Codes02:40 — Why defence-firstBeats dual-use on outcomes and returns; lifelong focus.04:32 — DefinitionsCustomer = MoDs + primes; aim: lethality/readiness and societal resilience. Beware “defence-washing”.06:37 — What's hotAvoid herd to drones only; counter-UAS, EW, human performance, deception, survivability.08:23 — Helsing buys GrobNeo-prime play: new co buys legacy manufacturing for platform access.10:42 — The two Defence M&A playbooksAnduril: buys mid-TRL tech (Area-I, Dive LD/Ghost Shark, Adranos) → scales via brand/distribution.Helsing: buys finished products/revenue (Mittelstand) → immediate customers; then add AI.14:25 — Prime status & capitalDistribution + capital to AI-enable platforms.17:47 — Roll-up vs buildNarrative “build”; execution “roll-up + build”.19:47 — Drones & ‘drone wall'Layered answer: blunt with drones, hold with conventional forces.21:49 — The big one: Electronic Warfare (EW)NATO underinvested; tactical EW is the unmet need; legacy kit is '80s/'90s.24:54 — Startup wedgePut EW at the edge (drones/aircraft/fixed) → near-term wins.26:33 — Baltic realismHistory, 2007–09 Estonia cyber, current incursions; likely Kaliningrad corridor.28:19 — Founder mistakesTech ≠ win by itself; experience + gov engagement matters; US analogue: top funds have IC/SOF DNA.30:43 —  Are there really only a “Few buyers?”Many real buyers inside a MoD/DoD (services, sub-units, innovation orgs).36:23 — Sovereignty & US primesUS strategics will buy abroad; Europe balancing autonomy with jobs/exits.41:07 — Starlink vs IRIS²Starlink's lead + cadence; IRIS² slower—watch timelines vs evolving threats.47:18 — AI bubble?Warnings vs fundamentals; self-funded capex; real profits.49:37 — NVIDIA ramp$4.4B (2023) → $73B this year; growth tempers multiples.51:48 — AI Circular money & marginsCursor → Anthropic → hyperscalers → NVIDIA; only NVIDIA mints big margins; margin pressure coming (new semis, China, SLMs).53:12 — Picking beats timingDot-com lesson: Cisco losses vs Amazon wins.54:19 — Capacity vs efficiencyCapex likely useful long-run, but open source squeezes costs.55:52 — Platform riskFrontier labs moving up-stack; vertical AI + trust + data = moat.58:58 — Base caseLikely correction (30–50%) at some point; timing is unknowable (not investment advice).

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//The Wire//2300Z September 29, 2025////ROUTINE////BLUF: TARGETED MASS SHOOTINGS STRIKE MICHIGAN, NORTH CAROLINA, AND TEXAS. DRONE REPORTS CONTINUE IN DENMARK.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Denmark: Various drone incursions continue as before. Over the weekend Denmark ordered the grounding of all civilian drones throughout their nation in an attempt to isolate the incursions that continue to take place at airports and sensitive military sites. Analyst Comment: This morning Denmark unexpectedly called up an unknown number of reservists into active military service. France and Sweden have also begun the process of sending counter-UAS systems to Denmark to help secure the upcoming EU summit in Copenhagen on Wednesday. It's not supposed to be a major summit (comparatively speaking), but security is still a concern due to the general tensions throughout Europe remaining high.-HomeFront-Illinois: Civil unrest regarding immigration detention facilities continued over the weekend, with several arrests being made at riots outside the facility in Broadview. DHS sources state that 11x people were arrested overnight at this facility, at least one of which was arrested with an improvised explosive device of some kind in his backpack.Texas: Sunday night a mass shooting was reported at the Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass. Local authorities identified the shooter as Keryan Rashad Jones, who was apprehended after a short vehicle pursuit. 2x people were killed and 5x others wounded during the attack.Analyst Comment: The circumstances leading up to this attack are not clear; the only details that have been released are those of the casualty figures and the name of the shooter. Considering the context of the location itself being a Casino, it's likely that the motive for the shooting is related to that, however it's still not clear as to if this was an impulsive shooting or something more planned. More details are expected as court docs get released later this week.North Carolina: A mass shooting was reported at the American Fish Company in Southport. Local authorities state that Nigel Edge was operating a small boat in the waters off of the waterfront when he began firing at the shoreline in the general direction of the American Fish Company and The Frying Pan Restaurant which was immediately adjacent to the fish company, which was hosting the usual live music and entertainment typical for most establishments in the area. 3x people were killed and several others were wounded in the attack. Edge was able to egress from the area down the Intracoastal Waterway, before he was apprehended while loading his boat at a nearby boat launch.Michigan: Sunday morning a mass shooting was conducted at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc. One gunman conducted a complex attack at the Church at approximately 10:30 am, targeting those arriving for services that morning. The assailant began the attack by ramming his vehicle into the Church, before exiting and conducting the shooting phase of the attack. At some point during the engagement, the attacker is suspected to have deliberately set the Church on fire before he was engaged and the attack halted. After the attack, multiple IEDs were discovered in the the assailant's vehicle, which either failed to detonate or were not used during the attack. Concerning casualties, 4x parishioners were killed, and 8x more were wounded, the conditions of which are not yet known.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: The suspected shooter in the Michigan attack has been identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, who was killed during the attack. Right now reports conflict on who ended the threat; some reports state that law enforcement engaged the shooter, whereas other reports have stated that it was a parishioner who was concealed carrying a firearm in viol

