Insitu Awarded $8.6 Million Services Contract by Canada Armed Forces to Support Long-Endurance CU-172 (Integrator) UAS Fleet

BINGEN, Washington, March 31, 2026 – Insitu, a Boeing Company, has been awarded an $8.6 million firm fixed-price services contract by Canada’s Department of National Defense to support the Canada Armed Forces’ fleet of long-endurance CU-172 Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS).

The CU-172 UAS is Canada’s name for the RQ-21A Blackjack UAS, originally fielded as a former US DoD Program of Record, currently available as the Integrator UAS with upgraded capabilities, endurance, and range.

The contract includes a base award of $8.6 million for program management and airworthiness services and contains further budget to support authorized work requests for spares, repairs, and other future work, including the addition of advanced resilience features and other updated capabilities currently offered on today’s Integrator UAS platform.

“We are honored to support the evolution of our important Canadian customer’s fleet of long-endurance CU-172 UAS to meet the challenges of today’s contested battlespaces,” said Diane Rose, Insitu CEO. “This award shows that our customers continue to value the unmatched endurance, range, payload capacity, and capability set offered by CU-172 for deep intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting (ISR-T) and multi-intelligence mission sets normally reserved for larger, more expensive assets,” she added. “We’re excited to continue to support our Canadian allies as they enhance capabilities to evolve their fleet and take advantage of the advanced capability sets of Integrator UAS.”

About CU-172 / Integrator UAS

Integrator UAS offers up to 27.5 hours of endurance and 50lb of payload capacity across 10 bays, enabling true multi-intelligence mission sets over vast ranges. It has a long track record of safe and reliable heavy fuel operations.

When paired with Insitu’s modular Common Ground Control System and INEXA Control, and updated with current software, hardware, and resilience features, CU-172 and Integrator are ready to fly in contested electronic environments and harsh climates around the world. 

This system provides versatile solutions to meet multi-domain ISR-T needs for government and commercial operators worldwide. 

About Insitu 

Boeing subsidiary Insitu is a pioneer in the design, development, production, and operation of high-performance, cost-effective, resilient, VTOL-capable UAS and AI-enabled software solutions. Integrator and ScanEagle UAS are combat-proven, with more than 1.6 million operational hours in some of the most challenging environments, including GPS-denied airspace. Critical capabilities include alt-nav for GPS/GNSS-denied environments, resilient datalinks, ISR and targeting, PLEO SATCOM BLOS control, AI-assisted wide-area search, expeditionary VTOL, kinetics and more. Insitu’s technologies have helped the armed forces of 35 nations make quicker, more informed decisions to bring warfighters home safely.

With offices in the US, Australia, the UK, and the UAE, Insitu has manufactured and fielded more than 3,500 UAS and provides operations and support networks in every hemisphere of the globe. Learn more at Insitu.com. 

Media Contacts:
Donald Bourassa
Marketing and Communications
Insitu, Inc.
Email: Donald.Bourassa@Insitu.com

Insitu to Showcase Enhanced Electronic Resilience, SATCOM, and AI Technology at World Defense Show in Riyadh

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 5, 2026 – Insitu, a Boeing Company, will highlight a suite of advanced resilience and SATCOM innovations for its renowned Integrator and ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) at World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These enhancements deliver greater performance, survivability, and intelligence across navigation, communications, and payload capabilities, including artificial intelligence, PLEO SATCOM control, advanced optical radar, and more.

“The battlespace of today and tomorrow requires sophisticated anti-jamming capabilities to ensure mission success,” said John Kelly, VP of Growth for Insitu, Inc. “Our suite of updated resilience and automation capabilities for Integrator, ScanEagle, and FLARES VTOL kits have been tested and proven in contested combat conditions and ensure greater survivability in the harshest environments,” he added. “We’re excited to bring this technology to bear for our important customers across the Mideast region.”

Featured advancements include:

