April 2026 - Helobubbas - mcs13.brattland.org

FW: Aviation Week :: U.S. Army Buys Thousands Of Drones, UAS Momentum Picks Up
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 17 Apr '26

17 Apr '26

From: Harold Brattland <habrattland(a)arvig.net> Sent: Friday, April 17, 2026 12:55 PM To: Brattland, Mike * <mgbrattland(a)gerlecreek.com> Subject: Aviation Week :: U.S. Army Buys Thousands Of Drones, UAS Momentum Picks Up Check out this site https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/us-army-buys-thousands… -- U.S. Army Buys Thousands Of Drones, UAS Momentum Picks Up Brian Everstine <https://aviationweek.com/author/brian-everstine> March 23, 2026 <https://aviationweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/20…> Credit: U.S. Army The U.S. Army within a few days in mid-March ordered thousands of reconnaissance drones as part of the service’s push to quickly field large numbers of relatively affordable systems for its formations. On March 20, the Army announced two contracts to AeroVironment for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), both expected to be fully fielded within months. First is a $117 million order for AV’s P550 Long Range Reconnaissance systems, Group 2 UAS that will provide battalion commanders with their own reconnaissance and target acquisition capabilities. The order came through the Army’s new UAS Marketplace Basic Ordering Agreement—a new portal for the military to quickly order cleared systems. This order is expected to be completed in July. “This award is a testament to the Army’s commitment to rapid and agile acquisition,” said Col. Danielle Medaglia, project manager for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, in an announcement. “The UAS Marketplace reduces traditional, lengthy procurement timelines to a few days. This allows us to get the most advanced capabilities into the hands of our soldiers at the speed of relevance, ensuring they are equipped to meet current and future challenges.” Also on March 20, the Army announced a $17 million order for AV’s new one-way attack drone called Red Dragon, with an estimated completion date of April 8. Skydio also announced on March 22 that the Army had placed a $52 million order for its X10D. The order includes more tan 2,500 of the small quadcopter drones, and represents the largest small UAS procurement from a single manufacturer in the service’s history, Skydio said in an announcement. The order went from bid to award in less than 72 hr., the company says. <https://aviationweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/author_thumbnail/public…> Brian Everstine <https://aviationweek.com/author/brian-everstine> Email: brian.everstine(a)aviationweek.com <mailto:brian.everstine@aviationweek.com> Brian Everstine is the Pentagon Editor for Aviation Week, based in Washington, D.C.

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FW: Aviation Week :: Certo Demonstrates Naval Mission For Capstone Rotary-Wing UAS
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 17 Apr '26

17 Apr '26

From: Harold Brattland <habrattland(a)arvig.net> Sent: Friday, April 17, 2026 12:33 PM To: Brattland, Mike * <mgbrattland(a)gerlecreek.com> Subject: Aviation Week :: Certo Demonstrates Naval Mission For Capstone Rotary-Wing UAS Check out this site https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/certo-demonstrates-nav… -- Certo Demonstrates Naval Mission For Capstone Rotary-Wing UAS Tony Osborne <https://aviationweek.com/author/tony-osborne> April 13, 2026 <https://aviationweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/20…> Credit: Certo Aerospace LONDON—Certo Aerospace, the UK startup developing the Capstone rotary-wing uncrewed aircraft system (UAS), has demonstrated the system’s potential in the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) role. In a land-based trial in Wiltshire, England, a prototype Capstone air vehicle showed it could carry a representative mix of sonobuoys and operate for 2 hr. performing ASW detection, location, and tracking tasks. Working in conjunction with General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS), the company is proposing the 600-kg (1,322.7 lb.) co-axial rotorcraft as a complement to conventional shipboard helicopters. Also fitted onboard was GDMS’s UYS-506 acoustic processor, which was able to downlink processed sonobuoy data to Capstone’s ground control station. Sonobuoy data was provided by QinetiQ using a sonobuoy data creator that is used to exercise the Royal Navy’s Merlin ASW helicopter acoustics system. The company also demonstrated command and control of the acoustic processor from across the Atlantic using a Starlink satellite communications system. The trial was performed in support of the Royal Navy’s Atlantic Bastion technology demonstration program, a UK-led, NATO-supported initiative to rebuild surveillance of the Greenland, Iceland, and UK gap against the growing threat of Russian underwater systems. The Certo Capstone has had a busy 12 months demonstrating its abilities as a potential autonomous logistics and in-extremis medevac platform to the UK defense ministry. Certo is also working with BAE Systems on adapting the platform as a potential autonomous collaborative platform that would support the army’s Boeing <https://aviationweek.com/term/boeing> Apache attack helicopters. “This flight test showed that we can provide a vital new component into the navy’s planned mix of crewed and uncrewed [aircraft] systems for delivery of the ASW capabilities of the future,” said Justin Tooth, Certo Aerospace’s CEO. He said the demonstration flight for Atlantic Bastion, so soon after trials on autonomous logistics, indicated “real confidence” by the UK defense ministry in the rotorcraft. <https://aviationweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/author_thumbnail/public…> Tony Osborne <https://aviationweek.com/author/tony-osborne> Email: tony.osborne(a)aviationweek.co.uk <mailto:tony.osborne@aviationweek.co.uk> Based in London, Tony covers European defense programs. Prior to joining Aviation Week in November 2012, Tony was at Shephard Media Group where he was deputy editor for Rotorhub and Defence Helicopter magazines

