The Hidden Stack of Modern Defense: Drones, Data, and Rare Earths
25 March 2025 - A Weekly Publication by New North Ventures
FAA seeks input on drone integration at airports
The Federal Aviation Administration is stepping up efforts to integrate drones (unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS) into airport environments, one of the most complex and high stakes areas of the national airspace.
At a high level, the FAA is actively gathering input from airports, drone operators, manufacturers, and other stakeholders to better understand how drones are currently being used in and around airports, as well as what infrastructure and standards are still needed. This includes exploring concepts like “droneports” (dedicated areas for drone operations), new design requirements, and how existing airport layouts may need to evolve to safely accommodate both manned and unmanned aircraft.
A central challenge is safety and coordination. Airports are already tightly managed environments, and introducing drones adds complexity around collision avoidance, airspace management, and operational procedures. The FAA is using this research to inform future policy, guidance, and potentially formal standards to ensure drones can operate alongside traditional aviation without increasing risk.
Zooming out, this effort reflects a broader push by the FAA to modernize the airspace system and enable more advanced drone operations, including beyond visual line of sight flights and scaled commercial use. But progress remains iterative: the agency is balancing innovation with its core mandate of safety, meaning integration will likely continue to roll out gradually as technologies, regulations, and infrastructure mature.
Are you an aviation stakeholder? ( e.g., airport/droneport operator, private entity, original equipment manufacturer, unmanned aircraft system (UAS) industry vendor, academia, representatives of the military, etc.) You can send written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection. More information on where to address your comments to HERE.
No Magnets, No Drones: China’s Strategy for Shaping Tomorrow’s Battlefield
Modern warfare is increasingly defined by drones, but beneath that shift lies a largely overlooked dependency: rare earth magnets. These components are essential for drone motors, missile guidance systems, and other advanced defense technologies, yet roughly 90–95% of global processing capacity is controlled by China. As a result, even Western and Ukrainian defense systems rely heavily on Chinese sourced materials, creating a critical supply chain vulnerability that could be exploited geopolitically.
This dependency is becoming more urgent as drone usage scales rapidly. Ukraine alone has produced over a million drones annually, with drones accounting for the majority of frontline strikes. In response, the U.S. is moving to ban Chinese origin rare earth materials in defense systems by 2027, accelerating the need for domestic alternatives. Companies like REalloys are positioning themselves to fill this gap by building end t -end, China independent supply chains for rare earth processing and magnet production. The broader takeaway: control over upstream materials may ultimately determine military advantage in the next generation of conflict.
Inside the high-stakes US defence system tracking Iran missiles and drones
The U.S. Department of Defense is relying on a highly coordinated, multi layered defense network to detect and track Iranian missiles and drones in real time, reflecting the growing intensity of threats across the Middle East. The system begins in space, where infrared satellites identify missile launches within seconds, before handing off to ground based radars that track trajectories and predict impact points. This data is then shared across a distributed network that includes naval vessels, airborne surveillance platforms, and regional command centers, creating a continuous, integrated picture of the battlespace designed to enable rapid interception and response.
However, this system is under increasing strain as threats evolve particularly from low cost Iranian drones, which are harder to detect due to their low heat signatures, small size, and ability to fly at low altitudes. Recent strikes on key radar infrastructure have further exposed vulnerabilities, forcing the U.S. to shift and reinforce coverage with mobile assets like ships and aircraft. The broader takeaway: while the U.S. maintains a technological edge in missile detection and tracking, the rise of cheaper, harder to detect drone swarms is challenging traditional defense architectures and forcing a rapid adaptation toward more flexible, resilient systems.
More links to explore:
Link Labs Assets Now Tracked Globally Through Hubble Network
Hubble Network announced it can now track Link Labs’ assets globally using its Bluetooth-based network. It leverages over 90 million terrestrial Bluetooth gateways plus emerging satellite connectivity to extend coverage into remote areas.
Together, this enables near-global tracking of Bluetooth-enabled devices without relying on GPS or cellular service, improving visibility for logistics and asset monitoring worldwide.
Founded in 2021, Hubble Network operates a global network of more than 90 million terrestrial Bluetooth® gateways, with satellite connectivity expanding coverage to remote and off-grid environments. For more information, visit hubble.com.
UND Signs Memo of Understanding to Advance Hypersonics, other Technologies
University of North Dakota has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Auriga Space to collaborate on advancing electromagnetic launch technologies for national security applications. The partnership focuses on using Auriga’s electric, magnetically driven launch system, an alternative to chemical rockets, to support research and development in hypersonics, counter unmanned aerial systems (counter-UAS), and space related missions.
Auriga Space develops electromagnetic launch systems that accelerate payloads using linear electric motor technology rather than traditional rocket propulsion. The company’s approach enables low cost, repeatable, high cadence launch capabilities that could improve hypersonic testing and enable more rapid space access. Through the MOU, UND and Auriga will explore how this technology can be integrated into broader defense and research efforts, leveraging UND’s existing strengths in aerospace and national security programs.
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