• Enhanced Navigation and Communications Resilience:
  New capabilities for GPS/GNSS-denied environments include visual-based alt-nav systems, robust data and communication links, and expanded satellite communication (SATCOM) via proliferated low-earth orbit constellations. Proven in both contested and cooperative environments, these features ensure operational reliability even under combat jamming conditions.
• Hyper-Spectral Optical Radar (HSOR):
  Developed by Arkeus, this AI-powered wide-area search payload leverages hyper-spectral and optical signals to detect and classify targets in challenging maritime and littoral environments. Fully integrated with Insitu’s INEXA C2 software, HSOR enables operators to efficiently track and interrogate targets with precision.
• Upgraded FLARES VTOL Kit for Integrator:
  FLARES VTOL has been enhanced for superior performance in extreme weather and contested environments. Improvements include greater resilience to heavy seas, high winds, and adverse conditions; encrypted GPS options; jam-resistant datalinks; advanced GNSS navigation for denied environments; and increased payload capacity, all contributing to expanded mission flexibility and reliability.
• SATCOM Control for ScanEagle UAS:
  Insitu’s ScanEagle now supports remote control via resilient PLEO SATCOM datalinks, allowing operators to conduct over-the-horizon, beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) missions anywhere in the world. This capability significantly extends ScanEagle’s operational range and mission scope.
• AI-Enabled Payloads:
  Insitu’s advanced AI-powered radar payloads – Including NSP-3, NSP-5, MRaISR, PT-6, and HSOR – provide capabilities such as coherent change detection, pattern-of-life analysis, vessel detection, and more across vast areas of land and sea. These systems operate effectively in low-visibility environments, reducing operator workload while ensuring faster, more reliable access to actionable insights.

Integrator and Integrator ER offer up to 27.5 hours of endurance and up to 50lb of payload across 10 bays (depending on configuration), enabling true multi-intelligence mission sets over vast ranges. ScanEagle offers 18+ hours of endurance and SATCOM BLOS capability.  FLARES VTOL kits for Integrator and ScanEagle enable no-sacrifice VTOL capability with no aircraft modifications required, at no cost to endurance or payload capacity. Both have a long track record of safe, reliable heavy fuel operations.

When paired with Insitu’s modular Common Ground Control System and INEXA Control, Insitu’s VTOL UAS are ready to fly in contested electronic environments and harsh climates around the world. 

Integrator and ScanEagle VTOL continue to be optimized for both maritime and land applications, delivering dependable performance in extreme conditions. These systems provide versatile solutions to meet multi-domain ISR-T needs for government and commercial operators worldwide. 

Join Insitu at World Defense Show in Riyadh, February 8-12, 2026, to explore these cutting-edge advancements in UAS technology.

About Insitu 

Boeing subsidiary Insitu is a pioneer in the design, development, production, and operation of high-performance, cost-effective, resilient, VTOL-capable UAS and AI-enabled software solutions. Integrator and ScanEagle UAS are combat-proven, with more than 1.6 million operational hours in some of the most challenging environments, including GPS-denied airspace. Critical capabilities include alt-nav for GPS/GNSS-denied environments, resilient datalinks, ISR and targeting, PLEO SATCOM BLOS control, AI-assisted wide-area search, expeditionary VTOL, kinetics and more. Insitu’s technologies have helped the armed forces from 35 nations make quicker, more informed decisions to get warfighters home safely. With offices in the US, Australia, the UK, and the UAE, Insitu has manufactured and fielded more than 3,500 UAS and provides operations and support networks in every hemisphere of the globe. Learn more at Insitu.com. 

Media Contacts:
Onsite at World Defense Show:
Mazen Sabri
Boeing Communications
Mobile: +971 56 689 4238
E-mail: mazen.sabri@boeing.com

Insitu HQ:
Donald Bourassa
Marketing and Communications
Insitu, Inc.
Email: Donald.Bourassa@Insitu.com

Insitu to Showcase Suite of New Technology at UMEX 2026 in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, UAE, January 15, 2026 – Insitu, A Boeing Company, will be showcasing a suite of new technology innovations for its long-endurance, battle-proven Integrator and ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) at UMEX 2026, Booth 04-B12, in Abu Dhabi, UAE. These updated capabilities include a host of navigation and comms resilience features, new synthetic aperture and hyper-spectral optical radar payloads, SATCOM control for ScanEagle, AI-enabled payloads, and more.

“UMEX is an incredibly important show for us to meet with and learn from our customers across the Middle East,” said Aqeel Al-Khazraji, Insitu Business Development Executive. “Since the opening of our Center of Excellence at Tawazun Industrial Park in Abu Dhabi, we continue to build strong partnerships in the Gulf. Currently, 2/3 of GCC and Peninsula Shield Force countries trust Insitu UAS for their intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting (ISR-T) needs.”   

The suite of new technology on display at UMEX 2026 includes:

• Navigation and Communications Resilience Features: These include visual-based alt-nav for GPS/GNSS-denied environments, resilient data and communication links, and enhanced satellite communication (SATCOM) capabilities, including proliferated low-earth orbit constellations. These capabilities have been tested and proven in both friendly and unfriendly combat jamming environments.

• Hyper-Spectral Optical Radar (HSOR): This AI-assisted wide-area search payload developed by Arkeus employs hyper-spectral and optical signals to reliably identify and classify targets at long range in low-visibility maritime and littoral environments, so operators can quickly and easily interrogate and track targets of interest. HSOR is fully integrated with Insitu’s INEXA C2 software and is available on Integrator UAS.

