Accidents
Take everything that Iran says about its captured US drone with a grain of salt. But its new claim that it spoofed the drone’s navigational controls isn’t implausible. It’s possible to spoof unencrypted civilian GPS systems. But military GPS receivers, such as the one likely installed on
Military
An internal review of the US Air Force's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities indicates the need for unmanned aircraft systems that can survive in contested airspace, as well as improved data processing and greater capacity for movement and dissemination of that data, according to a senior service
Testing
Sweden's CybAero AB, in collaboration with the Norwegian Coast Guard and Coastal Agency, has conducted a series of flights with its unmanned helicopter, the APID 60, in winds up to gale force. The flights took place over the Arctic Ocean, near the Norwegian village of Vardø, on behalf
A former contract worker for Insitu pleaded not guilty in Federal Court last week to stealing a maintenance manual for top-secret UAS technology. Stephen Marty Ward of Palmyra, Ind., is accused of duplicating or downloading the manual for an Insitu Inc. UAS while working as a technical writer, then
Military
A new Pentagon study shows that almost 30 percent of UAS pilots surveyed suffer from what the military calls "burnout." It's the first time the military has tried to measure the psychological impact of waging a "remote-controlled war." Around 1,100 Air Force
Military
“Grusha” unmanned aircraft produced by the Izhmash concern have entered the inventory of Russia’s Baltic Fleet. Industrial experts state that the Grusha meets the global standards set for of mini-class unmanned aircraft. Their main functions are surveillance and reconnaissance up to a range of about 10 km. The
Iran's Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi says that the country is manufacturing new models of unmanned combat aircraft. “We have had advanced capabilities in terms of unmanned aircraft; with regard to combat drones we have had a number of models, and we also have some models
Unmanned aircraft systems are a step closer to being more widely used in the United States as a result of legislation Congress passed on 15 Dec. (H.R. 1540), which calls for the creation of six UAS test sites around the country. AUVSI Chairman of the Board Peter Bale says,
Data Links & Communications
Rockwell Collins is collaborating with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) control and non-payload communications (CNPC) data link that will eventually enable unmanned aircraft to safely operate in the national airspace. “The reason we were selected is because we’re one
Data Links & Communications
Pakistan has been able to hack UAS technology to the extent that it can now command a transgressing aircraft to land in Pakistan, reliable sources told the Pakistan Observer. This achievement by Pakistan is utmost significant amid desperate scenario that emerged as a result of attacks inside Pakistan by the
Testing
Aurora Flight Sciences was awarded a contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the Rapid Reaction Technology Office (RRTO) to provide a specialized Skate Small Unmanned Aerial System (SUAS), designed for autonomous operations in urban environments. The "Urban Beat Cop" (UBC) programme will demonstrate the ability
Payloads
Sentient announced that its automated target detection solution – Kestrel Land MTI – will actively support the two complete Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) systems that the Australian Army is acquiring under the Defence Capability Plan Joint Project (JP) 129 Phase 2, in their surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition missions. Operated by