AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments
Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.
Swift Engineering has successfully demonstrated the first fully autonomous flight of its Swift020 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAS in Kobe, Japan, the company announced on 1 August.
The system’s X-blade technology allows it to take off and land vertically and transition to fixed-wing forward flight without additional launch and recovery equipment.
The Swift020 UAS is a family of systems designed to support linear infrastructure, oil and gas, maritime, emergency services, delivery, agriculture, scientific research, surveillance and security markets.
Andrew Streett, VP of technology and chief scientist at Swift Engineering, said: ‘This was a collaboration with the Osaka Aviation Bureau, the city and port of Kobe, which cumulated in the Swift020 flying over a ‘densely inhabited district’ a standard used in Japan to describe an area of 4,000 people per 1sq km. The teamwork between multiple agencies was key to the success of this demonstration.
‘This is a preemptive success before the release of the regulations for drone use in Japan.’
Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.
The service has been using a Directed Requirement (DR) approach to speed up the deployment of a Medium Range Reconnaissance capability.
AeroVironment’s portfolio will grow thanks to the eVTOL P550 aimed at battalion-level tactical forces.
The Royal Australian Air Force is advancing its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities across three key programmes as it works with the likes of Boeing and Northrop Grumman to reshape Australia’s defence strategy.
Prototypes from Griffon Aerospace and Textron Systems recently passed through MOSA conformance trials and flight tests.
Funds for the second phase of this effort will be allocated in the US Department of Defense (DoD) FY2026 budget request.