• Upgraded FLARES VTOL kit for Integrator: FLARES VTOL for Integrator just received numerous electronic and climatic resilience upgrades enabling launch and recovery in even more challenging weather conditions and contested environments. These updates include improved environmental resilience (heavy seas/high winds/adverse weather); encrypted GPS options and jam-resistant datalinks; updated navigation solutions for GNSS-contested ops; improved supportability; and increased launch weights.

• SATCOM control for ScanEagle UAS: ScanEagle, the most experienced small UAS on the market, can now be controlled from anywhere in the world via resilient SATCOM datalinks, enabling over-the-horizon, beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) mission sets, greatly expanding its range.  

• AI-Enabled Payloads: ScanEagle and Integrator offer a host of next-gen AI-enabled multi-int radar payloads including NSP-3/NSP-5, MRaISR, PT-6, and HSOR. These payloads enable operators to scan vast areas of land and sea for coherent change detection, pattern of life analysis, vessel detection/identification and more, including in low-visibility environments. These practical AI capabilities lower operator workload, enabling fewer assets to cover more ground quickly and reliably, while only presenting the most important data for human review.

“ScanEagle and Integrator are the most tested and proven small UAS in both land and maritime environments, and a significant amount of their 1.5 million operational hours are in the challenging climate conditions of the Middle East,” said Al-Khazraji. “The new capabilities we are offering at UMEX this year are ideal for long-endurance missions like border security, critical infrastructure monitoring, long-transit/long-dwell ISR-T, shipping lane overwatch, and more,” he added.

Integrator and Integrator ER offer up to 27.5 hours of endurance and up to 50lb of payload across 10 bays (depending on configuration), enabling true multi-intelligence mission sets over vast ranges. ScanEagle offers 18+ hours of endurance and SATCOM BLOS capability.  FLARES VTOL kits for Integrator and ScanEagle enable no-sacrifice VTOL capability with no aircraft modifications required, at no cost to endurance or payload capacity. Both have a long track record of safe, reliable heavy fuel operations.

When paired with Insitu’s modular Common Ground Control System and INEXA Control, Insitu’s VTOL UAS are ready to fly in contested electronic environments and harsh climates around the world. 

Integrator and ScanEagle VTOL continue to be optimized for both maritime and land applications, delivering dependable performance in extreme conditions. These systems provide versatile solutions to meet multi-domain ISR-T needs for government and commercial operators worldwide. 

About Insitu 

Boeing subsidiary Insitu is a pioneer in the design, development, production, and operation of high-performance, cost-effective, resilient, VTOL-capable UAS and AI-enabled software solutions. Integrator and ScanEagle UAS are combat-proven, with more than 1.5 million operational hours in some of the most challenging environments, including GPS-denied airspace. Critical capabilities include alt-nav for GPS/GNSS-denied environments, resilient datalinks, ISR and targeting, PLEO SATCOM BLOS control, AI-assisted wide-area search, expeditionary VTOL, kinetics and more. Insitu’s technologies have helped the armed forces from 35 nations make quicker, more informed decisions to get warfighters home safely. With offices in the US, Australia, the UK, and the UAE, Insitu has manufactured and fielded more than 3,500 UAS and provides operations and support networks in every hemisphere of the globe. Learn more at Insitu.com. 

Media Contacts:
Insitu HQ:
Megan Person
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Insitu, Inc.
Phone: 509-637-6159
Email: Communications@Insitu.com

Onsite at UMEX:
Zeina El Hakam
Communications, Boeing (UAE)
+971 50 210 0810
Zeina.elhakam@boeing.com

Insitu Upgrades Integrator VTOL Launch and Recovery System Defying the Challenges of Heavy Seas, Complex Terrain and Contested Environments

BINGEN, Wash., December 17, 2025 – Insitu, A Boeing Company, in collaboration with Hood Tech, releases the latest capability upgrades for the revolutionary Flying Launch and Recovery System (FLARES) for long-endurance Integrator UAS. These updates further enhance the resilience of the system to withstand the demands of the harshest environments on long deployments, with greater communications capability, solidifying Insitu’s place as the leader in US uncrewed aerial systems.  

“Our updated, resilient VTOL kit for multi-mission Integrator is a game-changer for customers that need truly expeditionary capability in challenging electronic and climatic environments,” said Diane Rose, Insitu CEO. “This enhanced resilience paired with battle-proven Integrator’s long endurance and multi-intelligence payload capacity enables our customers to fly expanded mission sets with confidence anytime, anywhere, even in the most contested environments.”   

