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Capsules & Contracts: Drones, Space & Policy Unpacked | April 9, 2025
Manage episode 477023844 series 3572225
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In this week’s jam-packed episode of Weekly Wings, Paul Rossi and Terry Neff bring you a blend of space, defense, public safety, and developments shaking up the drone and aerospace sectors. Kicking things off with live reactions to the SpaceX Crew Dragon recovery, the hosts reflect on human spaceflight and operational testing post-splashdown.
International headlines follow, with Japan’s JUADA-supported drone delivery trials on remote islands using Toyota-backed UAVs. Meanwhile, Anduril’s push into large-scale military drones such as the “Fury” takes aim at Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat in Australia, illustrating growing competition for global defense contracts.
Back on U.S. soil, the episode highlights a reform in Army drone operation rules, removing red tape that penalized soldiers for equipment losses. Paul and Terry also break down Space Force’s classified satellite surveillance ops, a $1.96 billion MQ-9B sale to Qatar, and how Unusual Machines’ acquisition of Aloft could position them to dominate U.S. airspace monitoring.
They close with a mix of public safety drone innovations—from MatrixSpace’s radar-assisted DFR programs in Palm Springs to speculative, non-lethal pepper spray drones for school security—and economic reflections on tariffs, outsourcing, and the rising cost of drones. It’s a wild ride that connects politics, industry trends, and emerging tech—all from a boots-on-the-ground perspective.
Be sure to check out DroneLife.com to catch up on these stories and everything else happening in the world of drones.
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