DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ With a NATO war and Ukraine's knack for shooting down planes in mind, Russia is holding back its airpower and most advanced jets
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Read previewRussia has kept much of its airpower and some of its most advanced aircraft out of the war in Ukraine. But Baum and other air warfare experts have warned Russia's air force should not be underestimated and cautioned that NATO should be ready. AdvertisementRussia's air force is weaker than NATO's airpower, but Russia's war in Ukraine shows it can still cause a lot of damage. Russia's air force has suffered high attrition rates from Ukraine's ground-based air defenses when operating in the country. Related storiesHe said that Russia "has a lot of trouble replacing lost advanced aircraft," only making a few a year.

Persons: —, John Baum, Su, Andrew Curtis, Curtis, Michael Clarke, Christopher Cavoli, it's, Clarke, Evelyn Hockstein, Baum, Peter Layton, Layton, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Jens Büttner, Russian Sukhoi Su, Nicola Marfisi, Russia's, There's, Sukhoi Su, Aleksey Nikolskyi, REUTERS George Barros, Jake Epstein, Gustav Gressel, Tim Robinson, Russia's Su, Robinson, Mads Claus Rasmussen, Ritzau Scanpix Organizations: Service, NATO, Mitchell Institute, US Air Force, Business, UK Ministry of Defense, Russian Air Force, Royal Air Force, REUTERS, Ukraine, Griffith Asia Institute, Royal Australian Air Force, Russian, Getty Images Air, Getty Images, it's, Sukhoi, Sputnik, European Council, Foreign Relations, UK's Royal Aeronautical Society, Getty Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Europe, Washington, NATO, Russian Sukhoi, Ukrainian, Moscow, Kremlin, AFP

☆ Russia targeting Ukrainian airfields before F-16s arrive shows its fear of the jets, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementRussian strikes have been recorded at multiple Ukrainian bases in recent weeks. This includes Russia claiming to have hit Ukraine's Mirgorod air base, 100 miles from the border with Russia, destroying five Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jets. "I think their belief is that the more Western weaponry Ukraine has of all sorts, the more formidable its military will become," he said. A Ukrainian Air Force official also said in June that Ukraine would store some of its F-16s abroad, so Russia cannot attack them. It's hard to take out airfieldsRobinson said that destroying air bases is not an easy task.

Persons: —, it's, Sukhoi Su, Michael Clarke, Jasmonet Holmes, US Air Force Rajan Menon, Columbia University's, Tim Robinson, Matthew Savill, Chanceler, Robinson, Ukraine's, Clarke, Antony Blinken Organizations: Service, Business, Russia, Air Force, Staff, US Air Force, Columbia, Columbia University's Saltzman Institute of War, Peace Studies, UK's Royal Aeronautical Society, Royal United Services Institute, Chanceler Nardone, Ukrainian Air Force Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Soviet, Russian, Leiria, Portugal, Chanceler Nardone Ukraine

☆ Changed rules for Ukraine mean its F-16s will arrive when they can make a far bigger impact, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewNew rules from Ukraine's allies about how it can use weapons they've supplied could have a strong impact on its long-awaited F-16s. That's because Ukraine now has permission to use weaponry given by its allies to hit targets on Russian soil. George Barros, a Russian military expert at the US-based Institute for the Study of War, said this will make the F-16s more effective. AdvertisementEven so, the experts said that the F-16s will make a difference for Ukraine, without being a total game changer on their own. The jets will help replenish lost aircraft, deter Russian jets, and act as air defenses.

Persons: —, George Barros, I'm, Barros, Peter Layton, it's, Layton, didn't, Russian Su, YURI KADOBNOV, Michael Clarke, Mark Cancian, there's, Clarke, Tim Robinson Organizations: Service, Russia, Business, Wing Public Affairs, Griffith Asia Institute, Royal Australian Air Force, Ukraine, Republicans, Getty, Marine, Center for Strategic, International Studies, UK's Royal Aeronautical Society Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Russia, AFP, British, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Belgium

☆ Ukraine got the go-ahead to hit Russia with F-16s, but doing so could be a waste of a good jet
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Read previewNATO member Denmark has given Ukraine permission to use the F-16s it receives to hit military targets within Russia. AdvertisementThe exact number of F-16s Ukraine will get to begin with is unclear, but it's not expected to be many. But in Russia, Ukrainian aircraft can also expect to battle the Russian Air Force in addition to enemy air defenses. It would also bolster a capability that has been heavily strained by relentless Russian attacks, and that's air defense. But they said these fighter jets will be useful for Ukraine by replenishing lost aircraft, deterring Russian jets, and acting as defenses.