This latest FLARES update introduces a suite of relevant resilience and performance enhancements that elevate the system’s operational effectiveness, safety and reliability in even the most demanding environments, making it ideal for diverse maritime and land-based missions. The updates include: 

• Improved Environmental Resilience: Engineered to withstand challenging climatic and operational conditions, including heavy seas, high winds, adverse weather, and complex terrain. 
• Encrypted GPS Options and Jam-Resistant Datalinks: Enhanced security and communication reliability, ensuring mission success even in contested and denied environments. 
• Updated Navigation Solutions for GNSS-Contested Operations: Optimized flight performance when operating in electronically contested environments, ensuring mission-critical autonomy. 
• Improved Supportability: Rapidly replaceable components such as propellers reduce downtime and simplify in-field maintenance. With redundancies built into its inherently robust design, FLARES remains easy to operate and remarkably durable. 
• Increased Launch Weights: Enables enhanced payload flexibility while maintaining endurance and range.  

“Throughout qualification testing together with Insitu, we find ourselves continuing to fly FLARES in more wind, more precipitation and more deck motion than our competitors,” said Hood Tech Mechanical’s Lead Engineer, Cory Roeseler, “We have the test range to ourselves in adverse weather, and we’re pleased to see opportunities arise as customers gravitate towards our safe, robust and very capable system”. 

FLARES enables operators to launch and recover Integrator in confined areas as small as a 10×10 meter footprint without sacrificing endurance (up to 27.5 hours), range (up to 2,000 nmi, point-to-point), or payload capacity (up to 50 lbs across 10 bays).  

Integrator is also equipped with multiple SATCOM BLOS control options, including support for Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO) SATCOM, allowing for remote-split operations and missions conducted at unprecedented distances with ease. 

FLARES is available for current and future Integrator customers with no aircraft modifications required. Setup remains quick and easy, enabling rapid packing, deployment, and transport down range in challenging environments.  

When paired with Insitu’s modular Common Ground Control System and INEXA Control, FLARES delivers a truly expeditionary VTOL Group 3 UAS capability, enabling operations in contested electronic environments and harsh climates around the world. 

Integrator VTOL continues to be optimized for both maritime and land applications, delivering dependable performance in extreme conditions. This system provides versatile solutions to meet multi-domain intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) needs for government and commercial operators worldwide. 

With the release of these FLARES upgrades, Insitu and Hood Tech build on their combined mission to provide cutting-edge unmanned systems that meet the multi-intelligence, multi-domain, long-endurance demands of modern operations. 

About Insitu 

Insitu, a Boeing Subsidiary, is an industry-leading manufacturer and systems integrator of advanced autonomous uncrewed air systems. The UAV product line includes ScanEagle and Integrator platforms, both VTOL-capable via Flying Launch and Recovery (FLARES) System. Insitu’s full suite of AI-enabled command, control, and data processing solutions includes INEXA Control, TacitView, Catalina, Tungsten SDK, and Common Ground Control Systems. Payloads and capabilities include PLEO SATCOM, multi-spectral sensors, electro-optical telescope and zoom cameras, SIGINT and electronic warfare, communications relay, AI-assisted wide-area maritime search, laser pointer/rangefinder/designator, alternative navigation solutions, and kinetics. The future of autonomy is built on experience. Learn more at Insitu.com. 

About Hood Tech 

Hood Tech MECHANICAL specializes in UAV launch and recovery systems. The FLARES system is, specifically designed for maritime search and rescue operations, featuring tool-less assembly and compact operation, even in confined spaces. This innovative solution ensures flexibility and efficiency for critical missions, promoting longer flight endurance and reduced operational costs. Based in Hood River, Oregon, the company is committed to delivering custom-engineered solutions made in the USA. 

Media Contact:
Donald Bourassa
Marketing and Communications
Insitu, Inc
Email: donald.bourassa@insitu.com

Boeing, Insitu, and TNO Announce Major Advancements in Multi-function Radar Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (MRaISR)

Rotterdam, Netherlands – December 8, 2025 – Boeing, in collaboration with Insitu and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), announced updates from the Multi-function Radar Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (MRaISR) project. This Industrial Participation project, supported by the Dutch Ministries of Economic Affairs and Defense, has been in development for several years, showcasing the culmination of efforts in advancing radar technology for global defense applications.

The MRaISR project focuses on the development of a low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) Synthetic Aperture Radar, equipped with advanced collection and multi-mode capabilities. This initiative aims to address emerging global defense requirements effectively.

“At TNO, we are committed to advancing technology that supports national and international security but also reinforces our position as a leader in applied scientific research,” said Philip Weimar, Director, Electromagnetics & Military Operations, TNO. 

