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Orbital Data Center Launching to ISS to Advance Space Computing
Aug 19, 2025, 1:34 PM ET
A cutting-edge orbital data center is set to launch to the International Space Station (ISS), marking an important step forward in advancing space-based computing.
The project, sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory®, will test the system's ability to provide increased data storage and real-time data processing in space—crucial capabilities for future commercial space stations.
The investigation, launching on SpaceX's 33rd commercial resupply services mission for NASA, is a collaboration between ISS National Lab Commercial Service Provider Axiom Space and open-source software leader Red Hat.
For the demonstration, the team is testing in-orbit computing on an Axiom data center prototype powered by Red Hat Device Edge. "This technology could enable real-time processing of data close to where it is generated, reducing the need for downlink bandwidth, which is precious in space," said Tony James, chief architect of science and space at Red Hat. "It could also enable time-sensitive decision making and a bit of autonomy.
As experiments are running in space and decisions need to be made, you aren't having to wait hours or days for information from the ground."
Research and manufacturing on future commercial space stations will require robust data storage and processing systems, making it critical to develop technologies that support these needs.
Computing in space also must overcome challenges such as power constraints, radiation, and isolation from support systems.
"You need to ensure a space-based software platform has an appropriate level of resistance to damage from harsh conditions and the ability to self-heal with limited or no human intervention," James said. "The system we are testing addresses those capabilities."
The data center's software was developed using open-source technology, which encourages collaboration and innovation from developers around the globe.
"This demonstration proves that open-source development truly unlocks the world's potential, even at 400 km above Earth where the space station orbits."
People have been doing computing in space for decades, but the focus has now shifted to how space-based operations could benefit from more advanced computing, James explained.
For example, advanced computing could be used to monitor astronauts' health on the Moon using spacesuits outfitted with sensors that send data such as heart and breathing rate to a central location.
If an anomaly is detected, edge computing could use predictive AI models to help determine if the person has a health issue and needs to return to base.
Additionally, developing data centers that successfully operate in space could help improve terrestrial data centers and those used in aircraft by increasing energy efficiency.
SpaceX's 33rd commercial resupply mission for NASA is scheduled to launch no earlier than 3:55 a.m. EDT on Thursday, August 21 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
For additional information on ISS National Lab-sponsored investigations launching on this mission, visit our launch page.
To learn more about the research and technology development sponsored by the ISS National Lab, including how to propose concepts for future space-based R&D, visit our website.
https://www.wlns.com/business/press-releases/cision/20250819DE54788/orbital-data-center-launching-to-iss-to-advance-space-computing/
https://issnationallab.org/
https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-35-mission
https://www.youtube.com/@blueorigin
New Shepard’s 35th Mission Targets Liftoff on Saturday, August 23, Will Fly More Than 40 Payloads to Space
Aug 19, 2025
Blue Origin’s next New Shepard flight, NS-35, is an uncrewed mission with more than 40 scientific and research payloads onboard. This is the program’s 35th mission and will bring the total number of payloads flown on New Shepard to more than 200.
The launch window opens on Saturday, August 23, at 7:30 AM CDT / 1230 UTC from Launch Site One in West Texas. The webcast will begin 15 minutes before liftoff.
The payload manifest includes 24 experiments from NASA’s TechRise Student Challenge, along with thousands of postcards on behalf of Club for the Future, Blue Origin’s STEAM-focused nonprofit.
As part of its mission, Club for the Future works with organizations like NASA, universities, non-profits, and K-12 schools to inspire the next generation of space explorers.
The organization has engaged nearly 95 million people globally through initiatives including Postcards to Space, standards-aligned lessons to help teachers, and an ambassador program.
Students can submit their own digital postcards to fly to space here.
The mission will provide over three minutes of clean microgravity for experiments from a range of organizations, including NASA, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Oklahoma State University, University of Florida, Carthage College, University of Central Florida, Teledyne, Space Lab Technologies, and Teachers in Space, among others.
This flight utilizes our dedicated payload capsule, RSS H.G. Wells, and newest New Shepard booster, the same vehicle combination that flew on NS-29 and successfully demonstrated lunar gravity simulation inside the capsule.
NS-35 Manifest Highlights
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NASA TechRise Student Challenge, Future Engineers: The NASA TechRise Student Challenge provides a hands-on opportunity for students in grades 6-12 at U.S. schools to gain critical skills in engineering, computing, electronics, and more that will be required for America’s technical workforce.
The 24 student payloads include experiments on space farming, medical solutions, and the behavior of liquids in microgravity. NASA's Flight Opportunities program manages TechRise, which is administered by Future Engineers.
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A.R.E.S., Ecoatoms: The A.R.E.S. payload is the first of its kind, featuring a unique structure designed for chemical coatings in microgravity.
The experiment includes 432 sensors that will be coated in space simultaneously. NASA’s Flight Opportunities program provided funding for this payload.
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Biological Imaging in Support of Suborbital Science (BISS), University of Florida: Principal investigators Rob Ferl, who flew on NS-26, and Anna-Lisa Paul, are adapting ISS-based technology for suborbital use with their experiment, BISS. T
he upgraded FLEX fluorescence imaging system is flying for the fifth time on New Shepard and enables increasingly precise and dynamic understanding of biological responses to suborbital missions.
NASA’s Flight Opportunities and Biological and Physical Sciences programs provided the funding for this payload.
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Propellant Refueling and On-Orbit Transfer Operations (PROTO) & Microgravity Ullage Detection (MUD), Carthage College:
Carthage College Space Science program's PROTO experiment is collaborating with NASA Johnson Space Center to test new alternatives to measure spacecraft propellant levels in microgravity.
MUD is a non-invasive method to locate the liquid-vapor interface in spacecraft fuel tanks during microgravity. The system incorporates acoustic vibrations and external sensors to detect whether the tank wall is in contact with liquid or gas, which is critical for safe in-space refueling.
This experiment is flying for the third time with New Shepard. Both payloads are supported by NASA's Flight Opportunities program and the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium.
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EDR Fuel Cell, Teledyne: In collaboration with NASA’s Glenn Research Center, Teledyne has spent over a decade developing a fuel cell technology that generates electricity and water from hydrogen and oxygen supplies aboard space vehicles.