Listen in as your host Just Nate and Greg talk with Bill Edwards, Director of CUAS Operations and Training, COLONEL, U.S. Army (Retired). Bill is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to counter UAS.Bill Edwards has developed a sequence of training courses designed to simplify the complex CUAS market:1. C-Suite and Leader Course: To ensure executive understanding of capital investment needs.2. Introduction to CounterUAS Technologies and Federal Law.3. Drone Vulnerability and Risk Assessment: Applying technology knowledge to facility assessment.4. Drone Emergency Response Planning: Focusing on coordinating with internal and external stakeholders and developing policies.5. Left of Drone Launch: Focusing on proactive information/intelligence operationalization.Register for C-UAS Training Course:Register Now – Counter Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS)Technology & Federal Law/Drone Vulnerability & Risk Assessment (DVRA)Course – ENSCO Colorado Springs Information on the C-UAS training program found here:C-UAS Training Courses by Bill Edwards | Counter UnmannedAerial Systems | Drone Vulnerability Risk Assessment | ENSCOTo contact Bill: ⁠Edwards.william@ensco.com⁠To find out more about the Smalls or become a member, please check us out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thesmalls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To contact Just Nate:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠justnate@thesmalls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—  Send in a voice message: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/message⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support this podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thesmalls⁠⁠⁠