The MRaISR project supports the Dutch Strategy for Industry and Innovation 2025 – 2029 (DSII) by further developing TNO’s innovative AMBER radar technology into the MRaISR payload that can serve several of Boeing and Insitu’s customers. In collaboration with Insitu and TNO several additional industry partners have been supporting this project including AcQ International, the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NRL), and Robin Radar.

“The MRaISR project is a testament to our collaborative efforts between Boeing, Insitu, TNO, and Dutch industry and we are eager to showcase the results of our hard work,” said Brandy Pessin, Senior Manager, International Strategic Partnerships at Boeing. “This collaboration strengthens defense capabilities, but also our key strategic partnerships within Europe and is a great example of a win-win-win solution to building long term strategic partnerships.”

This message was echoed by Mark Lengton, deputy Commissioner for Military Production at the Ministry of Economic Affairs in the Netherlands, whom was at the forefront of this project, by supporting it via the Dutch Industrial Participation policy: “This project allows TNO, as one of our leading knowledge institutes, and Dutch industry to partner with Boeing to develop a system that can be tested, demonstrated and industrialized.”

Currently, two integrated payloads have been designed, built, and tested by TNO, with successful demonstrations of airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image collection, Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI), and Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) modes on three crewed flights (over land and water) in the Netherlands. A comprehensive business case analysis has been conducted, and an industrialization partner has been identified, with new product introduction planning already underway. In October 2025, a UAV flight demonstration of the MRaISR on an Insitu Integrator was completed at Insitu’s test range.

“The MRaISR project exemplifies our mission to provide cutting-edge solutions that enhance situational awareness and operational effectiveness,” said Steven Todorov, Product Manager at Insitu. “Our partnership with Boeing and TNO has been instrumental in bringing this advanced radar capability to tactical UAVs, and we are excited to demonstrate its capabilities during the upcoming flight tests.”

About Boeing: As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing’s diverse team is committed to innovating for the future, leading with sustainability, and cultivating a culture based on the company’s core values of safety, quality and integrity. Join our team and find your purpose at boeing.com/careers.

About Insitu: Insitu, a Boeing Subsidiary, is an industry-leading manufacturer and systems integrator of advanced autonomous uncrewed air systems. The UAV product line includes ScanEagle and Integrator platforms, both VTOL-capable via Flying Launch and Recovery (FLARES) System. Insitu’s full suite of AI-enabled command, control, and data processing solutions includes INEXA Control, TacitView, Catalina, Tungsten SDK, and Common Ground Control Systems. Payloads and capabilities include PLEO SATCOM, multi-spectral sensors, electro-optical telescope and zoom cameras, SIGINT and electronic warfare, communications relay, AI-assisted wide-area maritime search, laser pointer/rangefinder/designator, alternative navigation solutions, and kinetics. The future of autonomy is built on experience. Learn more at Insitu.com.

About TNO: TNO is the largest independent research and technology organization in the Netherlands and one of the largest in the EU. We innovate, investigate, and orchestrate, collaborating closely with governments, universities and the private sector. We inform government on policies and empower evidence-based decision-making through rigorous investigations, cutting-edge scientific insights, and reliable measurements. By building national and international consortia and ecosystems, we drive technological and methodological breakthroughs that help to realise a secure, sustainable, healthy, and digital society, and strengthen the earning power of the Dutch economy. https://www.tno.nl/en/ 

ScanEagle Drone strengthens Colombia’s maritime surveillance and intel posture

Original Army Recognition article here

[4 Dec, 2025] Colombia is showcasing the ScanEagle unmanned aircraft at Expodefensa 2025 as a core element of its maritime intelligence and surveillance network. The move underscores how tactical drones are becoming essential for monitoring crime, hostile groups and major events across the country’s coastlines.

During Expodefensa 2025, the Armada de Colombia is highlighting the ScanEagle as one of the cornerstones of its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance posture at sea and along the coasts. This small unmanned aircraft, developed by Insitu, a Boeing subsidiary, has been in Colombian service since the mid-2000s and has progressively migrated from an experimental asset to a routine tool of naval and joint operations. In a context marked by the persistence of organized crime, renewed activity of illegal armed groups and the need to secure major international events such as COP16 in Cali, the platform offers continuous coverage where manned aircraft and surface units are constrained. By putting the system at the forefront in Bogotá, Colombia is sending a clear signal about the central place of tactical drones in its future security architecture.

