Data Links & Communications
Unmanned aircraft are now considered potential tools in everything from border security to scientific research. Anticipation of this expanded role has boosted interest in makers of unmanned aircraft, such as Northrop Grumman and AeroVironment. Satellite companies, too, are hoping that the extensive bandwidth required to operate sophisticated unmanned aircraft will
Business
Rheinmetall Airborne Systems, the joint venture of EADS and Rheinmetall in the field of unmanned aircraft systems, has developed a new “Tactical UAS” product family. The family is based on three aerial platforms with different characteristics and a joint payload concept for a multi-role capability. Based on experience gained in
Data Links & Communications
Cubic Defense Applications, a defense systems business of Cubic Corporation, received a $3.7 million contract from Northrop Grumman Corporation to produce a new multiband digital data link system for the MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter. The data link uses smaller and lighter components to do the mission-critical job of
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Poland is looking to replace its aging strike force, currently flying Russian built Sukhoi Su-22M with armed unmanned aircraft. According to Waldemar Skrzypczak Poland’s Deputy Minister of Defence for military procurement, a future procurement of some 30 armed unmanned aircraft equipping three squadrons is being considered. The arguments raised
Business
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is being awarded an $87,338,761 firm fixed price, cost plus fixed fee contract for MQ-9 Reaper FY10/11 Retrofit Kits and Installations for up to 80 aircraft. The location of the performance is Poway, California. Work is to be completed by Aug. 17, 2016.
Business
In August, the Minsk Aircraft Repair Plant presented an unmanned aircraft system known as “Philin” together with unmanned aircraft “Sterkh-BM”. The presentation was made following completion of the first stage of production flight test that included automatic take-off, en-route flight and landing. According to CEO Evgeni Vajtsekhovich, Cuba is interested
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The ISR Group of Tennessee has signed an exclusive agreement to market and maintain worldwide the Nova unmanned aircraft system of Altavian Inc. Nova is an electric-powered UAS that can be launched by hand. It weighs about 11 pounds, cruises at 35 miles per hour and can provide three-dimensional mapping
Data Links & Communications
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. is being awarded $26,767,748 firm-fixed-price (86 percent) cost plus incentive fee (14 percent) contract for the Predator Primary Data Link configuration upgrades on MD-1A/B ground control station retrofit kits. The location of the performance will be General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., Poway,
Testing
Aurora Flight Sciences' 3D wing, designed by Aurora and built with additive manufacturing technology developed by Stratasys Inc., was showcased at last week's announcement of the new National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII) by senior officials of the Obama administration. The announcement of the new manufacturing technology
Business
AAI Corp. was awarded a $46,524,041 firm-fixed-price contract to provide for the modification of an existing contract to procure tactical command data link retrofit kits for the Shadow Unmanned Aircraft System. Work will be performed in Hunt Valley, Md., with an estimated completion date of May 29, 2015.
Business
UTC Aerospace Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp.,has received a contract from AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems to supply Cloud Cap Technology autopilots, stabilized camera payloads, ground station software components and flight management software from its business in Hood River, Ore. These will be utilized for AAI Unmanned Aircraft
Business
The US Air Force has announced that the MLB V-Bat VTOL UAA has been selected for a Phase II SBIR award. They seek an aircraft that has an 8 ft. wingspan, 10 hour endurance, 55 lbs. gross take-off weight, and 70 mph cruise speed. The V-Bat's combination of