AI News

Via Satellite

Planet, Microsoft and IHME launch continuously updated global population map

Planet has introduced a continuously updated map of the world’s population, developed with the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab. The collaboration brings Planet’s mapping capabilities together with health research and AI expertise, though the announcement summary provides no further detail on the map’s data or applications.

Breaking Defense

U.S. Army sent balloon swarms to the Middle East to support CENTCOM operations

The Army tested balloon swarms in support of U.S. Central Command operations and drew three observations about how they performed, according to Andrew Evans. The service has not yet decided what path to pursue for future stratospheric sensing capabilities.

AINonline

FlyJets launches JetGPT charter agent after eight-month beta

FlyJets has launched its JetGPT charter agent after eight months in beta. The agent handles charter booking and listing, and sends route alerts, bringing AI-enabled functions to the company’s business aviation offering.

Reuters

High activity

Airbus and Kratos fly U740 Valkyrie in Europe, targeting German combat-ready capability by 2029

Airbus and Kratos have completed the first European flight of the U740, a European version of Kratos’ Valkyrie uncrewed combat aircraft. Airbus plans to integrate a European autonomous mission system for operations alongside crewed fighters, as the partners pursue a combat-ready system for Germany by 2029.

AeroTime

High activity

HyLight raises €13 million to scale autonomous hydrogen airship inspection fleet

The French startup plans to use the funding to expand its fleet of autonomous hydrogen-powered airships, which inspect critical infrastructure and are already used by several major European operators. HyLight is targeting 15 aircraft operating simultaneously by 2027, as its airships take on some missions traditionally performed by helicopters.

Breaking Defense

Seeing Systems unveils uncrewed vessel to carry, launch and recover up to 100 strike drones

The British company presented Reaver at the Apex Europe conference in London, describing an uncrewed vessel able to carry, launch and recover as many as 100 strike drones. The vessel and drones are controlled through a single command-and-control layer, linking maritime and aerial systems in one operation.

FlightGlobal

Lockheed Martin to provide Philippine Air Force S-70i Black Hawk simulators and training through 2032

Lockheed Martin has contracted to supply the Philippine Air Force with systems and services for training S-70i pilots and maintenance personnel, including a full-flight simulator. The agreement supports in-country training and sustainment for the helicopter fleet, with training and support extending through 2032.

Breaking Defense

Palladyne AI pitches collaborative autonomy for battlefield drone swarms

Palladyne AI says its decentralized, embodied collaborative AI lets autonomous drones share intelligence across a swarm, reducing pilot workload and improving battlefield capabilities. The summary provides no details on deployments, performance metrics or customer commitments.