//The Wire//2300Z September 25, 2025////ROUTINE////BLUF: UK ANNOUNCES NATIONAL MANDATORY DIGITAL ID. RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT INTERCEPTED OFF ALASKAN COAST. CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER INDICTED FOR SMUGGLING GUNS TO CARTEL.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-United Kingdom: Scandal has erupted following the announcement of a national identification paper scheme. The British government is set to implement a mandatory digital ID system that will be required for all British citizens to be allowed to function in society.Europe: Drone incursions have continued over the past few days, with limited reports of drone incursions popping up in Norway and Denmark. Overnight, more drones were spotted over the port city of Korsor, along with a handful of airports scattered around the country.Analyst Comment: Right now it's hard to tell if these drone reports are any different than the standard incursions that have become common in civilian aviation over the past few years. When an airport sends out a hazard report to pilots, a description of "UAS activity" doesn't really indicate much. What is quite clear is that the initial drone reports in Denmark were vastly different than most of the typical quadcopter reports that are more common. However, now that media attention is on the skies once again, it's possible that more drone sightings will be reported. It's also very likely that, now that people are paying attention, more people will confuse legitimate drone threats with commercial aircraft, as has been a trend lately.-HomeFront-Mississippi: This morning 911 call center services went offline for the entire state, which local authorities state were caused by a "series of fiber optic cuts".Analyst Comment: Right now it's not clear as to if this was the result of malign action, or by accident. Generally speaking it would be a bad idea for an entire state's critical infrastructure to be vulnerable to one swipe of a backhoe, but it's certainly possible.Illinois: A Chicago police officer has been indicted for smuggling weapons for cartels in Mexico. The indictment states that Officer Kevin Rodriguez used his law enforcement credentials to purchase firearms that were illegal for normal citizens to buy in the states of Illinois and Indiana. He was then paid by a cartel member by the name of Diego Valdez, who took possession of the firearms and smuggled them into Mexico. Analyst Comment: This scheme allegedly ran from September to December of 2024, and so far all of the court documents indicate that only two rifles were smuggled into Mexico. However, this may be a larger network, as these types of arrangements usually go on for some time before they are detected.Alaska: This morning US Air Force aircraft were scrambled to intercept Russian bombers off the west coast. A flight of Russian Tu-95 BEAR H aircraft were observed approaching the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), which prompted American aircraft to intercept them and escort them during their flight near American airspace.Analyst Comment: This is a fairly standard event that usually goes unnoticed most of the time. However, this case is probably related to President Trump's recent comments on Russia's incursions in Europe, namely stating that European powers should shoot down Russian aircraft that violate their airspace.New York: As the UN General Assembly continues, President Trump met with the new leader of Syria, Ahmed Al-Sharq, where he is expected to be a focal point of this year's summit.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: As a reminder, Ahmed Al-Sharq changed his name upon seizing power a few months ago. His previous name was Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, a high-ranking al-Qaeda commander from the Global War on Terror. Upon his AQ-linked militia group seizing power during the fall of the Assad regime, he changed

The Air and Space Forces Association's Air, Space & Cyber Conference is where airpower headlines come from. We get into the future of air mobility with Lockheed Martin, counter-UAS details with Honeywell, and more. Powered by GE!

In this 100th episode, we sit down with Chris Hewlett, former Navy Commander and Director of Project Ultra, for a candid conversation about the realities of UAS integration. Chris challenges the industry's rush toward community-based traffic management and questions whether UTM, as commonly envisioned, can ever deliver safe and scalable integration. He argues instead that the Department of Defense, through rigorous test, evaluation, and rapid operational deployment, will set the standard for comprehensive UAS integration - a framework that will ultimately spill over into commercial use.We cover the lessons from Project Ultra on verification, validation, and operational test and evaluation (OT&E) of unmanned systems, FAA's Part 108, and why shortcuts and theory aren't enough for safe airspace integration.

Michael Barrett, Editor of The Local Denmark // Steve Wright, avionics and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) expert, who is a Senior Research Fellow at UWE Bristol // General Ben Hodges, Retired US Army Lieutenant General, and commander of US forces in Europe

Henry Foy, Financial Times Brussels Bureau Chief and Steve Wright avionics and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) expert, serving as a Senior Research Fellow in Avionics and Aircraft Systems at UWE Bristol

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Magazine.Listen closely for your chance to win awesome prizes from Heli Life! Throughout 2025, every episode of The Hangar Z Podcast will reveal a secret word. Once you catch it, head to contests.verticalhelicasts.com to enter!In this episode, Jon Gray and Jack Schonely sit down with Brandon Rose, chief pilot with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.The conversation highlights the critical response to the devastating floods that swept through Hill Country in Central Texas, with Brandon sharing valuable insights into the numerous challenges faced during rescue operations amid severe weather conditions. In July 2025, the Hill Country region of Texas experienced catastrophic flooding, overwhelming communities and complicating rescue efforts. This intense flooding resulted in at least 136 fatalities, with at least 119 occurring in Kerr County. Brandon's insights highlight the resilience, adaptability, and skill required by rescue teams to effectively navigate extreme weather conditions. He emphasizes the importance of thorough training and mission proficiency, alongside the crucial role that advanced technology plays in enhancing emergency response capabilities.The importance of accurate forecasting and the integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technology in emergency response are highlighted. Brandon also reflects on his journey to becoming a game warden and pilot.Brandon discusses the evolution of aircraft used in public safety, the training and operations for rescue missions, and the challenges faced in adopting new mission profiles. He highlights the importance of technology, particularly drones and artificial intelligence, in enhancing operational efficiency. The conversation concludes with advice for aspiring public safety aviators, emphasizing perseverance and the importance of training.Thank you to our sponsors Metro Aviation, BLR Aerospace and Precision Aviation Group.

