Page 5 - Drones

Russian drone strikes in Kharkiv injure 47, Zelenskyy seeks support

A Russian drone strike on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, wounded 47 people, officials said, and prompted another appeal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for more decisive support from the country's allies. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said drones hit 12 locations across the city late Friday. Residential buildings, civilian infrastructure and vehicles were damaged in the assault, according to Kharkiv regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov. The Kharkiv Prosecutor's Office said Saturday that Russian forces used drones with thermobaric warheads. In a statement on Telegram, it said thermobaric weapons create a powerful blast wave and a hot cloud of smoke, causing large-scale destruction. The prosecutor said its use may indicate a deliberate violation of international humanitarian law. While the world hesitates with decisions, nearly every night in Ukraine turns into a nightmare, costing lives. Ukraine needs strengthened air defence. Strong and real decisions are needed from ou

Russia launches nearly 150 drones in major overnight assault on Ukraine

Russia launched a sweeping drone assault across Ukraine overnight into Sunday, targeting multiple regions, officials said, after US President Donald Trump cast doubt over Russian President Vladimir Putin's willingness to end the war. One person was killed and a 14-year-old girl wounded in the city of Pavlohrad in the Dnipropetrovsk region, which was hit for the third consecutive night, regional Governor Serhii Lysak said. The attacks came hours after Russia claimed to have regained control over the remaining parts of the Kursk region, which Ukrainian forces seized in a surprise incursion last August. Ukrainian officials said the fighting in Kursk was still ongoing. Trump said Saturday that he doubts Putin wants to end the more than three-year war in Ukraine, expressing new skepticism that a peace deal can be reached soon. Only a day earlier, Trump had said Ukraine and Russia were "very close to a deal." "There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cit

Vayudh raises $10 million in funding round led by Dharana Capital

The funds will be used to deepen the company's research and development (R&D) capabilities, expand manufacturing infrastructure, and accelerate deployments with India's defence forces

Drones pose increasing risk to commercial airliners near major US airports

A commercial airliner was on final approach to San Francisco's international airport in November when the crew spotted a drone outside the cockpit window. By then it was too late to take evasive action, the pilots reported, and the quadcopter passed by their windshield, not 300 feet away. A month earlier, a jetliner was flying at an altitude of 4,000 feet near Miami's international airport when its pilots reported a close encounter with a drone. In August, a drone came within 50 feet of clipping the left wing of a passenger jet as it departed Newark International Airport. The incidents were all classified as near midair collisions any one of which could have had catastrophic consequences, according to aviation safety experts. They were also not isolated encounters. An Associated Press analysis of an aviation safety database reveals that drones last year accounted for nearly two-thirds of reported near midair collisions involving commercial passenger planes taking off and landing at

Drone-based package delivery set to take off across Delhi-NCR soon

Skye Air has set a target to deliver 5 million packages via drones this CY. The company said it delivered 1.2 million packages in CY24

Army refutes Chinese drone hijack claim, warns against misinformation

Following uproar over reports of a Chinese drone hijack, the Army dismissed the claims as baseless and factually incorrect, urging media and users to avoid unverified content online

GST Council meet: Uniform 5% rate on drones for business use on agenda

This could be a major relief to India's burgeoning drone industry, which consists of around 488 drone companies that have collectively secured $518 million in funding so far

Mount Everest's new Sherpas? Drones will now do the heavy lifting

For the first time, drones will be used on Mount Everest to carry gear and clean up, helping Sherpas and improving safety

Russia, Ukraine trade heavy aerial blows amid proposed ceasefire talks

Russia and Ukraine traded heavy aerial blows overnight Saturday, with both sides reporting more than 100 enemy drones over their respective territories. The attack comes less than 24 hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss details of the American proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Ukraine. Volgograd regional Gov Andrei Bocharov confirmed that falling drone debris had sparked a fire in the Krasnoarmeysky district of the city close to a Lukoil oil refinery, but provided no further details. Nearby airports temporarily halted flights, local media outlets reported. No casualties were reported. The Volgograd refinery has been targeted by Kyiv's forces on several occasions since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, most recently in a drone attack on February 15. Russia's Defence Ministry said that it had shot down 126 Ukrainian drones, 64 of which were destroyed over the Volgograd region

Punjab to deploy anti-drone tech to check drug inflow from across border

The Punjab government will take the help of anti-drone technology to check smuggling of narcotics and arms and ammunition from across the border, Cabinet minister Harpal Singh Cheema said on Tuesday. Finance Minister Cheema, who is leading a cabinet sub-committee to monitor action against the drug menace and Cabinet minister Aman Arora on Tuesday witnessed the demonstration of the anti-drone technology by three companies in Mohali. Speaking to reporters, Arora said drugs, arms and ammunition are coming from Pakistan as he stressed upon the use of anti-drone technology to check the inflow from across the border. "It is the primary responsibility of the government of India and the BSF to check smuggling of narcotics and arms and ammunition from across the border," Arora said, adding the Border Security Force (BSF) has 50 km of jurisdiction. "But we have been seeing over the past many years that the BSF is not getting 100 per success (in checking smuggling from across the border)," he

Russia destroys 83 Ukrainian drones over southern Krasnodar region

The ministry does not report potential damage or the full scope of the Ukrainian attacks

MP announces drone policy, incentives to become manufacturing hub

Capital subsidy of up to 40 per cent (maximum Rs 30 crore) will be provided to entrepreneurs setting up drone-manufacturing units in the state