Persons: —, George Barros, Israel Aerospace Industries Barros, it's, Mark Cancian, Tim Robinson, Peter Layton, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Mette Frederiksen, Ritzau Scanpix, Mads Claus Rasmussen, there's, Michael Clark, Clark, Cancian, ISW, Layton, Robinson, DIMITAR DILKOFF, Noble, Chanceler Organizations: Service, Business, Ukraine, Analysts, Israeli Military Industries Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, Marine, Center for Strategic, International Studies, UK's Royal Aeronautical Society, Griffith Asia Institute, Royal Australian Air Force, Denmark's, Skrydstrup Airbase, REUTERS, Politico, Republicans, Russian Air Force, Getty, Noble Eagle, US Air Force Locations: Denmark, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Russian, Israeli, Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, France, Skrydstrup, Vojens, Arizona, Romania, British, Crimea, Ukrainian, AFP

☆ A new plane Ukraine is getting will amplify its F-16s and eat into Russia's advantage in the air, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewThe arrival of a new type of aircraft for Ukraine will give it an advantage it's not had before, and will help boost the effectiveness of its promised F-16s, experts told Business Insider. Sweden announced late last month that it is giving Ukraine two ASC 890 airborne control and surveillance aircraft, which act as command centers in the air. They remain highly vulnerableDuring the war, Russia has been using its own A-50 Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft to monitor Ukraine's air space and coordinate attacks. AdvertisementThe experts said hanging back is also likely the best approach for Ukraine's first F-16s, so the jets can protect cities and infrastructure while staying away from most of Russia's weaponry.

Persons: —, it's, Ukraine Tim Robinson, Pal Jonson, Jose Miguel T, Mark Cancian, Peter Layton, Alexander Zemlianichenko, Layton, Cancian Organizations: Service, Ukraine, Business, UK's Royal Aeronautical Society, Swedish, US Air Force, Marine, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Griffith Asia Institute, Royal Australian Air Force, Control, AP, Aircraft Locations: Ukraine, Sweden, Swedish, Russia, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Belgium

☆ Flying taxis are closer than ever to reality. The booming industry needs to overcome infrastructure hurdles.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

One expert said eVTOLs fly at low altitudes and could create airspace and security challenges. The US's first electric vertical-takeoff and -landing aircraft are expected to fly commercial passengers as soon as 2025. It still needs further approvals to fly for airlines like United, but the latest certificate puts it one step closer. Archer's Midnight aircraft are typically shorter range, with the Midnight flying up to 100 miles on one charge. Joby plans to use the four urban vertiports as a citywide commercial eVTOL air link around Dubai.

Persons: eVTOLs, —, Archer, Bryan Bernhard, Bernhard, Archer's, Pete Syme, Henry Harteveldt, Joby, Rani Plaut, Harteveldt, Bernard, Archer Aviation's, Archer Aviation Bernhard Organizations: Infrastructure, Service, Royal Aeronautical Society, American Airlines, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airways, US Air Force, JPMorgan, Newark Liberty International, O'Hare International, Archer, Midnight, Joby Aviation, FAA, NASA, Joby, Air, Delta Air Lines, Federal Aviation, Archer Aviation Locations: Manhattan, New Jersey, Chicago's, Henry, Dubai, Japan, New York City, San Francisco, Washington, London, Paris

☆ How an airplane toilet works at 40,000 feet: The extraordinary science behind everyday flying
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

And most important of all, how does a toilet work at 40,000 feet? Matthias Balk/dpa/picture alliance/Getty ImagesUsing water to flush airplane toilets is a no go because of aircraft weight restrictions. When you press the flush button, a valve opens at the bottom of the toilet bowl, connecting it to a pipe below. Airplanes have never deliberately shot their toilet waste into the atmosphere, not even in the old days, says Jones. The onboard air circulation of today isn’t just about keeping healthy – it also controls how passengers feel, especially on longhaul flights.

