Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide

Aerospace Defence Security

SnapShot achieves test flight milestone

UK start-up, FlareBright Ltd, has achieved the significant milestone of 500 Test Flights of its new image capture drone, SnapShot.


SnapShot can take high‐quality aerial images in most weather and atmospheric conditions, with its hand‐portable and extremely robust equipment. It has a unique method of launch and flight. It is ballistically launched to a height of 100 metres then uses sophisticated and patent pending software to control a glide path and home to the user. The advantages of this are that it can fly in almost any weather or atmospheric conditions, and it isn’t affected by other electromagnetic signals.

Advertisement
ODU RT

Customer interest has been shown from law enforcement, the emergency services, industrial inspection companies, urban mapping and the defence sector.

Its development pathway involves numerous additional flights and grant funding for further wind tunnel, propulsion and manufacturing development with a first customer‐ready aircraft scheduled for delivery in late 2020.

The 500 test flights have taken 18 months. During the test flight programme there has been extensive learning of SnapShot’s performance and flight characteristics culminating in a highly predictable flight path in most weather conditions.

Advertisement
ODU RT

“The long and challenging journey from our first flight to regular and successful test flights has been exciting to watch. We’re looking forward to showing off SnapShot to our potential customers in the  very near future. We’re looking forward to Customer‐led prototype demonstrations by the end of this year.” says FlareBright’s CEO, Kelvin Hamilton.

The test flight programme continues.

FlareBright is a UK OEM of micro‐drones with specialist expertise in their software, control systems and electronics. It is a UK company founded by a team of successful entrepreneurs and engineers. Its key product, SnapShot, is an all‐weather instant image capture drone used by defence, the emergency services and for industrial uses. Chris Daniels, Chief Commercial Officer, FlareBright Ltd, will be highlighting the capabilities of the company's drone capabilities
at the Paris Air Show (18th-19th June).

Advertisement
Hexagon leaderboard
BAE Systems

Aerospace Defence

BAE Systems' Iain Minton to chair new manufacturing and tech coalition

21 May 2026

BAE Systems' tech specialist Iain Minton has been appointed to chair a new coalition of manufacturing and industrial technology experts helping SMEs tackle the challenges and opportunities created by AI, automation and digital transformation.

Ontic appoints Jean-Christophe Gallagher as CEO

Aerospace

Ontic appoints Jean-Christophe Gallagher as CEO

21 May 2026

Ontic has announced the appointment of Jean-Christophe (JC) Gallagher as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), as the company builds on a sustained period of strong growth.

Muirhead Avionics appointed ARC for selected IA products

Aerospace

Muirhead Avionics appointed ARC for selected IA products

19 May 2026

AMETEK MRO's Muirhead Avionics, announced today that it has entered into a long term agreement with Innovative Aerosystems (IA) to become an Authorised Repair Centre (ARC) for selected legacy avionics products formerly developed under Honeywell product lines and now fully supported by IA.

Intelligent Energy joins UK alliance to accelerate hydrogen flight

Aerospace

Intelligent Energy joins UK alliance to accelerate hydrogen flight

19 May 2026

Intelligent Energy (IE) has joined the Hydrogen in Aviation Alliance, alongside leading UK aerospace and UK hydrogen fuel cell manufacturer, Intelligent Energy (IE), has joined the Hydrogen in Aviation Alliance (HIA),which brings together companies from across aerospace, including Airbus, Bristol Airport, easyJet, GKN Aerospace and ...

Advertisement
ODU RT
Hexagon releases NCSIMUL upgrade

Aerospace Defence

Hexagon releases NCSIMUL upgrade

19 May 2026

Hexagon’s Production Software Division has announced the latest release of NCSIMUL, strengthening its integrated approach to NC programme verification, simulation and optimisation with a new Selective Simulation capability.

ATI launches tech strategy to double value of UK aerospace

Aerospace

ATI launches tech strategy to double value of UK aerospace

19 May 2026

The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) has today launched the latest UK technology strategy targeting a generational prize of doubling the UK aerospace sector's market value to $18 billion (£13.44bn) by 2035 and increasing by over four times, to $41 billion (£30.6bn), by 2050.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
General Atomics LB