Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison recently predicted that AI-powered surveillance will become an integral part of daily life. During a Q&A session at Oracle’s Financial Analyst Meeting, Ellison said AI would play a major role in monitoring society through a vast network of interconnected cameras. This system would include security cameras, police body cams and vehicle…

The U.S. Air Force recently conducted its annual “Reaper Smoke” training exercise, which spotlighted the contentious South China Sea, emphasizing America’s strategic focus amid escalating regional tensions. The event, held at Hurlburt Field in Florida on Sept. 5-6, saw participation from over 30 MQ-9 “Reaper” drone squadrons from across various air force units. This year’s…

The U.S. military deployed a fleet of MQ-9A Reaper drones to the Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, as part of a broader effort to enhance its surveillance capabilities in the Pacific. This deployment intends to improve the U.S.’ ability to monitor critical areas near Japan and China. The drones, designed for long-range surveillance and…

Since October, Houthi militants in Yemen have shot down five U.S.-operated MQ-9 Reapers. These unmanned aerial systems, larger than some planes, are primarily used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), but they can also carry munitions, such as Hellfire missiles. Straight Arrow News’ Ryan Robertson spoke to Jonathon Molik, a U.S. intelligence officer with 30…

Key leaders from the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard met to discuss the biggest challenges facing their branches in 2024. All three maritime-based branches shared similar concerns over their staffing. Officers said that each branch is still emphasizing hiring to expand the number of enlisted individuals. However, they are looking for candidates with more…

In December, Straight Arrow News profiled an AI-guided drone hunter from Anduril. Now, the same company has the ALTIUS-700M, a drone that doesn’t need to have the target in sight before being launched. The ALTIUS-700M can fly for 75 minutes with a range of 100 miles. It’s a loitering drone, which means it can passively…

In this episode of Weapons and Warfare, the Air and Space Forces are making changes to improve their readiness in the face of constantly evolving threats from around the world. Senior leadership is giving service members a glimpse into the direction each branch is headed. Also featured in this episode: You can subscribe to the…

The United States Marine Corps trained its 100th MQ-9 Reaper drone pilot. The milestone marks the latest shift under the Corps’ Force Design 2030 plan, which aims to reoptimize the branch for a potential dust-up with China. It was only in 2020 that the Corps even created a Reaper occupational specialty. The 2022 training numbers…

The United States and its allies are preparing for a war where runways may not be an option. That doesn’t mean a flat stretch of dirt won’t do, though. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) successfully tested its Mojave unmanned aerial system in early August. The rugged expeditionary drone completed several takeoffs and landings on…

For the second day in a row, Russian fighter jets were caught on video harassing U.S. military drones in Syria, and Twitter threatened a competitor with a lawsuit. These stories and more highlight the rundown for Friday, July 7, 2023. Russian jet drops flares in front of U.S. drone Russian fighter jets have been caught…