Queensland-based FlyFreely, which is also cleared to operate in Australia and New Zealand, has been granted approval by the Federal Aviation Administration to operate as part of the Low Altitude Authorisation and Notification Capability.
The surface Navy laser weapon system is designed to provide layered defence, dazzle airborne threats, defeat unmanned aerial systems and fast inshore attack craft, using available ship power without the need for an energy magazine.
In a letter to Jim Wolfe, assistant secretary of the department’s International Aviation Branch, IASC chair Genevieve Butler requested input on the decision. It comes after Virgin last month wrote to the IASC saying there was effectively no reason for …