Planet Labs has received a contract to supply an international customer with an advanced maritime domain awareness solution for vessel detection and monitoring. Under the agreement, the San Franciso-based company will work with partner SynMax to deliver its artificial intelligence-enhanced PlanetScope data to the client. According to Planet, the unnamed defense customer also expanded its SkySat...
Category: National Security
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Germany Places Order for Rheinmetall Practice Rockets
The German Armed Forces has ordered unguided 70 mm practice rockets from Rheinmetall under a potential $109.42 million framework contract. An initial order worth a mid-double-digit million euro was placed in the second quarter, with deliveries expected to be completed in the coming months and serial production to commence between 2025 and 2029. The practice...
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Nikon Sees Growing Demand for Its Metal 3D Printing, Legacy Chipmaking Capabilities
Nikon, witnessing a surge in its businesses, is looking to market its metal 3D printers to the U.S. defense and aerospace market. In an interview with Bloomberg TV on Wednesday, Muneaki Tokunari, president and chief financial officer at Nikon, said the Japanese optics and imaging firm is “betting on many things,” one of which is...
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US, Saudi Arabia Sign Deal to Deepen Partnership in Space Exploration
The United States and Saudi Arabia have agreed to deepen their collaboration in space exploration and civil aeronautics, with the two sides finalizing a framework agreement to facilitate and strengthen a mutually beneficial partnership, NASA announced Tuesday. The bilateral pact underscores the significance of the Artemis Accords, which supports the transparent, safe and responsible exploration...
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Lockheed Martin Outlines F-16 Offset Program for Thai Air Force
Lockheed Martin has proposed to support Thailand in improving its manufacturing workforce and aerospace engineering capabilities should the country obtain the F-16 Block 70/72. Bangkok had detailed in March its procurement plans over the next decade, with the latest Lockheed iteration and Saab’s Gripen emerging as top contenders. On Monday, the defense contractor said it...
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New AI Cooperation Agreement Aims to Boost US-Singapore Defense Alliance
The U.S. Department of Defense and the Singapore Ministry of Defence have established a framework for technical collaboration on data analytics and artificial intelligence under a newly released statement of intent. The SOI — signed on Monday by Radha Iyengar Plumb, DOD’s chief digital and AI officer, and Brig. Gen. Yew Chee Leung, Singapore Ministry...
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UK’s New Government Announces Strategic Defense Review to Boost Armed Forces
The United Kingdom’s new government led by the Labour Party has launched a Strategic Defence Review to identify the resources and capabilities needed to boost all British military domains in response to existing international threats, including the Russian military aggression against Ukraine and Chinese activities in the Indo-Pacific region. The review was announced after the...
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Australia Selects Quantum-Systems, Sypaq to Provide New Drones to ADF
The Australian Defence Force will see its drone assets expand with the Albanese government’s procurement of new lethal and nonlethal small uncrewed aerial systems worth over $67.79 million from Quantum-Systems and Sypaq Systems. Quantum-Systems was awarded two contracts to deliver Vector fixed-wing electric vertical takeoff and landing drones and provide training, maintenance, engineering, supply and...
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Helsing Poised to Boost AI Defense R&D With $490M New Funding
Helsing, a Munich-based defense company focused on creating artificial intelligence-based military solutions and components, has secured over $490 million from a Series C financing round it initiated to raise funds for product research and development. U.S.-based venture capital firm General Catalyst led the funding round, with Elad Gil, Accel, Saab, Lightspeed, Plural and Greenoaks as...
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Lockheed Awarded $300M Navy Contract Modification to Support Australia Surface Combatant Program
Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Lockheed Martin’s rotary and mission systems business a contract modification worth $300.94 million to provide software engineering and on-site support for the Australia Surface Combatant program. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey, and Adelaide, Australia, through September 2031. The ASC initiative involves the modernization of three Hobart-class...