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Magazine.Listen closely for your chance to win awesome prizes from Heli Life! Throughout 2025, every episode of The Hangar Z Podcast will reveal a secret word. Once you catch it, head to contests.verticalhelicasts.com to enter!In this episode, Jon Gray and Jack Schonely sit down with Brandon Rose, chief pilot with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.The conversation highlights the critical response to the devastating floods that swept through Hill Country in Central Texas, with Brandon sharing valuable insights into the numerous challenges faced during rescue operations amid severe weather conditions. In July 2025, the Hill Country region of Texas experienced catastrophic flooding, overwhelming communities and complicating rescue efforts. This intense flooding resulted in at least 136 fatalities, with at least 119 occurring in Kerr County. Brandon's insights highlight the resilience, adaptability, and skill required by rescue teams to effectively navigate extreme weather conditions. He emphasizes the importance of thorough training and mission proficiency, alongside the crucial role that advanced technology plays in enhancing emergency response capabilities.The importance of accurate forecasting and the integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technology in emergency response are highlighted. Brandon also reflects on his journey to becoming a game warden and pilot.Brandon discusses the evolution of aircraft used in public safety, the training and operations for rescue missions, and the challenges faced in adopting new mission profiles. He highlights the importance of technology, particularly drones and artificial intelligence, in enhancing operational efficiency. The conversation concludes with advice for aspiring public safety aviators, emphasizing perseverance and the importance of training.Thank you to our sponsors Robinson Helicopter, Dallas Avionics and Precision Aviation Group.

The rivalry between Héctor Melesio Cuén Ojeda and Rubén Rocha Moya, both prominent figures in Sinaloa, Mexico, has deep roots in the state's political and educational spheres. Both men served as rectors of the Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa (UAS) in different periods—Rocha from 1993 to 1997 and Cuén from 2005 to 2009. Initially, their relationship was collaborative, particularly during Rocha's gubernatorial campaign in 2021, where Cuén's local party, the Partido Sinaloense (PAS), played a key role in Rocha's victory.However, their alliance quickly soured after Rocha assumed office. Cuén, who was appointed Secretary of Health, was soon dismissed in May 2022 amid allegations tied to the murder of journalist Luis Enrique Ramírez. This marked the beginning of a public and escalating conflict between the two, centered around political control and influence, particularly over the UAS.Rocha's administration started to limit the power and influence of Cuén and his allies within the university and the state government. This led to a series of legal and political battles, including accusations of corruption against Cuén and his son, as well as actions perceived as political persecution by Cuén's supporters. The situation reached a climax with mass protests by UAS workers against what they saw as Rocha's attempts to undermine the university's autonomy.The rivalry took a tragic turn in July 2024 when Cuén was assassinated under suspicious circumstances, coinciding with an alleged incident involving Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, a leading figure in the Sinaloa Cartel. This has further complicated the political landscape in Sinaloa, intertwining it with organized crime narratives and deepening the political rift in the state.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Scandals, the shadow of El Mayo and the war against Governor Rocha: The tangled life and death of Héctor Cuén | International | EL PAÍS English (elpais.com)

The rivalry between Héctor Melesio Cuén Ojeda and Rubén Rocha Moya, both prominent figures in Sinaloa, Mexico, has deep roots in the state's political and educational spheres. Both men served as rectors of the Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa (UAS) in different periods—Rocha from 1993 to 1997 and Cuén from 2005 to 2009. Initially, their relationship was collaborative, particularly during Rocha's gubernatorial campaign in 2021, where Cuén's local party, the Partido Sinaloense (PAS), played a key role in Rocha's victory.However, their alliance quickly soured after Rocha assumed office. Cuén, who was appointed Secretary of Health, was soon dismissed in May 2022 amid allegations tied to the murder of journalist Luis Enrique Ramírez. This marked the beginning of a public and escalating conflict between the two, centered around political control and influence, particularly over the UAS.Rocha's administration started to limit the power and influence of Cuén and his allies within the university and the state government. This led to a series of legal and political battles, including accusations of corruption against Cuén and his son, as well as actions perceived as political persecution by Cuén's supporters. The situation reached a climax with mass protests by UAS workers against what they saw as Rocha's attempts to undermine the university's autonomy.The rivalry took a tragic turn in July 2024 when Cuén was assassinated under suspicious circumstances, coinciding with an alleged incident involving Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, a leading figure in the Sinaloa Cartel. This has further complicated the political landscape in Sinaloa, intertwining it with organized crime narratives and deepening the political rift in the state.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Scandals, the shadow of El Mayo and the war against Governor Rocha: The tangled life and death of Héctor Cuén | International | EL PAÍS English (elpais.com)

