Meredith Roaten

Johnson City

Land Warfare Reporter at Janes

defense reporter; watching long form video essays on fire tornados in my spare time; formerly @NPR Washington Desk, @gwhatchet

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Articles

US Army kicks off expanded NBC sensor upgrades beyond Stryker

1 week ago | janes.com | Meredith Roaten

The US Armyâs M1135 Stryker's Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle (NBCRV) Sensor Suite Upgrade is made up of a FLIR Defense R80D SkyRaider drone integrated with FLIR's MUVE B330 biological detection payload. (Teledyne FLIR)As the US Army is planning upgrades to its initial sensor suite, service officials are looking towards the future and how the package can be added to other vehicles, according to a request for information (RFI) published on 9 April.
Update: Upgraded industry-funded directed energy C-UAS vehicle to appear in US Army training exercise

3 weeks ago | janes.com | Meredith Roaten

A US Army Stryker outfitted with a BlueHalo Locust laser performed a demonstration for the service taking down unmanned aircraft systems. (Leonardo DRS) An industry-funded directed energy counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) vehicle is headed to the US Army's Fires Center of Excellence later this year with upgrades, lead integrator Leonardo DRS told Janes on 21 March.
Upgraded industry-funded Directed Energy M-SHORAD to appear in US Army training exercise

3 weeks ago | janes.com | Meredith Roaten

A US Army Stryker outfitted with a BlueHalo Locust laser performed a demonstration for the service taking down unmanned aircraft systems. (Leonardo DRS) An industry-funded version of the Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) platform is headed to the US Army's Fires Center of Excellence later this year with upgrades, lead integrator Leonardo DRS told Janes on 21 March.
Lawmakers suggest funding decreases for US Army ground vehicles, missile programmes

1 month ago | janes.com | Meredith Roaten

The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Program of Record could lose some advanced procurement for the second increment of its missile if the DoD follows budget lawmaker guidance. (DVIDS) US House of Representatives (HoR) and Senate leaders want the US Army to decrease spending on some major ground vehicle programmes and add more counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UASs) to its fleet, according to a new document obtained by Janes .
US Army to test UAS, UGV voice control through experimental units

1 month ago | janes.com | Meredith Roaten

US Army Special Forces' soldiers are able to control UASs using their voices with Primordial Labs' Anura software. (Janes/Meredith Roaten) Soldiers will test a voice command software paired with multiple unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) as part of a series of exercises with US Army Transformation in Contact (TiC) units, executives told Janes on 27 February.
Budget delays to impact US Army Autonomous Transport Vehicle system fielding

1 month ago | janes.com | Meredith Roaten

An autonomous Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport (S-MET) with a small unmanned aircraft system landing pad is demonstrated with the Close Combat Lethality Task Force. (US Army)Operating the federal government under a continuing resolution is hampering the US Army's ability to field a new autonomous vehicle, a service official announced on 25 February.
Special report: US Army experimenting with new uncrewed UAS formations

2 months ago | janes.com | Meredith Roaten

Soldiers with the US Army's Experimental Force have flown the Black Hornet 3 to test hunter-killer unmanned aerial system configurations. (Janes/Meredith Roaten)Soldiers are increasingly getting their hands on uncrewed systems that can team with other uncrewed systems, and US Army officials are hoping to take advantage of a boost in innovation from the bottom.
Prototype ISV, MRZR Alpha modifications to be delivered in mid-2025

2 months ago | janes.com | Meredith Roaten

The US Army's 75th Ranger Regiment is testing a prototype of a new litter that could carry soldiers from the battlefield on the back of either an Infantry Squad Vehicle or MRZR Alpha. (Janes/Meredith Roaten)Soldiers are prototyping two equipment add-ons for the US Army's Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) and Polaris MRZR Alphas as part of the service's new manoeuvre technology accelerator, service officers told Janes on 7 February.
US Army experimental unit to begin testing precision-strike UAS

2 months ago | janes.com | Meredith Roaten

Orbital Research's first generation of UAS and fire-control system (pictured on the left) is designed to be a part of a hunter-killer operating concept. (US Army) A new hunter-killer unmanned aircraft system (UAS) configuration will begin testing in February with the 1st Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment, the unit's air section leader told Janes on 7 February.
US Army rushing to field FPV UAS to experimental units

2 months ago | janes.com | Meredith Roaten

A Black Widow UAV, made by US firm Teal Drones which was acquired by Red Cat in 2021. (Teal Drones)A new first-person view (FPV) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) currently being staffed through the requirements process is on track to be fielded to the US Army's Transformation in Contact (TIC) units as early as the end of 2025, a capabilities development official told Janes on 22 January.