This experiment will test the system across all mission phases and serve as a foundational step toward scaling up power and water production to support long-term lunar and Martian habitation.
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TIS-3 & TIS-4, Teachers in Space (TIS): Teachers in Space provides training and flight opportunities for classroom spaceflight experiments designed by teachers and their students.
This payload is flying experiments from New Mexico, New York, and Maine focused on radiation detection and protection, sound level detection, and environmental data collection.
After the flight, teachers and students will analyze and present their findings on the Teachers in Space website, at conferences, and at science fairs. Findings from previous TIS experiments on New Shepard can be found here.
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Iberian wildfires seen from space
20/08/2025
Southern Europe is once again in the grip of extreme summer heat. Soaring temperatures and bone-dry land have fuelled widespread wildfires, with the Iberian Peninsula among the regions hardest hit.
Flames continue to sweep across parched landscapes, as these images show. From orbit, Earth-observing satellites offer a unique way of tracking the spread of fires and supporting emergency crews battling the blazes on the ground.
The images featured here reveal the scale of the crisis, with dense smoke plumes from several fires stretching across large areas of northwest Spain and northern Portugal.
To assist, the European Union’s Copernicus Emergency Mapping Service has been activated for several of these fires, as well as for recent blazes in other parts of Europe.
This service uses satellite imagery and other geospatial data to produce free, rapid-response maps for disaster situations worldwide – vital tools that help emergency organisations coordinate their response, support recovery and plan for future risks.
While the service is currently mostly using very-high-resolution satellite images to respond to the fires in Spain and Portugal, the Copernicus Sentinel-3 and Sentinel-2 missions provide a broader overview – delivering consistent, wide-scale monitoring of fire activity and its impact across the region.
The first image here was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission on 17 August 2025. This wide view of France, Spain and Portugal is dominated by smoke billowing from fires in the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula.
Thick plumes of smoke can be seen drifting northward and eastward under prevailing winds, merging with cloud systems over the Atlantic and blanketing large portions of the Bay of Biscay.
Some of this northbound smoke is also being blown back over Spain’s Mediterranean coast.
Wildfires like these not only endanger lives and devastate wildlife, habitats, agriculture and property, but they also severely degrade air quality, compounding their impact on human health.
The map below spans southern Europe, North Africa, the Mediterranean and across to the Black Sea to show fire hotspots (above) and concentrations of atmospheric carbon monoxide (below), also on 17 August.
Breathing air polluted with carbon monoxide can cause significant health problems.
Hotspots are categorised by radiative power using data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), aboard the joint NASA/NOAA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership, NOAA-20 and NOAA-21 satellites.
The carbon monoxide map is based on data from the European Commission’s Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS).
Largely based on satellite data, CAMS provides information related to air pollution and health, solar energy, greenhouse gases and climate forcing around the world.
The current Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite and the newly-launched Copernicus Sentinel-4 and Sentinel-5 instruments are key to providing such data.
The final image (below), acquired on 16 August by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission, is a false-colour view that uses the satellite’s shortwave-infrared channel to highlight active fires in northeast Portugal and northwest Spain.
A corresponding true-colour version is also available, allowing a closer look at the affected areas.
While the immediate priority in any wildfire crisis is to extinguish the flames and protect communities, the longer-term challenge is that such events are expected to become more frequent and intense as the climate crisis deepens.
Fire is recognised as an Essential Climate Variable, playing a critical role in the Earth system by influencing atmospheric composition, carbon cycles and ecosystems.
To better understand and monitor these dynamics, ESA harnesses satellite observations through its Climate Change Initiative Fire Project and its new XFires Project.
The Climate Change Initiative is designed to generate consistent, long-term global datasets of Essential Climate Variables that provide robust evidence of our changing climate, supporting both scientific research and international policy frameworks such as the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.
These projects are helping to improve predictions, guide adaptation strategies, and strengthen our collective response to a warming world.
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Iberian_wildfires_seen_from_space
You can now buy a trip to space on Jeff Bezos' unfortunately-shaped rocket with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, bringing the finest human endeavours full circle
August 20, 2025
Should you wish to emulate the achievements of the great Katy Perry, William Shatner and others by taking a trip on one of Blue Origin's rockets beyond the Kármán line, I have excellent news—you can now pay for the experience with cryptocurrency.
Shift4 Payments, a self-described "leader in integrated payments and commerce technology", has announced it's been working with Blue Origin to use its seamless payments technology to allow would-be space travellers to pay with Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, USDT and USDC for a trip on one of the company's New Shepard rockets.
The system is said to be up and running as of last week, marking a brave new frontier of crypto and space tourism combined.
“Our mission has always been to revolutionize commerce by simplifying the transaction process, and we’re thrilled to now extend that vision beyond Earth,” said Shift4 CEO Taylor Lauber.
"This partnership will enable adventurous travelers to book the adventure of a lifetime, no matter their preferred payment method - all with a simple, frictionless experience."
Blue Origin is currently taking bookings for one of 1,000 places aboard said rocket, promising that you'll "return to Earth, forever changed".
The New Shepard spacecraft allows travellers to float about in relative comfort inside one large crew capsule, roughly 62 miles above the planet's surface, before gently descending back down to terra firma with the help of some substantial parachutes.
It's not known exactly how much a single flight costs, but the booking form states that a (refundable) $150,000 deposit is required to begin the order process, so I imagine it's not exactly cheap.
Still, if you made out big in the last crypto boom, it might be something on your bucket list—and previous celebrity travellers appear to have enjoyed the experience immensely, so it's probably worth a punt if you've got the spare virtual cash rattling around in your digital wallet.
Of course, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin is not the only contender vying for your space tourism cash.
Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson's spaceplane-based competitor, allows you to join a waiting list for future flights, said to cost $450,000 a seat in boring old regular money.
Elon Musk's SpaceX, meanwhile, offers yet another mysterious booking form on its website, although there are no known space tourism flights currently in operation.
Russia's Soyuz programme has previously allowed private individuals to book a seat on one of its spacecraft, although it's not currently offering bookings, instead focusing on professional crew rotation runs to the International Space Station.
So, it looks like Blue Origin might be the fastest way to get yourself above the planet for a good old stare at its dying ecosystems from above, and now you can use internet funny money to pay for the experience.