The ScanEagle used by the Colombian Navy is a compact, high-endurance fixed-wing UAV capable of remaining on station for about 18 hours, cruising between 50 and 60 knots at altitudes up to 19,500 feet. Its line-of-sight control range of roughly 60 nautical miles allows the aircraft to orbit well beyond the horizon of surface vessels while still feeding real-time imagery to mission operators. Powered by heavy fuel compatible with standard JET A1, the system is fully integrated into naval logistics chains. The primary sensor package consists of a dual-video MWIR turret with both day-time and infrared cameras, offering up to 36-times zoom in the visible spectrum and 12.5-times in IR, coupled to an encrypted command-and-control and video datalink. This combination gives operators the ability to detect, identify and track small fast craft, clandestine landing attempts or suspicious movements in coastal communities, by day and by night, in conditions where traditional surface radars or patrols might miss small targets.

Operationally, the Colombian ScanEagle detachments are structured around a hub-and-spoke model designed for persistent, expeditionary deployment. The central “hub” cell brings together a mission control officer, a dedicated ScanEagle pilot, an imagery analyst and two technicians responsible for launch and recovery using the catapult and Skyhook arresting system. Forward “spoke” teams, made up of a pilot and an imagery analyst, can be embarked on patrol vessels or deployed to austere coastal sites, receiving support from the hub through secure communications. This organization allows the Armada de Colombia to project drone capability rapidly along both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, in rivers or estuaries, and to synchronize air pictures with the combat information centres of ships and joint command posts. The motto “Protegemos el azul de la bandera” takes on a very concrete meaning here: the UAV extends the Navy’s eyes across the blue of Colombia’s maritime spaces, beyond the line of sight of conventional sensors.

Strategically, ScanEagle has become one of the discreet enablers of Colombia’s fight against narcotrafficking and organized crime. The system is used to monitor corridors used by the Clan del Golfo and other groups for maritime trafficking, to document suspicious rendezvous at sea and to cue intercept operations by surface units or joint task forces. Its endurance enables pattern-of-life analysis over remote coastal areas where state presence is limited, supporting both interagency operations and judicial investigations. During the COP16 summit in Cali, the Colombian Air Force and Navy deployed ScanEagle to reinforce aerial surveillance over access routes and critical zones around the host city, underlining its role not only in counter-narcotics but also in the protection of major international events and critical infrastructure. In the longer term, the integration of these ISR feeds into national command networks contributes to a more reactive, intelligence-driven security posture on land and at sea.

At the regional level, the presence of ScanEagle on the Colombian stand at Expodefensa 2025 illustrates a broader evolution in Latin American defence policies. Faced with hybrid threats at sea, from illegal fishing to drug trafficking and the movements of irregular armed groups, coastal states are investing in relatively light, modular unmanned systems instead of exclusively relying on high-end combat aviation. For Colombia, which shares maritime boundaries and transnational security challenges with several neighbours, the ability to maintain a persistent picture of its exclusive economic zone is also a diplomatic tool: data collected by drones can support cooperation with partner navies, joint patrols and information-sharing arrangements sponsored by the United States and European allies. At the same time, the choice of a platform widely used by NATO navies and other partners facilitates interoperability during combined exercises or multinational maritime security operations.

The Colombian ScanEagle fleet is part of a long-term national effort to structure remotely-piloted aviation within the armed forces. Since the first systems were delivered with foreign support around 2006, Colombia has progressively organized its remotely piloted aircraft around dedicated structures, doctrine and training pipelines, moving from ad hoc deployments to a fully institutionalized capability. The experience accumulated in maritime ISR, border surveillance and event security with ScanEagle is likely to influence future acquisitions, whether Colombia opts for larger MALE drones, vertical-take-off UAVs or complementary sensor suites. By choosing to give the platform prominence at Expodefensa 2025, the Armada de Colombia is emphasizing continuity: a proven drone, adapted to the country’s geography and security challenges, that will continue to underpin the protection of national waters and the “blue” of the flag in the years ahead.

Original Army Recognition article here

Insitu Introduces PLEO SATCOM for ScanEagle UAS, Adds Laser Targeting Capability for Enhanced Over-The-Horizon ISR-T Mission Sets 

BINGEN, Wash., November 3, 2025 – Insitu, a Boeing Company, is proud to announce the addition of Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO) Satellite Communication (SATCOM) datalinks and laser-targeting capabilities to its long-endurance, battle-tested ScanEagle Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS). These enhancements position ScanEagle as the premier choice for reliable over-the-horizon Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Targeting (ISR-T) missions, further solidifying its reputation as the most proven small UAS in operation today.

ScanEagle, recognized for its reliability with over 1.3 million flight hours logged across contested and combat conditions globally, now offers SATCOM datalinks leveraging PLEO satellite constellations. This capability will enable operators to achieve extended mission reach, even under the most challenging conditions, while controlling ScanEagle UAS from anywhere in the world. Resilience features include visual-based navigation and autonomous RF-switching, ensuring confidence in dynamic and challenging operational scenarios.

