Military
AeroVironment, Inc. announced that it received a firm-fixed-price contract order valued at $14,773,816 under an existing contract with the U.S. Army. The order comprises digital Raven small UAS retrofit kits. Work is scheduled to be completed by December 2011. The Raven unmanned aircraft is a
Testing
Indra’s Pelican rotary wing UAS has received the Special Airworthiness Certificate (CAEE) by the Spanish State Aviation Safety Agency, a body within the Ministry of Public Works, to perform integration, test and demo flights. The certificate, first awarded in Spain for rotary wing UAS, implies that the Pelican system
Military
Boeing was awarded on April 8 a $12,355,455 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract for additional Mid-Wave Infrared UAS intelligence reconnaissance surveillance services in for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Work is expected to be completed
Research
A multidisciplinary university research initiative (MURI) led by MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory Associate Professor, Russ Tedrake, will bring together a diverse group of researchers to develop a bird-sized UAS, thanks to an Office of Naval Research Grant. The vehicle will be capable of navigating both
Military
The Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division, China Lake, CA has ordered 4 Dual Bay, Block D ScanEagle Upgrade kits from Insitu, Inc., which it identifies as “the only vendor able to produce and distribute these parts which have been extensively tested to ensure the structural and aerodynamic integrity during
Business
Elbit Systems Ltd. announced yesterday, that it has filed a lawsuit in the High Court of Justice of the United Kingdom against the Government of Georgia for an amount of approximately $100 million. The lawsuit was filed as a result of the Georgia's failure to pay amounts due
Military
The RAF’s Reapers have reached a landmark after clocking up 20,000 operational flying hours over Afghanistan. Introduced in October 2007, the 39 Squadron aircraft have an array of high tech sensors and precision guided weapons to carry out a wide range of missions to support forces in Afghanistan.
Events
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has just published a fascinating presentation by Dr. Charles E. Harris, P.E., Director of the Research Directorate at the NASA Langley Research Center, on the possibilities for future aircraft design unleashed by the use of revolutionary new materials. Entitled “Opportunities for Next
Commercial
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has planned to introduce UAS for research of tropical storm and cyclone genesis, reports The Times of India. These UAS would be able to enter inside the cyclonic circulation to study them, which is not possible at present. "The project, which is the first
Military
The Finnish Defence Forces are in the process of testing four different UAS in Northern Finland as part of the organised competitive bidding process. The final four are apparently: Aeronautics Defense Systems Orbiter 2; BlueBird SpyLite, Elbit Systems/Patria Skylark LE and WB FlyEye (Poland). The Finnish Border Guard is
Military
The French Ministry of Defence Procurement Office (DGA) re-ordered more DRAC fixed wing mini-UAS from Cassidian last week for use by the French Army in Afghanistan. The order includes both aircraft and ground control stations and delivery is programmed for between summer 2011 and the beginning of 2013.
Testing
An $86.2 million contract award last month reveals that the US Air Force will seek to prove if airships can replace fixed-wing aircraft on some surveillance missions over Afghanistan. About nine months after the US Army launched its long-endurance multi-intelligence vehicle (LEMV) programme, the air force