What's next for the Pentagon after the Replicator programme?
Although the Replicator initiative has made several accomplishments, there are still multiple gaps to plug across the US Department of Defense (DoD) and its services.
Kongsberg tests SAR UAV technology
Kongsberg Geospatial and the County of Renfrew Paramedic Service have concluded the field trials of a new software application that improves the safety of operating a search and rescue (SAR) UAV beyond visual line-of-sight, the company announced in late March.
The Country of Renfrew Paramedic Service uses a commercial UAV for paramedic first response, but a major limitation for UAV operators is that commercial UAVs cannot be operated beyond line-of-sight.
Kongsberg Geospatial delivers display technology for military UAV platforms and has been working Canadian and US regulatory and industry groups for a portable unified display to civil UAV operators to operate beyond line-of-sight.
The display technology integrates and presents data about the UAV and other aircraft, obstacles, terrain and airspace through a single tablet. For this test, the team was restricted from operating beyond line-of-sight but could simulate the conditions using a second observer to shadow the pilot operations.
During the trial, repeated exercises were performed in which the software was used to navigate the UAV and to help direct searchers to the 'casualties' in a heavily forested nature reserve near Cobden, Ontaria.
Allison Malloy, program manager, IRIS UAV platform, Kongsberg Geospatial, said: ‘We’re pleased at the outcome of these trials, and we’re confident in our technology, but we still have additional research and development to do before this platform can be applied commercially, and there’s still a lot of regulatory work to do to get the necessary approvals.
‘We’re actively engaged with Transport Canada, the FAA, and other regulatory and industry working groups, and we’re hopeful that the necessary regulatory framework to allow licensed drone pilots to work beyond line-of-sight will be put in place in the near future.’
You may also like
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![What's next for the Pentagon after the Replicator programme?]()
-
![Cummings Aerospace showcases Hellhound loitering munition designed for US Army’s LASSO programme (video)]()
Cummings Aerospace showcases Hellhound loitering munition designed for US Army’s LASSO programme (video)
Cummings Aerospace presented its turbojet-powered Hellhound loitering munition at SOF Week 2025, offering a man-portable solution aligned with the US Army’s LASSO requirements.
-
![SOF Week 2025: PDW unveils attritable FPV drone for SOF operations at scale]()
SOF Week 2025: PDW unveils attritable FPV drone for SOF operations at scale
PDW has revealed its Attritable Multirotor First Person View drone at SOF Week 2025, offering special operations forces a low-cost, rapidly deployable platform for strike and ISR missions, inspired by battlefield lessons from Ukraine.
-
![SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions]()
SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions
Teledyne FLIR is highlighting the emerging requirements for 'recoverable and re-usable' loitering munitions across the contemporary operating environment during this week’s SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida.
-
![SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America]()
SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America
High-performance maritime industry player Kraken Technology Group, based in the UK, has used the SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida this week to debut its K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessel (USV) to the North American market.
-
![Palladyne AI and Red Cat to demonstrate capabilities for autonomous drone swarms to the US military]()
Palladyne AI and Red Cat to demonstrate capabilities for autonomous drone swarms to the US military
Red Cat and Palladyne AI recently conducted a cross-platform collaborative flight involving three diverse heterogeneous drones.