“As the leading small UAS on the market, ScanEagle has continuously earned accolades for readiness, reliability, and innovation,” said Diane Rose, Insitu CEO. “The integration of PLEO SATCOM provides operators unparalleled BLOS capability, enabling real-time decision-making capability and operational success for land and maritime missions. The addition of laser targeting capability greatly expands ScanEagle’s reach and mission capability for the most demanding ISR-T missions.”

With Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) launch and recovery, ScanEagle is ready to fly both maritime and land-based sorties from small ship decks and other expeditionary locations, meeting mission requirements with unequaled flexibility. Its robust capability set includes EO and multi-spectral optics, AI-assisted wide-area and maritime search, communications relay, Signals Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, and laser-designator targeting.

These upgrades are the latest evolution in ScanEagle’s storied track record of innovation, ensuring mission-critical autonomy and resilience in the most demanding environments. Insitu announced PLEO SATCOM capability for Integrator in 2024, and Integrator ER has offered GEO SATCOM capability for years.

As Insitu continues to push the boundaries of UAS capability, ScanEagle and Integrator remain the trusted choice for global operators seeking unmatched reliability and operational excellence.

About Insitu:
Insitu, a Boeing Subsidiary, is an industry-leading manufacturer and systems integrator of advanced autonomous uncrewed air systems. The UAV product line includes ScanEagle and Integrator platforms, both VTOL-capable via Flying Launch and Recovery (FLARES) System. Insitu’s full suite of AI-enabled command, control, and data processing solutions includes INEXA Control, TacitView, Catalina, Tungsten SDK, and Common Ground Control Systems. Payloads and capabilities include PLEO SATCOM, multi-spectral sensors, electro-optical telescope and zoom cameras, SIGINT and electronic warfare, communications relay, AI-assisted wide-area maritime search, laser pointer/rangefinder/designator, alternative navigation solutions, and kinetics. The future of autonomy is built on experience. Learn more at Insitu.com.

Media Contact:
Don Bourassa
donald.bourassa@insitu.com

Media Contact (Australia, APAC and UK):
Rebecca Kind
+61 481 005 298
rebecca.kind@insitupacific.com

Insitu Names John Kelly as Vice President of Global Growth

BINGEN, Wash. — October 22, 2025— Insitu, a Boeing Company, has announced the appointment of John Kelly as vice president of Global Growth to lead the company’s worldwide business development strategy. In this role, Kelly will expand Insitu’s partnerships and advance its position as a trusted provider of uncrewed systems and defense technologies for allied forces around the globe.

“I’m proud to join the Insitu team at such a consequential time in the evolution of autonomous flight,” said John. “Insitu is already an industry leader in small UAS and we’re developing new, advanced technology including revolutionary payloads, futureproofing for modern contested battlespace operations, and advanced AI and machine learning work for both vehicle and mission autonomy,” he added. “I look forward to further developing the UAS capability of our existing customer base and bringing new customers into our family of users.”

Kelly brings more than three decades of defense-industry experience as an engineer, program manager, and executive leader. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Hanwha Defense USA, where he oversaw the company’s U.S. growth strategy, transforming its business development organization and leading major Department of Defense programs. Under his leadership, the company tripled its workforce, secured strategic partnerships, and built a compliant, cleared operation under a Special Security Agreement.

Prior to Hanwha, Kelly led government business development for APTIM Federal Services and held senior leadership roles at BAE Systems, where he was responsible for more than $4 billion annually in new and recurring defense business. His earlier career includes extensive experience in project management and engineering across combat vehicle, weapons, and radar programs in both the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

“We are honored to welcome John to the Insitu leadership team,” said Diane Rose, President and CEO of Insitu. “His proven record of building global defense partnerships and delivering mission-critical solutions aligns perfectly with our vision for the future.”

Kelly holds a Bachelor of Engineering in mechanical and production engineering from the Isle of Wight College of Arts and Technology, a postgraduate diploma in personnel management from the University of Portsmouth, and Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. He will be based in the Washington, D.C. area.

About Insitu
Insitu, a Boeing Company, is a leader in uncrewed aerial systems and advanced intelligence solutions. Insitu’s systems have accumulated more than 1.5 million operational flight hours in challenging conditions around the globe.

Insitu’s UAV product line includes ScanEagle and Integrator platforms, both VTOL-capable via Flying Launch and Recovery (FLARES) System. Insitu’s full suite of AI-enabled command, control, and data processing solutions includes INEXA Control, TacitView, Catalina, Tungsten SDK, and Common Ground Control Systems. Payloads and capabilities include PLEO SATCOM, multi-spectral sensors, electro-optical telescope and zoom cameras, alternative navigation solutions, SIGINT and electronic warfare, communications relay, AI-assisted wide-area maritime search, laser pointer/rangefinder/designator, and kinetics.