Much of which, it must be said, was likely generated through the very power-sapping mechanisms that helped contribute to its downfall in the process. Lovely.
https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/you-can-now-buy-a-trip-to-space-on-jeff-bezos-unfortunately-shaped-rocket-with-bitcoin-and-other-cryptocurrencies-bringing-the-finest-human-endeavours-full-circle/
UK Space Agency to Lose Limited Autonomy to Government Streamlining=
August 20, 2025
The UK Space Agency has announced that from April 2026 it will be absorbed into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, losing its executive agency status.
In its 20 August announcement, the UK Space Agency stated that the restructuring, which is part of broader governmental “streamlining”, would remove duplication, reduce bureaucracy, and put “public accountability at the heart of decision-making.”
“Bringing things in house means we can bring much greater integration and focus to everything we are doing while maintaining the scientific expertise and the immense ambition of the sector,” said Space Minister Sir Chris Bryant.
“Having a single unit with a golden thread through strategy, policy and delivery will make it faster and easier to translate the nation’s space goals into reality,” echoed UK Space Agency CEO Dr Paul Bate.
The new unit of DSIT will retain the UK Space Agency name and brand and will be staffed by “experts from both organizations.”
While the announcement explained that there would be “no immediate changes to UK Space Agency grants or contracts,” the inclusion of “immediate” does, however, seem to imply that there will be changes in the future following the April 2026 transition.
Prior to the UK Space Agency, the country’s space activities were coordinated through the British National Space Centre, a loose partnership of government departments and research councils tasked with coordinating UK space policy.
In 2010, the country began the process of establishing its own centralized space agency set up as an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
With the announcement, government officials explained at the time that it would bring UK space activities under a single roof and reduce the regulatory burden.
“The agency will replace the British National Space Centre and bring together for the first time a range of UK space activities under one single management to enhance efficiencies and improve strategic decision making,” said then Minister for Science and Innovation, Lord Paul Drayson.
He added that the agency would give “a clear voice on decisions that affect the sector.”
“The establishment of the UK Space Agency will provide a focal point for this work and bring together our very best talent,” said then Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts.
“This is why we’ve earmarked £10 million in the Budget to start a national space technology programme and committed to reducing the regulatory burden on industry.”
It’s noteworthy how much of the language used to describe the introduction of the UK Space Agency as an executive agency is again being used to strip it of its limited independence.
As a DSIT executive agency, the UK Space Agency currently operates with limited managerial independence in delivering government space policy.
While at arm’s length in terms of day-to-day operations, it remains part of the department and directly accountable to ministers.
Unlike a non-departmental public body, it has no separate legal identity. In practice, this means the agency can exercise some autonomy in delivering specific programmes and services, but only within the framework set by its parent department.
Streamlining and reduced bureaucracy would undoubtedly have a positive effect on the UK space industry.
However, that is the polished, PR best-case scenario. An equally likely outcome is that, instead of a semi-independent body with its own voice acting as a hub for the country’s space efforts, the UKSA risks becoming just another Whitehall unit, bound by political cycles and ministerial whims.
There is also an optics problem: at a time when countries like Spain are cementing the importance of space through the launch of long-overdue national space agencies, the UK now appears to view space as just another element of governance, despite the polished press releases stating otherwise.
https://europeanspaceflight.com/uk-space-agency-to-lose-limited-autonomy-to-government-streamlining/
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-space-sector-bolstered-with-government-reforms-to-boost-growth-and-cut-red-tape
Fly through the eye of Hurricane Erin and see the powerful storm from space
August 19, 2025
The first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season is upon us, and it has gained quite a bit of attention due to its massive size and intensification within a short period of time.
Hurricane Erin, the fifth named storm of the season as well as the first hurricane to reach major status, formed on Aug. 11 and made its trek across the central Atlantic in just a few days.
The storm reached hurricane status on Aug. 15 as it approached the Lesser Antilles, then strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane the following day. At its highest intensity, Erin boasted maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 kph).
If those stats are not impressive enough, the views from space and from within Hurricane Erin are quite an extraordinary sight as well — and, of course, we have both of those available for you to see right here at Space.com.
We got a birds-eye view of some of Erin's most intense moments so far from one of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) spacecraft and the United States Air Force's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (also known as the Hurricane Hunters).
Footage from the GOES-19 satellite shows Hurricane Erin strengthening into a dangerous Category 4 storm as it roared toward the Eastern Caribbean.
You can watch the progression of Erin from a cluster of bubbling clouds to a more organized system with a well-defined eye and symmetrical structure.
The high-resolution images from GOES-19 paint the picture of a storm moving through conditions favorable for development.
Within 24 hours, Erin grows into a monster, churning madness in the open waters of the Atlantic and sending powerful wind and waves from miles offshore to communities on nearby islands, including Puerto Rico.
We also get to see Erin through the eyes of the men and women that make up the Hurricane Hunters. The team of aircrew fly on a WC-130J aircraft around and into storm systems, taking measurements and captivating views of their anatomy.
You can see what it looks like to be inside the eye of Hurricane Erin, staring up at the blue skies above while in the quiet center region of the storm.
And, as the aircraft begins its journey into the eye wall, the location of the most powerful winds and intense rain surrounding the tranquil eye of Erin, you can see the transition from peace to chaos within minutes.
https://www.space.com/astronomy/earth/fly-through-the-eye-of-hurricane-erin-and-see-the-powerful-storm-from-space-video
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/?utm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk5rWH5-sns
The Milky Way's faintest satellite may not be what astronomers thought. 'These results solve a major mystery in astrophysics'
August 20, 2025
A ghostly object orbiting the Milky Way has left astronomers questioning its composition: Is it a dark-matter-dominated dwarf galaxy or a star cluster bound by a hidden swarm of black holes?
Ursa Major III/Unions 1 (UMa3/U1), the faintest known satellite of our galaxy, orbits the Milky Way at a distance of more than 30,000 light-years. It is a compact stellar system that contains only 60 visible stars.
Ursa Major III was long thought to be a dark dwarf galaxy — a small galaxy with an unusually high mass-to-light ratio suggesting it's filled with dark matter
— but new evidence suggests it is instead a compact star cluster whose gravity is held together by a core of black holes and neutron stars, according to a statement from the University of Bonn in Germany.