Looking for more DTP content? Check us out here: https://www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links In this episode of the Disaster Tough Podcast, host John Scardena interviews Erik Kramer, a 26-year U.S. Army Special Forces veteran, tech innovator, and senior leader with the National Center for Urban Operations (NCOU). Erik brings decades of experience in counter-drone warfare, urban operations, and emerging threat environments, with direct insight from years spent training Ukrainian forces and advising on counter-unmanned systems. Kramer explains how drones and unmanned systems are fundamentally transforming warfare and crisis response — creating a “revolution in military affairs.” Drawing from his time in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, he shares how decision-making is shifting from senior leaders to junior operators who must act instantly under drone threats. He warns that the U.S. and local agencies remain woefully unprepared for a September 11th–style event involving unmanned systems, and stresses the urgent need for counter-UAS training, decentralized decision-making, and survivor-first leadership. Beyond drones, Kramer highlights the often-overlooked risks of subterranean operations in cities — from tunnels and underground infrastructure to complex dense-urban terrain — and how NCOU is working with ports, first responders, and military units to build awareness, create tailored counter-drone strategies, and deliver advanced training. This episode connects lessons from Ukraine, Special Forces culture, and emerging technologies directly to emergency managers, first responders, and policymakers who must adapt to an era where drones, cyber, and underground threats redefine homeland security.

Send us a textWelcome to the Ones Ready Daily Drop, where Peaches rants his way through the Pentagon's latest circus act. From Riga flyovers to AI “investments” that wouldn't even buy a used Ford Ranger, this week's Ops Brief is a buffet of absurdity. We've got ten tankers launching in Guam (because why not), Sharon peacing out of DISA IT, and the Air Force throwing pocket change at human-AI collab while China sharpens their Skynet. Oh—and apparently basketball is religion in Latvia, civilians are either heroes or roadblocks, and yes, Peaches argues for vigilantes (send complaints to his inbox, not ours). It's snark, it's savage, it's Ones Ready.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Special Warfare assessment model explained (crawl, walk, run… or quit) 02:06 – Nashville OTS update: still need a ranch, got a pool 03:00 – Riga flyover: B-1 + NATO flexing 04:29 – White House ponders air support for Ukraine 05:40 – 10-ship tanker sortie out of Guam (Peaches vs. Smashburger) 06:58 – Pentagon IT shakeup: Sharon exits stage left 07:30 – $490M UAS and counter-UAS contract 08:20 – The Air Force's $1.25M AI “couch cushion” project 09:13 – National Signing Day for Air & Space recruits 10:25 – Space Force news: X-37B launch, satcom contracts, new waveform tech 12:52 – Budget plan = new weapons, fewer civilians (Peaches rants) 15:10 – General Dynamics' tracking layer contract 16:00 – Ex-Space Force analyst sentenced for vigilante shooting 17:31 – Peaches defends vigilantes (uh oh) 18:15 – Supply chain & internet behavior threats 19:00 – AI platform ADVANA gutted by budget cuts 20:00 – Top Gun trivia: meet the real “Charlie”