Musk warns AI and drones will dominate future wars. Here's why it matters

Musk also emphasised the need for the US to accelerate domestic drone production, warning that countries often prepare for past wars rather than future ones

Madhya Pradesh looks to become drone manufacturing hub with new policy

The Madhya Pradesh government has formulated a new drone policy to foster manufacturing of drones in the state as well as encourage their use across sectors like agriculture, logistics, security and governance. The state cabinet in its meeting on Tuesday approved the Madhya Pradesh Drone Promotion and Utilisation Policy 2025, officials said. The policy focuses on promoting drone manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance. It offers incentives such as subsidies and tax incentives to manufacturers, aiming to make Madhya Pradesh a hub for drone production and services. It provides for a 40 per cent capital investment subsidy with a cap of Rs 30 crore for new investments. Also, a 25 per cent subsidy on lease rent, with a maximum of Rs 5 lakh per year, is provided for three years. A Rs 2 crore R&D grant is provided in identified sectors. To promote skill development in key sectors, Chief Minister's Seekho-Kamao Yojana (MMSKY) offers an incentive of Rs 8,000 per month for up to six ...

Drone battery tech co Dreamfly Innovations raises $1.4 mn in seed funding

In a seed round, a startup raises funds to establish its business. The firm plans to use this fund to scale production capabilities, team expansion and research and development

Garuda Aerospace to deploy drones along Chennai coast to protect turtles

Drone manufacturer Garuda Aerospace would deploy its drones free of cost over the next three months, to take up surveillance along the city's coastline, to protect the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles, the company said. The initiative comes in the backdrop of over 300 such turtles were found dead in recent times in Chennai coastal region. The plan aims to support the conservation efforts by combating illegal fishing practices. In a statement on Sunday, Garuda Aerospace said it was partnering with the Tree Foundation and the department of Forest and fisheries for this operation. "We are deeply concerned by the recent mass deaths of Olive Ridley turtles. The plight of the turtles demand immediate action and long-term solutions. By deploying our drones free of charge for the next three months, we are directly intervening to protect the nesting sites, deter illegal fishing and give these hatchlings a chance at survival," said Garuda Aerospace CEO Agnishwar Jayaprakash. "We believe t

MP to conduct drone surveys before releasing paddy bonus to farmers: CM

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced on Saturday that drones will be used to conduct surveys before releasing the paddy bonus to farmers in the state. The move is an attempt to do away with their difficulties and ensure that no farmer is left out, he said. Problems crop up in the disbursement of paddy bonus. Therefore, the government has decided to conduct drone surveys of paddy cultivation, Yadav said during his address at an event concerning the Swamitva Yojana, a central land scheme, in Seoni. Paddy bonus usually refers to the additional amount paid over and above the minimum support price (MSP) for the crop. We will transfer the bonus amount to everyone's bank account. No one would be left out, he added. Yadav said his government's resolve is to supply "water to every field and work to every hand". Taking a dig at the previous Congress governments in the state, he said during their time between 1956 and 2003, the state's irrigation capacity was just 7 lakh ...

Dark web, crypto, drones continue to be a challenge for nation: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday that dark web, cryptocurrency, online marketplace and drones continue to be a challenge for the country and these have to be checked by strict measures. Chairing a regional conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' here, Shah also asserted that the country will not allow even a single kg of drugs to be smuggled in or out of the country. He said the government has not only been successful in eliminating many networks of drugs, but the terrorism linked with them too was also destroyed. He said many cases of narco-terrorism were busted in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh and these were major achievements. "The use of dark web, cryptocurrency, online marketplace, drones continue to be a challenge for us even today," he said. Shah said a technical solution to these problems have to be found through joint efforts by the states and the central government and technocrats for the country's security and ...

Maha to deploy drones to monitor illegal fishing along coastline from Jan 9

In a first for Maharashtra, drones will be deployed to monitor illegal fishing along its 720-km coastline beginning January 9, a Fisheries Department official said on Wednesday. The drones will provide live footage of up to the 12-mile maritime boundary from nine locations across all seven coastal districts. The official said the streaming data collected by drones will be used to take legal action against unauthorised fishing boats. He said the drone system will be launched by Minister of State for Fisheries and Ports Nitesh Rane. "The minister will oversee the system through a live feed from the Fisheries Commissioner's Office. Streaming data collected by these drones will be used as evidence to take legal action against unauthorised fishing boats," the official said. He said the drone system will bring the entire maritime area of Maharashtra under camera surveillance, helping the government to curb illegal fishing. "It is an important step to protect marine resources and ensure

RFI issued for manufacturing 23-mm anti-drone ammunition to boost defence

The government has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the manufacturing of 23-mm anti-drone ammunition by the Indian industry, which is intended to be used with an existing weapon system for boosting the Army's air defence capabilities. This ammunition is intended to be used with the existing "Zu 23mm and Schilka Weapon System" for the destruction of drones. The RFI, issued on January 1, also reads that there is a requirement of 23-mm anti-drone ammunition in order to "increase the hit probability". "The Ministry of Defence, Government of India, Request for Information (RFI) from interested companies/firms/vendors for undertaking manufacturing of 23mm Anti Drone Ammunition in lndia," it says. The purpose of this RFI is to identify the prospective vendor (DPSUs/private vendors) to undertake the manufacturing of 23-mm anti-drone ammunition under "Make in India", the document adds. All defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) and private vendors are eligible to respond to t