"Dark star clusters form when gravitational interactions with the Milky Way over billions of years remove the outer stars from a star cluster," Hosein Haghi, co-author of the study who is conducting research at the University of Bonn, said in the statement.
After repeated gravitational encounters with the Milky Way, only a dense, invisible core of Ursa Major III remains. Since this dark core gives off no light, astronomers initially thought the cluster was packed with dark matter.
Using computer simulations and observational data of Ursa Major III's orbital motion and chemical composition, astronomers calculated the gravitational interactions of thousands of stars with great precision to reconstruct the object's structure over time.
The simulations show that a dense core of black holes could hold the remaining stars together gravitationally, without the need for dark matter, according to the statement.
"Our work shows for the first time that these objects are most likely normal star clusters," Pavel Kroupa, co-author of the study, said in the statement. "These results solve a major mystery in astrophysics."
https://www.space.com/astronomy/galaxies/the-milky-ways-faintest-satellite-may-not-be-what-astronomers-thought-these-results-solve-a-major-mystery-in-astrophysics
https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/news/149-2025
Semiconductor wafer on ISS goes under the microscope
August 20, 2025
With its microgravity environment, the International Space Station (ISS) provides researchers unique opportunities to study the effects of spaceflight on the human body, plants, bacteria and other systems.
Various companies and universities partner with NASA to perform their experiments aboard the ISS, making the space station a constant hub of scientific research.
What is it?
One of the projects supported by NASA is developing a technique to grow semimetal-semiconductor composite crystals in microgravity, with the ultimate goal of producing device-ready wafers off Earth.
With these special crystals, the wafer can be used in various electronic devices, which could address the growing global demand for advanced electronic components.
The project, which is part of NASA's In Space Production Applications (InSPA) program, is led by the company United Semiconductors LLC, in collaboration with Axiom Space and Redwire.
Where is it?
The crystals for the wafer were grown aboard the ISS in low Earth orbit, approximately 250 miles (402 kilometers) above our planet.
Why is it amazing?
Growing composite crystals on Earth can be tricky, as "needles" or imperfections in the semimetals of the crystal can develop and compromise its purity.
These imperfections are due to gravity driving changes in how the semimetals within the crystal settle and form.
For devices like electronic sensors, where these crystals need to be extremely precise and uniform, this process can pose a significant challenge.
But if the crystals are grown in microgravity, the process can be much better controlled.
In this recent experiment, four crystals were grown successfully aboard the ISS, a first step toward overcoming this key material science issue.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/semiconductor-wafer-on-iss-goes-under-the-microscope-space-photo-of-the-day-for-aug-20-2025
DAF holds service’s first 'National Signing Day' at Capitol Hill
Aug. 20, 2025
The U.S. Air Force and Space Force held its first National Signing Day ceremony at the historic Rayburn House Office building, Aug. 15.
Brig. Gen. Craig McPike, Air Force Recruiting Service deputy commander, hosted a swearing-in ceremony for 40 members of the Delayed Entry Program.
The Delayed Entry Program allows qualified applicants to enlist in the Air Force or Space Force and prepare physically and mentally for military service.
“This event underscores the significance of military service and the commitment these young Americans pledge to defend our nation,” McPike said.
“The opportunity to provide the Oath of Enlistment to these future Airmen and Guardians was deeply moving. It served as a powerful reaffirmation of not only my commitment to our core values, but to all Americans.”
The event, organized by the 317th Recruiting Squadron, mirrors college athletics signing ceremonies but rather than making a commitment to a particular sport and team, these recruits are making a binding commitment to serve their country.
Taking the oath during the ceremony represents the solemn promise each service member must uphold throughout their military careers.
“This event was truly a team effort, and I am proud to serve alongside the incredible members of Team 317th RCS,” said Senior Master Sgt. Matt London, production superintendent.
“Together we created an unforgettable experience that will resonate for years to come.”
The Department of Defense statistics show fewer than 23% of Americans qualify for military service, with only 1% ever serving.
This fiscal year, the Air Force and Space Force have sent nearly 29,000 of the 30,000 contracted recruits to basic military training, while the remaining recruits are scheduled to begin training by Sept. 30.
The Department of the Air Force announced on June 30 that it had achieved 100% of its annual recruitment goal three months ahead of schedule.
This year’s goal achievement is particularly noteworthy as the Air Force Recruiting Service has built its strongest Delayed Entry Program in the last decade, with a pool of over 17,000 recruits.
This inaugural National Signing Day signals the start of a continuing tradition by the 317th Recruiting Squadron to honor and celebrate the profound commitment of those who choose to serve in the Air Force and Space Force.
https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4280179/daf-holds-services-first-national-signing-day-at-capitol-hill/
Western-trained Ukrainian sabotage group busted – FSB
20 Aug, 2025 11:23
Russian law enforcement has broken up a Western-trained Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group that planned terrorist attacks against transport infrastructure in Russia’s Bryansk Region, the Federal Security Service (FSB) has reported.
During a gunfight with the perpetrators, three of the group’s members were killed and three others, including its commander, were captured, the agency said in a statement on Wednesday.
It described the saboteurs as special forces operatives, supervised by Ukraine’s military intelligence (GUR).
"The control and training of the… group was carried out with the direct participation of Western intelligence officers in Ukraine, as well as in Lithuania, Estonia and Norway,” the statement read.
In a video of the interrogation, also published by the FSB, the commander of the saboteurs confirms that he had instructors from the UK, other European countries, and Canada.
According to the agency, six US-made assault rifles with silencers, 16kg of Czech-made plastic explosives, a large number of NATO-type grenades and cartridges, and a communication device were seized at the group’s camp, located in a wooded area.
The operation to eliminate the saboteurs was the result of coordination between the FSB, the national guard (Rosgvardiya) and the Russian Interior Ministry in Bryansk Region, the statement read.
The arrested men confessed that they had been previously involved in explosions that damaged railway tracks in Belgorod Region in September 2024, as well as in preparations for other attacks inside Russia, the FSB said.