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Latest from Iran
by Marc Liebman 16 Apr '26

16 Apr '26

https://understandingwar.org/research/middle-east/iran-update-special-repor… This tells me that there is a power struggle within Iran between those in the Foreign Policy establishment and the IRGC. The negotiations are probably a stalling tactic to get some of their ballistic missile launch facilities back into battery. Marc Liebman https://www.marcliebman.com https://www.facebook.com/marcliebmanauthor/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_sDoFQM5wupNaCeGIvKL1g Author of: Cherubs 2 Raider of the Scottish Coast Big Mother 40 Carronade Render Harmless Death of a Lady Forgotten Last Battles Inner Look For a Few Francs Moscow Airlift Predators The Simushir Island Incident Fight We Shall Flight of the Pawnee Failure to Fire Insidious Dragon The Red Star of Death Member of: The Author’s Guild Military Writers Society of America Association of Texas Authors North American Snowsport Journalists Association --

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The Straights
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 15 Apr '26

15 Apr '26

https://x.com/deepwebslinger/status/2043731955620208899?s=20 CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) <mailto:mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> mgbrattland(a)gerlecreek.com <mailto:mgbrattland@brattland.org> mgbrattland(a)brattland.org Admin/Moderator SanDiegoCarGuys List & Calendar of Events <mailto:sandiegocarguys@brattland.org> sandiegocarguys(a)brattland.org 619 454-0496 '38 Willys 2 Dr Sedan Webmaster for <http://www.brattland.org/> www.brattland.org <http://www.overthehillgang.com/> www.overthehillgang.com <http://www.overdrivehotrodnews.com/> www.overdrivehotrodnews.com <http://www.gerlecreek.org/> www.gerlecreek.org <http://www.helobubbas.com/> www.helobubbas.com <http://www.prowlers.org/> www.prowlers.org <http://www.gerlecreek.com/> www.gerlecreek.com <http://www.ford6vcarburetion.com/> www.ford6vcarburetion.com <http://www.westcoastwillysclub.com/> www.westcoastwillysclub.com <http://www.nssha.org/> www.nssha.org <http://www.nhahistoricalsociety.org/> www.nhahistoricalsociety.org <https://sh60fhoas.nhahistoricalsociety.org/> https://sh60fhoas.nhahistoricalsociety.org/

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Army Names Its New MV-75 Tiltrotor Cheyenne II
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 15 Apr '26

15 Apr '26

https://www.twz.com/air/army-names-its-new-mv-75-tiltrotor-cheyenne-ii CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) <mailto:mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> mgbrattland(a)gerlecreek.com <mailto:mgbrattland@brattland.org> mgbrattland(a)brattland.org Admin/Moderator SanDiegoCarGuys List & Calendar of Events <mailto:sandiegocarguys@brattland.org> sandiegocarguys(a)brattland.org 619 454-0496 '38 Willys 2 Dr Sedan Webmaster for <http://www.brattland.org/> www.brattland.org <http://www.overthehillgang.com/> www.overthehillgang.com <http://www.overdrivehotrodnews.com/> www.overdrivehotrodnews.com <http://www.gerlecreek.org/> www.gerlecreek.org <http://www.helobubbas.com/> www.helobubbas.com <http://www.prowlers.org/> www.prowlers.org <http://www.gerlecreek.com/> www.gerlecreek.com <http://www.ford6vcarburetion.com/> www.ford6vcarburetion.com <http://www.westcoastwillysclub.com/> www.westcoastwillysclub.com <http://www.nssha.org/> www.nssha.org <http://www.nhahistoricalsociety.org/> www.nhahistoricalsociety.org <https://sh60fhoas.nhahistoricalsociety.org/> https://sh60fhoas.nhahistoricalsociety.org/

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Diver Entry
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 14 Apr '26