In this week's episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, host Chris Breedlove sits down with Benton Szejk from Wingtra to talk about where the drone industry is headed.With all the uncertainty around regulations, supply chains, tariffs, and evolving executive orders, many drone pilots and professionals are wondering: what's next? Benton shares insights from the manufacturer's perspective on:-The impact of the Blue and Green lists for drone certification-Supply chain challenges and how Wingtra is preparing for the future-Recent executive orders and what they mean for UAS policy in the U.S.-Key features needed for BVLOS operations-Wingtra's latest technology, including obstacle avoidance, LTE connectivity, and AI-powered tools-How drones are being used for mapping, surveying, environmental monitoring, and even public safetyWhether you're a drone operator, educator, or just passionate about the future of UAS, this episode offers encouragement and practical insights into what's ahead for the industry.https://wingtra.comhttps://wingtra.com/ray/ https://info.duncan-parnell.com/acton/media/23538/WingtraRAY-Roadshow

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the one-hundredth-and-ninth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.' Hosted by MAJ Marc Howle, the Brigade Senior Engineer / Protection Observer-Coach-Trainer, and MAJ David Pfaltzgraff, BDE S-3 Operations OCT, from Brigade Command & Control (BDE HQ) on behalf of the Commander of Ops Group (COG). Today's guests are CPT Joshua Ash, a Company Commander with 1-509th IN (ABN) (Opposing Force), MAJ Reed Ziegler, the BN S-3 Operations OCT in TF-1 (Infantry BN), SFC Walter Jinks, the Explosive Hazard Advisor OCT in the Fires Support TF, and MSG Brandon Roberts, the BDE Fires Support NCO OCT in BC2 (BCT HQ).   The Hip Pocket Training series is a short-form series focused on single-topic insights for the warfighter on the go. Quick, relevant, and ready when you are!   This episode of The Crucible focuses on the application of the military decision-making process (MDMP) in the defense, emphasizing how terrain, threat, and timing uniquely shape defensive operations during large-scale combat operations (LSCO). The hosts and guests walk through the interconnected steps of MDMP and engagement area development, noting that these are not mutually exclusive but instead must be integrated. The team emphasizes the importance of early terrain analysis during mission analysis, identifying enemy avenues of approach, and positioning most casualty-producing weapon systems. Fires planning is highlighted as both enemy- and terrain-informed, with best practices including placing targets in front of, on, and beyond the position to avoid over-saturating the battlespace and ensure rehearsable and executable fires.   Preparation emerges as a central theme, with observations that many units wait too long to plan and begin defense construction, leading to compressed timelines and poorly executed operations. The podcast outlines critical practices such as conducting a defense preparation rehearsal before line of departure (LD), synchronizing Class IV/V deliveries, employing engineer assets efficiently, and securing battle positions from UAS observation. The episode also explores friction points with fires rehearsals—especially the importance of digital tech rehearsals—and the lingering challenge of replacing lost cavalry reconnaissance capability with company- and battalion-level initiatives. Ultimately, the conversation drives home that successful defenses are those planned early, prepared thoroughly, rehearsed repeatedly, and executed with integrated fires, concealment, and security that match the enemy's tempo and capability.   Part of S13 “Hip Pocket Training” series.   For additional information and insights from this episode, please check-out our Instagram page @the_jrtc_crucible_podcast   Be sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the latest warfighting TTPs learned through the crucible that is the Joint Readiness Training Center.   Follow us by going to: https://linktr.ee/jrtc and then selecting your preferred podcast format.   Again, we'd like to thank our guests for participating. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and review us wherever you listen or watch your podcasts — and be sure to stay tuned for more in the near future.   “The Crucible – The JRTC Experience” is a product of the Joint Readiness Training Center.