A criminal case related to preparing sabotage has been opened, and investigations launched under criminal code articles relating to smuggling of weapons and explosives, illegal crossing of the Russian border and endangering the lives of law enforcement officers, it added.
https://www.rt.com/news/623311-ukraine-sabotage-bryansk-fsb/
Ukraine has lost over 1.7 million troops – leaked docs
20 Aug, 2025 12:52
Ukraine has allegedly lost more than 1.7 million troops killed and missing, multiple media outlets reported on Wednesday, citing a digital card index reportedly from the country’s armed forces.
Russian hacking groups have claimed to have obtained the information by gaining access to the personal computers and local networks of the Ukrainian General Staff.
The database is said to include the full names of deceased soldiers, descriptions of the circumstances and places of their death or disappearance, personal data, next of kin, and photos.
The entries suggest that since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Kiev’s forces have lost a total of 1,721,000 servicemen.
118.5 thousand were apparently killed in 2022, 405.4 thousand in 2023, 595 thousand in 2024 and a record 621 thousand in 2025.
Hackers from the groups Killnet, Palach Pro, User Sec and Beregini are said to have obtained terabytes of information about the Ukrainian military.
Aside from personnel losses, the groups allegedly also possess the personal data of the command of the Special Operations Forces and the Main Intelligence Directorate, lists of all countries that have supplied weapons to Kiev and lists of all weapons transferred from 2022 to 2025.
This Ukrainian casualty estimate far exceeds losses previously reported by Kiev.
In February, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky told CBS News that since 2022, just 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed, with another 380,000 wounded.
The estimate was widely questioned even in Western media, with the France’s Le Monde reporting last month that “the real death toll is likely much higher,” citing Ukraine’s increasing efforts to build military cemeteries.
The Russian military has consistently reported higher casualties among Ukrainian servicemen, claiming their losses particularly surged following Kiev’s unsuccessful counteroffensive in 2023.
As of February, more than 1.08 million Ukrainian troops had been killed or wounded, according to Moscow’s estimates.
https://www.rt.com/russia/623322-ukraine-losing-million-troops/
Poland Slams Russian 'Provocation' After Drone Blast
August 20, 2025
Poland's defense minister blamed Russia on Wednesday for a drone crashing and exploding in farmland in the east of the country overnight.
"Once again, we are facing a provocation from the Russian Federation, with a Russian drone," Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters.
The explosion occurred in a cornfield near the village of Osiny some 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Warsaw and around the same distance from the borders with Ukraine and Belarus.
The minister said it came at "a particular moment, where peace talks are underway, where there is hope that this war… has a chance to end. Russia provokes once again."
Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski condemned "a new violation of our airspace from the east."
"The foreign ministry will protest to the perpetrator of this violation," he wrote on X.
Polish media published a video showing an explosion during the night, and photos of debris including an engine and a propellor.
Polish general Dariusz Malinowski said the aircraft "was a decoy drone, which was not armed but carried a self-destruct warhead."
Poland in 2023 accused Russia of using its airspace to fire a missile at Ukraine during a bombardment.
And in November 2022, two civilians were killed when a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile fell on a village near the border.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/08/20/poland-slams-russian-provocation-after-drone-blast-a90302
Drone attack sparks fire at energy facility in Odesa region, one injured
20.08.2025 08:41
A nighttime Russian drone attack in the Odesa region ignited a fire at a fuel and energy infrastructure site, leaving one person injured.
According to Ukrinform, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported this on Facebook.
“Overnight, Russia launched another massive strike on the region using attack UAVs. Preliminary reports indicate that one person was injured,” the statement reads.
The drone strikes triggered a large-scale fire at a fuel and energy facility.
According to the State Emergency Service, 54 rescuers and 16 units of equipment were involved in the emergency response. A fire train from Ukrzaliznytsia and a local fire brigade also assisted in extinguishing the blaze.
As previously reported by Ukrinform, a Russian drone strike on Okhtyrka in the Sumy region injured 12 people, including two children. Residential buildings and infrastructure were damaged.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4027486-drone-attack-sparks-fire-at-energy-facility-in-odesa-region-one-injured.html
https://t.me/dsns_telegram/48154
Ukrainian border guards destroy enemy drone control center in Luhansk region
20.08.2025 06:41
Drone operators from the “Phoenix” unit of the State Border Guard Service have destroyed a Russian UAV control center, a checkpoint, an artillery piece, and a tank in the Luhansk region.
The State Border Guard Service confirmed the strike, according to Ukrinform.
In addition, Ukrainian forces targeted and damaged Russian armored vehicles, trucks, UAZ vehicles, and specialized equipment.
As previously reported by Ukrinform, the Defense Forces also destroyed a Russian BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system in the Donetsk region.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4027468-ukrainian-border-guards-destroy-enemy-drone-control-center-in-luhansk-region.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y5ERDaAIQA
IDF says it has killed over 2,100 terror operatives since resuming Gaza fighting in March
August 20 2025, 7:50 pm
Since resuming fighting in the Gaza Strip in March, the IDF says it has eliminated over 2,100 terror operatives, including many senior Hamas commanders and other leaders in the terror group.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says 10,576 Palestinians have been killed in that time, without differentiating between combatants and civilians. Neither figure can be independently verified.
Over 10,000 terror targets were struck by Israeli Air Force fighter jets, helicopters and drones, as well as Navy vessels, since March 18, the military says.
The IDF says it has “operational control” over 75% of the Strip’s territory, which was achieved during the army’s latest offensive.
“The operational control in the area enabled the IDF to significantly expand its activity, thereby causing blows to the capabilities and terror infrastructure of the Hamas terror organization and disrupting its chain of command,” the military says.
The most significant strike carried out since March was the elimination of Mohammed Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza and brother of the late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, whom Israel killed last year; Muhammad Shabana, commander of the terror group’s Rafah Brigade; and Mahdi Quara, commander of the South Khan Younis Battalion.
The three, along with other operatives, were killed on May 13 while hiding in a tunnel under the European Hospital in Khan Younis.
The IDF says it has also killed several Hamas government leaders, internal security officers, six top commanders in the terror group’s naval commando forces, and dozens of terrorists who invaded Israel during its October 7, 2023, onslaught.
According to the IDF, its offensive against Hamas in recent months “led to a blow to the combat and command capabilities of the terror organizations in the Gaza Strip” and “created favorable operational conditions for intensifying the pressure on the Hamas terror organization and causing blows to its remaining capabilities.”
