Ascent Vision Technologies’ System Used to Counter Iranian Drone
Ascent Vision Technologies (AVT) says its Light Marine Air Defense Integrated System (LMADIS) was used in July by the U.S. Marine Corp to mitigate a hostile Iranian drone that threatened a U.S. Navy vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. AVT says the Iranian small, fixed-wing unmanned aircraft system flew within 1,000 yards of the USS Boxer and was immediately taken down using the electronic warfare system that is integrated into the LMADIS. AVT says the LMADIS can detect, locate, track, identify and defeat sUAS on the move. The system incorporates four all-threat tactical air surveillance radars for hemispheric coverage, the company’s CM202U gyrostabilized CUAS optic and an electronic warfare system for a complete “soft-kill” solution.
Raytheon to Deploy Prototype High-Energy Laser Systems to Down Drones
Raytheon [RTN] is developing a high-energy laser system and will deploy two prototype weapons systems to troops overseas under an Air force contract. The prototype experimentation includes one-year of infield operation against unmanned aircraft systems and operator training. The High-Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) can detect, identify, track and instantly down a drone, the company says. Raytheon paired the HELWS with its Multi-spectral Targeting System and mounts it on a Polaris MRZR all-terrain vehicle. The contract follows successful demonstrations of the company’s directed energy systems for the Air Force and Army.
Brazil Police Use Atlas Drones to Help Secure Soccer Tournament
Drone manufacturer Atlas says military police in Brazil’s State Rio de Janeiro State used the company’s small unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to help secure a stadium during the recent Copa America men’s soccer tournament in the country. Atlas, which is based in Maryland, said its AtlasPRO UAS was flown along the perimeter of Maracanã Stadium during the final series of the tournament to gather data on public safety hazards and facilitate emergency response. The company says the AtlasPRO was used in single and multi-UAS missions and was the first instance in which MESH multi-drone technology was approved to secure a major sporting event. The UAS can fly for 50 minutes and has a range of 10 kilometers. The MESH technology allows a single operator to command and control a network of drones.
DHS S&T Selects Three Finalists for $250K Escape Respirator
The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate has selected three finalists for the first stage of the $250,000 Escape Respirator Challenge, which seeks new concepts for a compact, discreetly-carried escape respirator that can be donned quickly for safe egress from smoke-filled, oxygen-deficient, and chemical, biological and radiological environments. The finalists are Florida-based Elmridge Protection Products, LLC, for its iEvac E700 Mini-ReBreather, Washington-based Team VITNI for the Hazard Occlusion and Oxygen Device, and Illinois-based UP Enterprizes for the Multiple Air Source Quick-don. Each finalist will receive $50,000 to expand their concepts and develop working prototypes to advance to the second stage where they will demonstrate their prototypes and compete for a final cash prize of $100,000. S&T says that while commercial solutions exist for escape hoods or respirators, most models lack an oxygen delivery mechanism for respiratory protection when worn in an oxygen-deficient environment. The challenge is also aimed a delivering a smaller form factor to save space or weight.