Ukrainian Long-Range Attack Drones To Be Tested By U.S. Military
Project Artemis will also evaluate American designs that could evolve into long-range kamikaze drones for the U.S. military.
Joseph Trevithick
Updated 21 Hours Ago
Two Ukrainian firms, both partnered with American companies, are among those now set to demonstrate long-range one-way drones to the U.S. military as part of a project called Artemis.
Ukrainian long-range one-way attack drones on display.
Government of Ukraine
Two Ukrainian drone firms, both partnered with American companies, are among those now set to demonstrate long-range one-way designs to the U.S. military as part of a project called Artemis. The effort is focused primarily on exploring kamikaze drones with extended range that are resistant to GPS jamming/spoofing and electronic warfare threats. This is a clear reflection of key trends observed in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) announced today that it had awarded four contracts under Artemis for the production of prototype drone designs that will then be evaluated under operationally relevant conditions, hopefully well before the end of the year. Two of those deals went to U.S. drone makers Aerovironment and Dragoon Technologies. The other two went to U.S. software firms Auterion and Swan, both of which are paired with unnamed Ukrainian drone companies. Now a decade old, DIU is tasked with helping the U.S. military leverage new and improved commercial technologies to meet various requirements.
Aerovironment’s Switchblade 600, examples of which have been supplied to the US And Ukrainian armed forces, are among that company’s existing portfolio of kamikaze drones. Aerovironment
“DIU is partnering with the Department of Defense Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment (A&S) to execute a FY24 [Fiscal Year 2024] Budget line item directing operational testing of platforms in relevant Electronic Warfare (EW) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) denied environments,” according to a DIU press release. “Congressional direction for this effort had a goal to provide loitering munitions capable of operation in an electromagnetic contested environment, at a price point that allows for mass deployment.”
https://www.twz.com/air/ukrainian-long-range-one-way-attack-drones-to-be-tested-by-u-s-military