“These achievements constitute the basis for the next moves of the IDF in the Gaza Strip,” the military says, referring to the upcoming offensive in Gaza City.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-it-has-killed-over-2100-hamas-operatives-since-resuming-gaza-fighting-in-march/
IDF says troops repelled rare large-scale attack in south Gaza; 10 gunmen killed
Updated at August 20, 2025 7:46 pm
A cell of at least 18 Hamas operatives attempted to raid an Israel Defense Forces encampment in the Khan Younis area of the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning, according to a military probe of the unusual incident.
Three soldiers were wounded, one of them seriously, in the attack, the IDF said. The military assessed that the Hamas gunmen sought to kidnap troops.
According to a military probe, the attack began at around 9 a.m., with the operatives emerging from a tunnel in the south of Khan Younis and opening fire with machine guns and RPGs while approaching the army encampment.
Some of the gunmen managed to breach the encampment, where they exchanged fire with troops of the Kfir Brigade.
At least ten of the operatives were killed by the troops and in airstrikes directed by the forces, while eight managed to flee back into the tunnel, according to the army probe.
A cell of at least 18 Hamas operatives attempted to raid an Israel Defense Forces encampment in the Khan Younis area of the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning, according to a military probe of the unusual incident.
Three soldiers were wounded, one of them seriously, in the attack, the IDF said. The military assessed that the Hamas gunmen sought to kidnap troops.
The IDF released footage showing the airstrikes and efforts by troops to repel the attack.
“The troops identified more than 15 terrorists who emerged from a tunnel and opened fire, including RPG fire, at the forces,” IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said in a press conference.
“In the same incident, several terrorists entered a building where our forces were residing, and the terrorists were eliminated. We are investigating how this occurred, and will draw the necessary conclusions,” Defrin said.
A clip circulating online showed the bodies of two gunmen in the army encampment, and another video showed a tank of the 74th Armored Battalion ramming into an RPG-wielding operative amid the attack.
The wounded troops served with the Kfir Brigade’s Nahshon Battalion. One was seriously injured, and the other two are listed in good condition, according to the military.
The IDF said it was working to track down the remaining gunmen involved in the attack.
Hamas’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, took responsibility for the attack in a statement, claiming that its gunmen “stormed the site” and carried out a suicide bombing.
Al-Qassam claimed to have targeted several tanks with explosive devices and RPGs, and hit several buildings in the encampment being used by the IDF soldiers, using RPGs and machine-gun fire.
“A number of fighters stormed the houses and finished off a number of occupation soldiers inside from point-blank range with light weapons and hand grenades,” the terror group claimed, despite no Israeli soldiers being reported killed in the incident.
The terror group also claimed to have carried out sniper fire that “fatally wounded” the commander of a tank, and that it carried out mortar shelling in the area “to secure the withdrawal of the fighters.”
“Upon the arrival of the rescue force, one of the martyrs detonated himself among the soldiers, leaving them dead and wounded,” Al-Qassam claimed.
Hamas’s military wing said the attack “lasted for several hours,” though according to the IDF probe, the incident was wrapped up in under an hour.
During the war, Hamas has repeatedly made exaggerated claims regarding its operations against IDF troops in Gaza.
The incident on Wednesday marked a rare case of a relatively large cell of operatives attempting to attack an IDF post. Last month, a cell of at least 12 gunmen tried to attack an IDF logistics road in Khan Younis.
Wednesday’s attack came as the IDF was gearing up for a major offensive against Hamas in Gaza City.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-says-troops-repelled-rare-large-scale-attack-in-south-gaza-10-terrorists-killed/
https://x.com/idfonline/status/1958115503014080862
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/new-footage-shows-large-hamas-attack-on-idf-encampment-in-southern-gaza/
Footage from large-scale Hamas attack shows IDF tank ramming fighter with RPG
August 20 2025, 5:43 pm
Footage from this morning’s Hamas attack on an IDF encampment in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis shows a tank of the 74th Armored Battalion ramming into an RPG-wielding operative.
The operative was killed before managing to fire, according to an army probe.
At least 10 Hamas gunmen were killed by troops and in airstrikes during the attempt by the terror group to raid the army encampment and potentially abduct soldiers.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/footage-from-large-scale-hamas-attack-shows-idf-tank-ramming-fighter-with-rpg/
https://x.com/manniefabian/status/1958170884029415613
IDF begins invasion of Gaza City as hostage deal talks continue
Updated: AUGUST 20, 2025 20:15
The IDF has begun the first steps of its invasion of Gaza City, IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin confirmed on Wednesday. "Our forces already control the outskirts of the city," Deffrin said.
Additionally, he confirmed that some 60,000 conscription letters will be sent out this week, with an additional 20,000 to be sent later this month.
In his statement, Deffrin confirmed that the IDF is working to provide sufficient spaces for Gazan civilians to safely evacuate, as well as receive aid and medical care.
IDF soldiers ambushed in Khan Yunis
Deffrin addressed an incident when IDF soldiers thwarted an attempt by over 15 terrorists to raid an IDF post in Khan Yunis, adding that the military is currently investigating how the incident occured.
Three soldiers were wounded in the incident, with one from the military's 90th Battalion in the Kfir Brigade in serious condition. He was evacuated to a hospital, and his family was notified of the incident.
Two other soldiers were lightly wounded, the IDF said.
Netanyahu, Katz expected to approve plans for Gaza City conquest
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz are expected to approve on Thursday the plans for the conquest of Gaza City.
The discussion will take place against the backdrop of a Hamas proposal, backed by the mediators Egypt and Qatar, for a partial deal that would include the release of 10 hostages and a 60-day ceasefire.
Ahead of the approval, Netanyahu instructed to "shorten the timeline for taking control of the last terrorist strongholds and defeating Hamas."
Officials from the mediating countries told The Jerusalem Post that the outline presented is very close to the framework Israel had agreed to a few weeks ago. “Yes, there are gaps - but they can be bridged within days,” one official said.
Israel has maintained ambiguity regarding the proposal. On the one hand, officials stressed again on Wednesday that the goal remains a deal for the release of all the hostages.
On the other hand, Israel has not explicitly rejected the proposal submitted. The assessment is that Israel is waiting to see whether the launch of a Gaza City offensive will prompt Hamas to shift toward a comprehensive deal.
US envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News that “three weeks ago, this proposal was on the table and Hamas dragged us along in negotiations.
President Trump declared he was not going to tolerate that any longer - and guess what happened. There was a significant breakthrough.”
Still, Witkoff added that the president had been “very firm and direct in his post, and he wants all the hostages back.
That is our position. This conflict must end immediately. Twenty hostages need to be returned to their families.
Let’s just end this - bring peace and tranquility to the people of Gaza, and rebuild Gaza the way it should be rebuilt, as the president has outlined,” Trump’s envoy said.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-864830
Heathrow Airport plane almost crashes after terrifying near-miss with drone
Updated 14:19, 20 Aug 2025
A passenger jet came so close to colliding with a drone that the object “filled” the plane’s windscreen.
The Airbus A320 had just taken off from London’s Heathrow Airport and was at 9,000 ft during the near miss in May.
A report into the incident revealed: “Both the Captain and First Officer saw a bright white object pass overhead from the opposite direction."
"The object appeared to be approximately 2-3m in size at the very least, it may have been larger as it filled a good proportion of the windshield.
There was no appreciable separation vertical or horizontal,” according to the documents logged to report the incident.
The UK’s Airprox Board, the in-flight incident investigation body, was told a suspected drone had been spotted near London's City Airport prior to the incident.
The report added: “The First Officer observed that it was triangular in shape.
"The Captain only saw the object for a second or two in peripheral vision so could not reliably comment on the shape.
No markings were identified." The pilot stated that the object “went over us, probably within about 10m”.
The Board considered that “providence had played a major part in the incident and/or a definite risk of collision had existed”.
In April, the Mirror told how a drone came within '10m-20m' of colliding with a Boeing 737 airliner on its approach to Gatwick Airport, amid growing concern about the use of the airborne devices near airports.
The passenger plane was over Bexhill on Sea, east Sussex, on its approach to land at Gatwick, when the drone was spotted.
The B737 Captain saw a black object in front of the aircraft and there was "no time to take avoiding action".
The incident on January 12 this year was given an A rating, the most serious risk level.
It was reported to Air Traffic Control with the danger of a collision said to be 'high'. The use of drones is on the rise across the UK.
There have been repeated warnings from police about their use in and around airports and in public spaces.
A new ray gun that uses high-frequency radio waves to blast them out of the sky has been successfully trialled by the Army.
Soldiers used the weapon to target them in the largest trial of its type at a firing range in Wales. It was praised as a game-changer by defence minister Maria Eagle.
Each blast from the Radiofrequency Directed Energy Weapon (RF DEW) costs just 10p, so it could be used alongside existing systems, the Ministry of Defence said.
The UK built weapon uses radio waves to damage critical electronic components inside drones, causing them to crash or malfunction.
It can fire at drones flying up to 1km away and the tests have proven it was capable of hitting multiple targets simultaneously.
The army tracked, engaged and defeated more than 100 drones using the weapon.
No.10 has invested more than £40m in RF DEW research and development to date and the project supports 135 jobs in Northern Ireland and south-east England.
The MOD has previously said the development of RF DEW systems could play a role in preventing disruption at airports.
It is expected that new technology will be used to tackle the problem at aiports across the UK.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/heathrow-airport-plane-almost-crashes-35763577
Two Haiti police officers killed after weaponized ‘kamikaze’ drone explodes
August 20, 2025 11:27 AM
Two Haitian police officers were killed and six others injured after a weaponized drone launched by a gang-fighting task force exploded in the hills above Port-au-Prince, near where an Irish missionary and several others were abducted by armed gangs.
The accident Tuesday occurred after residents in Kenscoff found a so-called kamikazi drone and “in a gesture of good faith” carried it to police officers stationed at a nearby SWAT base, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé’s office.
The drone “exploded at the site, claiming the lives of two police officers and seriously injuring two others,” the statement said.
A kamikaze drone, also known as a suicide drone, is designed to hover over an area, crash into a target and detonate on impact.
Several sources confirmed to the Miami Herald that six officers were hurt during the detonation. They were taken to a medical facility where the recently installed police chief, André Jonas Vladimir Paraison, stayed at their side during the night.
The latest police deaths bring the total number of officers killed in Haiti’s battles with gangs to 29 so far this year, according to statistics compiled by the National Human Rights Defense Network.
Most of the deaths occurred in the fight to wrest control back from gangs.
In Kenscoff, the Haiti National Police and the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission, which has lost two police officers during gang ambushes, have had eight of their armored vehicles taken or set ablaze since armed groups began attacking the mountaintop community in late January.
In addition to forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes, gangs have set fire to homes and businesses, kidnapped, killed and raped people in the area.
On Aug. 3 an attack against Sainte-Hélène Home, a local orphanage caring for disabled kids, led to the abduction of eight people, including a 3 year-old boy and longtime Irish missionary Gena Heraty, who remains captive.
As word of the explosion circulated within the rank and file of Haiti’s beleaguered national police force on Tuesday afternoon, witnesses reported non-stop shooting from inside the SWAT base next to the headquarters of the Haiti National Police. The seriousness of the incident and lack of clarity over what happened triggered demands for an “urgent investigation” from local human rights advocates.
Social media accounts, some of them appearing to be from police officers, have raised questions about what happened.
While one account says the drone was brought to police by area residents, another claimed the drone was dropped on the police station.
A source close to the prime minister’s officer told the Herald the incident was “a tragic accident.” The droe operators had lost contact with the device due to poor weather, he said.
After residents found the drone they took to the police officers nearby, where the cops inspected it and took photos.
About 10 minutes later the drone exploded, killing the two officers, the source added. A separate source told the Herald the drone blew up after officers attempted to remove its battery pack.
The Haiti National Police, in a statement expressing condolences to the families of the victims, said it is investigating the incident but did not go into details of what happened.
Earlier this year, Haiti’s transition government began employing the services of Erik Prince, a former U.S. Navy seal who founded the controversial security firm Blackwater.
Prince, a major donor to President Donald Trump, currently has a one-year, $50 million deal with the Haitian government through his new firm Vectus Global to deploy private military contractors to help Haiti in its fight against gangs.
