Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. announced that it has successfully performed the third flight demonstration of its Unmanned Tactical Aerial Platform (UTAP-22) onDecember 11, 2015, on the Navy test range at China Lake, CA. This mission demonstrated two UTAP-22 aircraft in continuous collaborative airborne operations through the
Regulations
The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) new web-based registration system for small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) is now active. Hobbyists and recreational users who fly UAS, which include remote controlled aircraft, may register at www.faa.gov/uas/registration. Owners must register small UAS weighing more than 0.55
Commercial
Twitter was granted a patent last week for an unmanned aerial vehicle which can be controlled by users and take pictures and videos. Twitter responded to the publication’s queries with: “Two words: Drone selfies.” Twitter has been working drones since the Cannes Lions Prix awards in June 2014. During
Business
India has sought from the US 100 latest unmanned aerial vehicles, both armed and surveillance versions, worth USD 2 billion to bolster its arsenal amid recurring incursions by Chinese troops. Industry sources familiar with New Delhi's interest and ongoing talks between the two governments, said that India is
First Responders
Austin Fire Department is showing off one of their new tools — aimed at helping keep people safe - their unmanned aerial vehicle, more commonly known as a “drone.” Since drones are a popular holiday gift item, they say it’s important to know the rules beforehand, and check with the FAA.
Military
US Air Force officials announced a new initiative Dec. 17 to enhance the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance mission by integrating enlisted remotely piloted aircraft pilots into the force. Air Force officials stated a dynamic threat environment calls for innovative approaches to high-demand missions. After careful consideration and with an
Military
Turkey's domestically produced UAV, the Bayraktar TB2, has been armed, making Turkey the fifth country to arm a UAV. With the anti-tank missile installed, which was developed by Roketsan (a major Turkish weapons manufacturer and defence contractor based in the central Anatolian province of Ankara), Bayraktar successfully
Military
The first RQ-4 Global Hawk developed for the NATO Allied Ground Surveillance (AGS) programme made its maiden flight out of Northrop Grumman's Palmdale facility in California on 19 December. The flight, which was attended by representatives from the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance Management Organization (NAGSMO), the NATO
Commercial
Accelerating deployments of solar photovoltaics (PV) around the world are placing increasing emphasis on cost-effective operations and maintenance (O&M) practices that can enhance lifecycle plant economics. Particularly for large utility-scale systems—which comprise approximately 45% of global cumulative installations and can exceed several hundred MW, spanning
PrecisionHawk and Indiana State University have signed a research and development partnership that aims to advance the unmanned aerial systems industry from multidisciplinary perspectives. The university-business collaboration will focus on safety, education, training and algorithm development for PrecisionHawk’s DataMapper aerial data software. “PrecisionHawk is a strategic partner for
Regulations
The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) new fact sheet on state and local regulation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) provides information for states and municipalities considering laws or regulations addressing UAS use. The document outlines FAA's safety reasons for federal oversight of aviation and airspace, and explains
Military
Iraq's first lethal strike using a Chinese drone represents a major step forward in China’s drive to become a leading exporter of military equipment, experts say. Iraq is the only known export user of the drone, also known as the CH-4, which closely resembles the General