Persons: Al St, Germain, who’s, James Kemper, Matthias Balk, biggie, ”, Nigel Jones, Jones, it’s, that’s, “, Martin Leissl, Nik Sennhauser, Jones –, bev, ” Kris Major, he’s, Don Buchman, – Buchman, Buchman, “ It’s, St Organizations: CNN, Delta, “, Kingston University, UK’s Royal Aeronautical Society, Airlines, JAL, Al Nippon Airways, Oman Air, Boeing, Airplanes, British Airways, Bloomberg, Getty, European Transport Workers ’ Federation Joint, Viasat, Netflix, Pilots, JetBlue, Germain . British Airways, US, American Airlines, Environmental Protection Agency, Airbus Locations: St, London, It’s, Japanese, Oman, Antarctica, London’s Heathrow, Europe, what’s, North America, New York City, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Iberia, Southwest

☆ During stressful periods at work and in his personal life, Elon Musk would stay awake at night and vomit. He says working so hard has 'taken its toll.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Pete Syme | Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

"I've been burning the candle at both ends with a flamethrower for a very long time," he told Isaacson. During this period, he also visited Aston Martin's CEO, who was dismissive of the EV movement, Isaacson wrote. Isaacson wrote that in the middle of the night, Musk would flail around and sleep-talk to himself. "Night after night, Musk sat upright on the edge of his bed next to Grimes, unable to sleep," Isaacson wrote. Michele Tantussi/Getty ImagesAs dawn came, Musk told her about his vision for Tesla's Autonomy Day.

Persons: Walter Isaacson's, Elon, Isaacson, Isaacson's, Musk, Aston, Talulah Riley, Tesla, Riley, Grimes, Auguste Rodin, Michele Tantussi, texted Isaacson Organizations: Service, Royal Aeronautical Society, SpaceX, Aston Martin's, EV, Autonomy Locations: Wall, Silicon, London, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

☆ Fact Check-Simulation of AI drone killing its human operator was hypothetical, Air Force says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A United States Air Force (USAF) official who spoke about a simulation where an artificial intelligence (AI) drone killed its human operator later said he misspoke and that the simulation never really happened, but online posts continued to share the story after the clarification. In May, Tucker “Cinco” Hamilton, the USAF chief of AI Test and Operations, spoke at the Future Combat Air & Space Capabilities Summit hosted by the UK’s Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) in London (here). Hamilton’s comments during the summit can be read on the RAeS summary of the event (See “AI – is Skynet here already?” section) (archive.is/CKt22). The system started realising that while they did identify the threat at times the human operator would tell it not to kill that threat, but it got its points by killing that threat. The story about a USAF official speaking about an AI-drone killing its human operator in a simulation is real, but the official has since walked back his comments and the USAF says the simulation was never conducted.

Persons: misspoke, Tucker “ Cinco ” Hamilton, Hamilton, “ We've, Ann Stefanek, Read Organizations: United States Air Force, USAF, Future Combat Air, Space, UK’s Royal Aeronautical Society, Department, Air Force, Reuters Locations: London, Hamilton

☆ An AI-powered drone tried to attack its human operator in a US military simulation
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An AI-powered drone tried killing its operator in a US military simulation. But in a recent US military test simulation, a drone powered by artificial intelligence added its own problematic instructions: "And kill anyone who gets in your way." As an example, he described a simulated test in which an AI-enabled drone was programmed to identify an enemy's surface-to-air missiles (SAM). According to Hamilton, the drone was then programmed with an explicit directive: "Hey don't kill the operator — that's bad." It starts destroying the communication tower that the operator uses to communicate with the drone to stop it from killing the target," Hamilton said.

Persons: Tucker, Cinco, Hamilton, — Organizations: Service, US Air, Royal Aeronautical Society, US Air Force, Defense, Research Projects Agency, DARPA, Wired, Department of Defense Locations: London, Hamilton

Search resuls for: "Royal Aeronautical Society"

10 mentions found