But the firm’s use of weaponized drones has raised concerns about the escalating violence, potential civilian casualties and human rights abuses.
Earlier in the day, gangs once more attacked the Saint-Hélène Home where Heraty, the missionary, serves as director.
Gangs abducted two other people from the orphanage but later released them. Heraty, who has been working in Haiti since 1993, remains missing, along with two others.
Sainte-Hélène Home is affiliated with Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos-NPH International, which was founded by a Catholic priest and has affiliates throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article311769953.html
From drones to nukes: North Korea pushes AI military modernization plan
August 19, 2025
The General Staff Department (GSD) of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) ordered the entire military early this month to make plans to build AI-based manned and unmanned combat systems.
According to a Daily NK source in the North Korean military recently, the Combat Training Bureau of the GSD on Aug. 2 issued an official order to the operational departments of services and arms across the KPA through encrypted wireless networks instructing them to “make plans to build AI-based manned and unmanned multipurpose combat systems ahead of the Ninth Party Congress.”
The order appears to be a move to prepare for building new combat systems that integrate AI technology as part of the next five-year strategy ahead of the Ninth Party Congress set for next year.
According to the source, the GSD instructed the headquarters of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Army Special Operations Forces and Strategic Force to draw up detailed plans—in line with their units’ combat missions, organizations and realities—to modernize their forces focused on remote control of manned and unmanned multipurpose combat systems using AI technology and report those plans by the end of September.
The GSD aims to review the plans through October and incorporate chosen aspects into winter training, executing them from Dec. 1 by designating or newly creating trial units in each service and combat arm.
Each service gets specific AI missions
By service, the Army was tasked with adopting AI command systems for infantry, mechanized and artillery forces and crafting a structure that allows unified operations between manned and unmanned forces.
The Navy was told to focus on preparing new multipurpose combat exercises using manned and unmanned systems for harbor operations, EMP response, nuclear counterattacks, minesweeping and submersible operations.
The Air Force was ordered to draw up operational plans for tactical drills using mixed formations of manned and unmanned formations, while the Army Special Operations Forces was told to draw up operational plans for irregular warfare using manned and unmanned systems, including drone assassinations, demolitions, harassment, infiltrations and amphibious terrorism operations.
The Strategic Force was tasked with developing a four-stage “leap” strategy to integrate AI-based unified management systems for storing, operating, and commanding nuclear weapons, as well as launching nuclear counterattacks.
“In the military, they hope to create a structure that can respond much faster to various situations using AI-based manned and unmanned multipurpose combat systems, but working-level commanders in low-tier units and officers responsible for executing the order feel pressure because they have so little time to prepare,” the source said.
https://www.dailynk.com/english/from-drones-to-nukes-north-korea-pushes-ai-military-modernization-plan/?tztc=1
$100M boost propels North Dakota’s Project ULTRA to expand military drone ops
August 20, 2025 8:00 AM
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — U.S. Sen. John Hoeven announced a $100 million contract ceiling extension for Project ULTRA that will allow expansion of UAS operations at GrandSKY, according to a release.
The ULTRA team, led by Grand Forks County, includes the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, which supports the development of uncrewed flight capabilities for the Department of Defense.
The public-private group, operating as Project ULTRA, successfully executed a variety of uncrewed operational test and evaluation (OT&E) flights through the National Airspace System (NAS).
The team anticipates completing the execution of the second task order from the Department of Defense (DoD) regarding the integration of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) in controlled airspace soon.
“We’re leveraging this funding and the ecosystem we’ve been building in our state since 2005 to connect all of our military branches with even more private sector partners to realize a wide range of new capabilities, from innovative and efficient uses of UAS to protecting our military bases against threats from drones,” Hoeven said. “North Dakota will continue leading the way, due in large part to the good work of GrandSKY, the Northern Plains UAS Test Site and their partners to deliver results for our military that are on-time and on-budget.”
Project ULTRA (UAS Logistics, Traffic, Response and Autonomy) is an initiative under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSD A&S).
Its purpose is to integrate UAS technology in part to support logistical operations for the U.S. military’s rapid and secure transportation needs.
“The contract ceiling extension gives us the ability to do more innovative and collaborative work,” GrandSKY President Thomas Swoyer Jr. said. “Now it is on us to bring that work and funding to GrandSKY.”
Swoyer added that collaboration was key to delivering successfully on this part of Project ULTRA.
“Our close relationships with Cavalier Space Force Station and Grand Forks Air Force Base, and our partnership with Grand Forks County have allowed us to come together to develop this world-class team and capabilities for UAS innovation with an impressive infrastructure to support Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flight operations,” he said.
The ULTRA team performed numerous test flights as part of the DoD’s Task Order 2. In April, there were 24 successful BVLOS flights in Class Delta and Echo airspace, the release states.
During the current test period, the team expects to conduct 10 round-trip sorties between GrandSKY and Cavalier Space Force Station, covering over 100 nautical miles, round-trip.
The UAVs carried 25-pound payloads, simulating standard supply loadouts for an austere battlefield environment.
“It took an immense amount of coordination, cooperation, and communication, just to get these flights in the air, much less complete,” Project ULTRA Director, retired Navy Cmdr. Chris Hewlett said.
“But this should not be easy. You need to be able to demonstrate that you can follow the procedures, cross your T’s, and dot your I’s.
The next step is demonstrating the ability to build an operation that is sustainable, repeatable, and scalable.”
As a stretch goal, the team began “blood flights” during the current operational test cycle. Plans called for three medical delivery flights — one for blood units, one for simulated blood units, and one for medical supplies.
The Project ULTRA team successfully transported 18 units of blood 90 nautical miles in a beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) demonstration for the Department of the Navy’s Medical Research Division and members of the 319th Medical Corps.
“I feel good that we were able to do this,” Hewlett said. “The medical community in both the Air Force and Navy has been looking at drones for tactical blood resupply. The success of these flights is a big deal.”
“Using UAS to support rural health care is a rapidly growing opportunity,” Swoyer added. “From prescription and small device delivery to blood products and emergency support, UAS offers a huge opportunity to improve medical support on the battlefield, and those lessons learned translate to rural health care.”
https://www.grandforksherald.com/prairie-business/100m-boost-propels-north-dakotas-project-ultra-to-expand-military-drone-ops
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/