Jacob Van Eek, a second-year mechanical engineering student from Calvin University, completed a four-month co-op placement at Battlefield International Inc. from May to August 2024. Jacob’s logical thinking, sharp decision-making, and efficient work style earned him high marks from both his direct supervisors and the engineering director. During his placement, Jacob worked on the design and assembly of a burst chamber, as well as a cycle tester designed to repeatedly cycle a QD through its connection and disconnection phases. His ability to complete these projects ahead of schedule while maintaining a high standard of quality impressed the leadership team at Battlefield International, who were very satisfied with his overall performance. Jacob’s successful co-op term has not only provided him with valuable engineering experience but also garnered strong commendations from his supervisors, which will be beneficial as he advances in his academic and professional pursuits.

Here is Textron’s Aerosonde new VTOL military drone. It’s jammed with Cayuga Ontario designed and produced technology including the main pusher propellor. Daniel Fenton, Steve Fenton and Propellor Designer Fadi Mishriky (left to right) were honoured to be invited by Textron to participate in the private first test flight with our Cayuga designed and produced advanced propellor at an undisclosed Army base in Virginia. Battlefield is the global leader in what we do, and we are integrated into countless Defense UAV programs’ on-board systems in NATO friendly countries. But this Aerosonde MK. 4-7 HQ is one of the most advanced “runway independent” fixed wing UAV’s in today’s world and the US military has recently downselected this pictured system for the army Shadow UAV replacement. We are also thrilled that Canada has begun working with this UAV as it has significant Canadian designed and produced content from Battlefield International Inc. Canada. When our government chooses military equipment that firstly is at the very advanced leading edge technically, and at the same time is loaded up with Canadian content, it’s truly a “win” “win”. It demonstrated shockingly effortless VTOL to fixed wing flight on a windy day. It landed in the exact same place it took off from. 650,000 flight hours of experience have been achieved in the pre-VTOL Aerosonde program, and every hour was flown with Canadian Battlefield Cayuga products on board. The UAV’s shown in the YouTube video link at the very bottom of this text shows the six brands competing for the Shadow replacement. All of these fine brands fly with Battlefield International Cayuga, designed and produced products on board. There are only two aircraft left in the US Army competition and although all brands here are highly advanced, the Aerosonde looks like the front runner to us at this point in time by a country mile! (A Cayuga country mile even) https://canadiandefencereview.com/aerosonde-mk-4-7-operational-at-cfb-edmonton/ https://www.textronsystems.com/our-company/news-events/articles/news/aerosonde-uas-right-choice-your-uas-needs-wherever-your https://youtu.be/NXXEIssky2Y?si=TXHWvE_olMgvJlxM

Battlefields strategic purchase of the Cayuga Display facilities was to ensure our capacity for production has room to grow to meet the expected increase in demand from our customer base. The purchase includes 9000 additional square feet of office and 20,000 additional square feet of production facility. We wish our friends at Cayuga Display well as they are in the process of turning a beautiful new huge warehouse facility into Cayuga's finest and most modern plant/office complex. (Yes we are envious!)

Battlefield International Inc. had the pleasure of a visit with Mr Matsuura from Japan. We now have two Matsuura brand machines and he agreed to sign our latest and greatest Matsuura 5 axis mill with 330 tool quantity capacity and a 12 station pallet changer here in Cayuga moments ago. His signature can be seen just above Mr Matsuura’s head.

We are pleased to announce our acquisition of a Rubber bonding machine produced by REP in France. This process is sometimes called an “overmolding" and enables us to form our own seals from raw material. For critical applications, we form and bond seals to our metal parts by placing our parts in a mold and injecting forming and curing seals permanently bonded to our valves. This will greatly improve our lead times to the UAV and Land Systems Defense industry.