Events
China made its debut this week at the world's largest robotics trade show when a Shenzhen-based firm showcased its F50, a small UAS with a high-definition video camera that a company brochure billed as a tool for monitoring protests, or responding to building fires. The appearance
Military
Insitu Inc. announced that its ScanEagle has been assisting U.S. and NATO Forces in their mission to protect civilians and reduce the flow of arms to Libya. During a 72-hour counter-terrorism surge supporting Operation Unified Protector (OUP), the ScanEagle UAS was operated organically aboard USS Mahan (DDG
Events
Russian unmanned systems manufacturer Zala Aero Group used the MAKS 2011 airshow in Moscow to unveil a new UAS, which it says has already been purchased by a Russian security agency. Under development for the past 14 months, the ZALA 421-16E tactical UAS is a 2.8m flying wing
Testing
At the U.S. Joint Forces Command's Empire Challenge 2011, Northrop Grumman Corporation successfully demonstrated the ability of its STARLite radar to provide Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) data and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery to ground commanders in real time. Flying on the company's Firebird
Military
Focusing on a range of systems complementing unmanned aircraft systems, RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems is introducing a range of hardware and software systems, supporting UAS missions. Among such systems are the Reccelite and Recce-U reconnaissance pods, optimized for Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) missions, and a new version of
Training
CAE and Aeronautics announced that the two companies have signed a strategic teaming agreement making CAE the preferred simulation and mission training solution provider for Aeronautics unmanned aircraft systems. The first phase of this strategic teaming agreement will see Aeronautics and CAE focus on the development of a suite of
Commercial
The US government has confirmed that it is deploying a new Northrop Grumman radar on unmanned aircraft systems to detect illegal immigrants and drug smugglers on the southwest border. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operators have operated the vehicle and dismount exploitation radar (VADER) on the agency's General
Data Links & Communications
Boeing announced it has successfully demonstrated the company's newest narrowband communications relay aboard two unmanned aircraft -- an Insitu ScanEagle and a portable AeroVironment Puma All Environment. The relay was designed to meet the needs of small distributed forces operating in areas where line-of-sight communications are not
Training
Sinclair College of Dayton, Ohio, and the Unmanned Applications Institute, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, have signed a teaming agreement for innovative training in the emerging industry of unmanned aircraft systems. These classes will serve as the foundation for an emerging UAS programme to be hosted by Sinclair College. This
Military
The US Air Force has accepted that four Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Block 30 unmanned aircraft are now ready to maintain one orbit of continuous surveillance over a 30-day period. That declaration on 12 August of initial operational capability (IOC) means the programme has overcome some of the USAF&
Accidents
US Air Force Captain Justin Brockhoff, a spokesman for the military in Afghanistan, confirmed that a C-130 cargo plane was forced to make an emergency landing Monday at a forward operating base in eastern Afghanistan after colliding with an RQ-7 Shadow, an unmanned aircraft that is usually operated
Military
The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $47 million contract to develop, demonstrate and deliver autonomous technologies for unmanned air systems in support of in-theater unmanned cargo resupply missions. Under the contract, Lockheed Martin and Kaman Aerospace will demonstrate intelligent autonomous technologies for unmanned aerial systems using the