Control Stations
Raytheon Company recently demonstrated its Common Ground Control System (CGCS) technology to representatives from the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence. The demonstration showed a UAS control station in a scenario representative of a Scavenger UAS mission, including simultaneous control of multiple dissimilar vehicles, sensor command and control, and
Research
Middle Tennessee State University signed a MoU with the US Army’s UAS Program Office. The Army is partnering with MTSU to turn university-level research and development into technology applicable to UAS. As part of the exchange, the Army pledged to support MTSU’s UAS educational and research efforts;
Robota LLC demonstrated a 10 hour and 4 minute flight of its unmanned aircraft platform named Robosoar. The UAS is designed to be man-portable, operated by a single person and is capable of autonomous takeoff and landing. The flight marked a very successful initial integration test flight combining the
Testing
Northrop Grumman Corp. Aerospace Systems sector in San Diego is using the company's Bat unmanned aircraft in the U.S. Air Force Sand Dragon B programme to defeat improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other roadside bombs. The Northrop Grumman Bat UAS is a rail-launched, net-recovered, runway-
Propulsion
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is evaluating aerial refuelling for the upgraded version of its Heron unmanned aircraft system, which is better equipped to perform maritime missions. The Israeli navy is in the process of phasing out its manned Westwind 1124 Seascan maritime reconnaissance aircraft, which have been operated since 1978,
Testing
Boeing has ended the scheduled flight test programme for the self-funded Phantom Ray unmanned combat air systems (UCAS) demonstrator after two sorties, although it had originally planned 10. Boeing is not retiring the stealthy, tailless aircraft, but intends to resume flying at an undetermined date, said Craig Brown, Phantom
Testing
The U.S. military is heavily reliant on unmanned aircraft systems to serve as its eyes and weapons on the battlefield. But other nations have also been active in acquiring their own platforms, which raises the possibility that future warfighters may have to face a UAS-equipped opponent. To test
Testing
America’s only combat casualty in Libya had no way of defending itself, when it was taken out by a heavy anti-aircraft weapon. But that’s about to change. The U.S. Navy’s Fire Scout unmanned helicopter is poised to start test-firing rockets. By the end of
Electronic Sub-Systems
Avionics maker Rockwell Collins reveals that it has won a broad system-level contract on the US Air Force's $86 million Blue Devil Block 2 airship programme, the company's first "nose to tail" command and control win in the unmanned aircraft systems sector. Under
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is scheduled to publish the first draft of regulatory proposals under Part 23 standards for sense-and-avoid systems and autonomous decision-making by UAS in civil airspace. This could lead to the adoption of the new standards within 18 months, said Andrew Lucas,
Events
Unmanned aircraft systems were a major element of this year's Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence, which occupied roughly one third of the available show space, displayed several unmanned systems. One of the more innovative designs featured a swept wing in
Training
L-3 Link Simulation & Training (L-3 Link) announced that it is collaborating with Dayton, Ohio-based Sinclair Community College to educate students and industry participants in the operation and application of unmanned aircraft systems to support future global market requirements. In support of this initiative – which aims to