The investigation continues into two unusual high-altitude encounters initially described as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drone sightings. Information gathered since the Flight Safety Detectives' first look at this incident has made these strange events seem like unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) incidents.In December 2024, a Delta 767 crew reported being shadowed for over an hour at 34,000 feet by multiple flashing red-and-white aircraft over New Mexico and Arizona—well above legal drone limits and invisible to ATC radar. FAA records later indicated four objects maneuvering close to the jet, one within 1,000 feet.Shortly after, a United 787 at 27,000 feet had a brief, separate encounter with a similar object. FOIA requests revealed details that made these cases more consistent with UAP (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) than drones, given their altitude, endurance, and performance.Greg Feith, John Goglia, and Todd Curtis discuss aviation safety concerns, the FAA's lack of a dedicated UAP reporting system, and the stigma pilots face in reporting such events. Todd plans to mine FAA drone-incident data and Mandatory Occurrence Reports to identify other likely UAP encounters. Don't miss what's to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website. Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Show LinksNavy's Plan for Unmanned SystemsDepartment of Crazy Ideas: How about a cheap inshore fleet? Mark Tempest, 2009.Buy Fords, Not Ferraris, Jerry Hendrix, 2008Droning on About Drones, CDR Salamander, 2013Building the Navy's Hybrid Fleet, Lieutenant Commander Jack Rowley, Proceedings, July 2025.The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Robert A. HeinleinThe Mote in God's Eye, Larry Niven and Jerry PournelleBenjamin Kohlmann, Nominated for Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve AffairsJohn Lewis-class replenishment oilerCleo Paskal on XA Death in the Pacific, CDR Salamander, July 2025Rods From GodAustria Ponders NATOSummaryIn this episode of Midrats, the hosts discuss the current state of the U.S. Navy, starting with the new Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and the challenges he faces in balancing operational needs with budget constraints. They explore the importance of shipbuilding and naval readiness, innovations in technology such as modular attack surface craft, and the role of autonomous systems in enhancing operational capabilities. The conversation also touches on economic considerations in naval strategy, the potential for space-based systems, and the significance of recruitment and training for future naval forces. Additionally, the hosts discuss the role of the Naval Reserve, political dynamics in naval appointments, logistical challenges, and geopolitical considerations in the Pacific, concluding with thoughts on NATO's future and the potential inclusion of Austria.Chapters00:00: Introduction02:05: New CNO and Navy Leadership Challenges04:57: Shipbuilding and Naval Readiness09:43: Modular Attack Surface Craft, Drones, and Innovation16:15: Autonomous Systems and Experimentation19:23: Risk Management via Distributed Risk21:32: Economic Considerations in Naval Strategy22:55: Rods from God: Now More Than Ever30:18: The Role of the Naval Reserve33:50: Political Appointments and Their Impact36:22: More Oilers, Faster47:28: Saipan, and Geopolitical Considerations in the Pacific52:52: Austria's future of NATO?01:01:46: Conclusion and Recommendations

Send us a textIn today's daily drop, Peaches blasts through the latest ops headlines like a Hellfire through a Toyota Hilux. From exposing our hilariously thin missile reserves to roasting tech bros whose drones crumble outside PowerPoint presentations, this one's a full-body workout in situational awareness. AFRICOM's been busy lighting up Somalia, the National Guard's turning Northern Michigan into a drone graveyard, and Space Force is slinging lasers and quantum gadgets into orbit like it's Star Wars cosplay. Meanwhile, Air Force Global Strike Command promises a “seamless” transition—LOL—and another Humvee goes full NASCAR in Wyoming. Also, Tricare might finally stop fleecing military families for having adult kids. That's not just news, that's a miracle. Buckle up, team. This episode's got more truth than a cleared EPR.

Send us a textWelcome to the July 11th edition of the Daily Drop, where the Pentagon plays Monopoly with rare earth minerals, drones become the new IEDs, and Trump hands out Patriot missiles like party favors—with NATO picking up the tab (allegedly). Jared unpacks the latest military madness with his usual blend of sarcasm, side-eyes, and straight-up disbelief. From AI drone swarms to banned eyelash extensions, from therapy dogs saving morale to space lasers tracking Chinese satellites—this one's got it all. Oh, and apparently we bombed Iran's nuclear sites… but maybe didn't hit anything? It's like a military-themed episode of “Nailed It!”

Send us a textPeaches returns with a scorched-earth breakdown of America's latest military moves—and screwups. From counter-UAS task forces to the Pentagon's $330M-per-jet regrets, this episode tears into drone threats, Space Force drama, and Operation Midnight Hammer's massive flex… that also accidentally exposed all our weak spots. We're talking fleet gaps, busted tankers, munitions shortages, and decision-makers who keep canceling the wrong programs. Plus: the Air Force ditches sit-up alternatives (again), the F-47 enters the chat, and Iran just keeps poking the bear. If you want strategic insights laced with sarcasm, this is your ammo drop.