14 Apr '26

https://x.com/Rainmaker1973/status/2043922700905676962?s=20 CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) <mailto:mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> mgbrattland(a)gerlecreek.com <mailto:mgbrattland@brattland.org> mgbrattland(a)brattland.org Admin/Moderator SanDiegoCarGuys List & Calendar of Events <mailto:sandiegocarguys@brattland.org> sandiegocarguys(a)brattland.org 619 454-0496 '38 Willys 2 Dr Sedan Webmaster for <http://www.brattland.org/> www.brattland.org <http://www.overthehillgang.com/> www.overthehillgang.com <http://www.overdrivehotrodnews.com/> www.overdrivehotrodnews.com <http://www.gerlecreek.org/> www.gerlecreek.org <http://www.helobubbas.com/> www.helobubbas.com <http://www.prowlers.org/> www.prowlers.org <http://www.gerlecreek.com/> www.gerlecreek.com <http://www.ford6vcarburetion.com/> www.ford6vcarburetion.com <http://www.westcoastwillysclub.com/> www.westcoastwillysclub.com <http://www.nssha.org/> www.nssha.org <http://www.nhahistoricalsociety.org/> www.nhahistoricalsociety.org <https://sh60fhoas.nhahistoricalsociety.org/> https://sh60fhoas.nhahistoricalsociety.org/

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Interview with former CENTCOM commander
by Marc Liebman 12 Apr '26

12 Apr '26

This is well worth the watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA82tOwpwJ8 Marc Liebman https://www.marcliebman.com https://www.facebook.com/marcliebmanauthor/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_sDoFQM5wupNaCeGIvKL1g Author of: Cherubs 2 Raider of the Scottish Coast Big Mother 40 Carronade Render Harmless Death of a Lady Forgotten Last Battles Inner Look For a Few Francs Moscow Airlift Predators The Simushir Island Incident Fight We Shall Flight of the Pawnee Failure to Fire Insidious Dragon The Red Star of Death Member of: The Author’s Guild Military Writers Society of America Association of Texas Authors North American Snowsport Journalists Association --

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Artemis II landing
by Marc Liebman 12 Apr '26

12 Apr '26

Does anyone know why the divers weren’t put in the water via helo? It took forever for the boats to get out to the capsule. Way back when during Mercury, Gemini and Apollo, an H-3 arrived within seconds of the chutes leaving the capsule. Marc Liebman https://www.marcliebman.com https://www.facebook.com/marcliebmanauthor/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_sDoFQM5wupNaCeGIvKL1g Author of: Cherubs 2 Raider of the Scottish Coast Big Mother 40 Carronade Render Harmless Death of a Lady Forgotten Last Battles Inner Look For a Few Francs Moscow Airlift Predators The Simushir Island Incident Fight We Shall Flight of the Pawnee Failure to Fire Insidious Dragon The Red Star of Death Member of: The Author’s Guild Military Writers Society of America Association of Texas Authors North American Snowsport Journalists Association --

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USS Murtha Returns today
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 12 Apr '26

12 Apr '26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR5dWNdgAwA CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) <mailto:mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> mgbrattland(a)gerlecreek.com <mailto:mgbrattland@brattland.org> mgbrattland(a)brattland.org Admin/Moderator SanDiegoCarGuys List & Calendar of Events <mailto:sandiegocarguys@brattland.org> sandiegocarguys(a)brattland.org 619 454-0496 '38 Willys 2 Dr Sedan Webmaster for <http://www.brattland.org/> www.brattland.org <http://www.overthehillgang.com/> www.overthehillgang.com <http://www.overdrivehotrodnews.com/> www.overdrivehotrodnews.com <http://www.gerlecreek.org/> www.gerlecreek.org <http://www.helobubbas.com/> www.helobubbas.com <http://www.prowlers.org/> www.prowlers.org <http://www.gerlecreek.com/> www.gerlecreek.com <http://www.ford6vcarburetion.com/> www.ford6vcarburetion.com <http://www.westcoastwillysclub.com/> www.westcoastwillysclub.com <http://www.nssha.org/> www.nssha.org <http://www.nhahistoricalsociety.org/> www.nhahistoricalsociety.org <https://sh60fhoas.nhahistoricalsociety.org/> https://sh60fhoas.nhahistoricalsociety.org/

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Negotiations with Iran
by Marc Liebman 11 Apr '26

11 Apr '26

https://understandingwar.org/research/middle-east/iran-update-special-repor… Marc Liebman https://www.marcliebman.com https://www.facebook.com/marcliebmanauthor/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_sDoFQM5wupNaCeGIvKL1g Author of: Cherubs 2 Raider of the Scottish Coast Big Mother 40 Carronade Render Harmless Death of a Lady Forgotten Last Battles Inner Look For a Few Francs Moscow Airlift Predators The Simushir Island Incident Fight We Shall Flight of the Pawnee Failure to Fire Insidious Dragon The Red Star of Death Member of: The Author’s Guild Military Writers Society of America Association of Texas Authors North American Snowsport Journalists Association --

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