The future of autonomy is built on experience. Learn more at Insitu.com.

Media Contact:
Don Bourassa
donald.bourassa@insitu.com

Media Contact (Australia, APAC and UK)
Rebecca Kind
+61 481 005 298
rebecca.kind@insitupacific.com

Insitu Launches Autonomy Centre of Excellence in Oxford, UK

OXFORD, United Kingdom — Sept. 10, 2025 — Insitu, a Boeing Company, today announced the establishment of its new Autonomy Centre of Excellence in Oxford, United Kingdom, solidifying the company’s long-standing commitment to advancing practical autonomy and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions critical to the future of global defence.

The new centre builds upon a decade-long presence in Oxford, where a world-class software team has served as the technological backbone for Insitu’s data processing, exploitation, and dissemination (PED) systems. Their software powers advanced data workflows across Insitu’s fleet of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), including platforms fielded by allied forces around the world.

“Autonomy is not just a buzzword—it’s an operational imperative,” said Diane Rose, CEO of Insitu. “But what warfighters need isn’t speculative AI. They need practical autonomy that works under fire, in real environments, reducing workload, and enhancing decision making across legacy and future systems. That’s exactly what our Oxford team delivers.”

The Autonomy Centre of Excellence is a focused investment that will deepen collaboration and the rapid adoption of new technology and AI solutions.  The Centre will serve as a hub for research, development, and deployment of intelligent mission software, onboard autonomy, and edge computing capabilities that enable distributed, resilient operations. The team will continue to pioneer software that transforms raw data into actionable insight—at machine speed—giving commanders an operational advantage in the most contested environments.

“The future fight demands more than exquisite hardware—it requires trusted autonomy at scale,” said Andrew Duggan, managing director of Insitu Pacific. “With this centre, we’re investing in the kind of autonomy that gets fielded: modular, interoperable, and focused on effective mission outcomes.”

Located in one of the world’s premier academic and innovation hubs, the Oxford-based team will also foster local industry partnerships with leading researchers, defence stakeholders, and commercial AI pioneers to accelerate capability maturation and deployment.

This expansion underscores Insitu’s strategy of continuous innovation to deliver proven, scalable solutions for the modern battlespace—where autonomy, data, and survivability converge.

Media Contact:

Rebecca Kind
+61 481 005 298
rebecca.kind@insitupacific.com

Persistent presence at long range

Original Australian Government Defence article here.

In the skies above Shoalwater Bay, a lone aerial vehicle glides over rugged terrain, camera payload trained on the scrub below.

The footage it captures is received by its operators in a Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle (PMV) over 25 kilometres away.

Operators inspect the feed looking for any movement or shapes that indicate an unwanted presence.

In this case, no sign is a good sign, according to Captain Harry Gray, battery second-in-command of Task Element Dragon from 20th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery.

“We are conducting trace clearances for a combined joint live fire exercise, and we will be observing the fall of shot for HIMARS when they fire,” he said.

“But after that it will be normal operations for us, conducting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of the division, as well as target acquisition.”

The gunners are operating the RQ-21 Integrator tactical Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) during Exercise Talisman Sabre 25, the second major exercise since the RQ-7B Shadow UAS was retired last year.

The new system provides numerous advantages, including a longer flight time, better camera payload and most importantly for the operators, a smaller footprint on the ground.

Being able to maintain a more mobile and tactical posture was a key advantage, according to Captain Gray.

“We can operate our ground control stations as laptops in a PMV, whereas with Shadow it was basically a large green box on the back of a truck,” he said.

“The skyhook recovery system also means we are not runway dependant; we just need an open area for it to glide into. The Shadow lands on its wheels, so we needed a graded surface.”

The system allows for a greater operation range, with operators launching the Integrator in a safe location before handing off control to a forward element closer to the area of operations.

“We push our controllers forward, extend our range and again, they’re more survivable and mobile. Once that aircraft is running out of fuel, they hand it back to us, we recover it and we get them a new one,” Captain Gray said.

The drone is launched by a catapult and recovered using a skyhook, a line system that snares the wings of the craft, instead of touching down to land.

Getting the vehicles into the sky and accumulating flying hours is one of the best parts about being in the field, according to drone operator Gunner Ishaan McNeil.

Operators are more involved with Integrator from pre-flight to retrieval, a change from the Shadows which relied on aviation maintenance trades for some checks.

“In my role, I control the drone as well as take care of all the ground crew components such as wing assembly, fueling, defueling, launching and recovering the UAS,” Gunner McNeil said. 

“The most rewarding thing about operating the RQ-21 is being able to work in a close-knit team, and support the mission and be successful in that task.”