Data Links & Communications
AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems and ViaSat Inc. announced that the organisations have entered into a strategic alliance to align AAI's advanced unmanned aircraft and command and control technologies with ViaSat integrated airborne and terrestrial satellite communications, as well as its Internet Protocol-based networking and security technology. Under the
Business
NATO's long-running process to order an Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) capability could at last achieve a contract signature within the next few months, although the scale of its programme appears to have again been revised. "We have the contract, and it's under negotiation," said
Business
The nEUROn, European UCAV technology demonstrator, has been officially presented to the representatives of the six participating countries by Mr. Charles Edelstenne, Chairman & CEO of Dassault Aviation. Mr. Serge Dassault, Honorary Chairman of the company, as well as the representatives of the nEUROn industrial team - Saab (Sweden), Alenia
Business
Rheinmetall and Cassidian have agreed to pursue Rheinmetall’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems activities together in a Joint Venture. It was agreed in a contract that Cassidian should hold 51 percent and Rheinmetall 49 percent of the shares in the newly established Joint Venture. The ownership interests are to be assigned
Business
Russian Helicopters has received 5 billion rubles ($160 m) from the Russian Federal Budget for the development of three types of unmanned aircraft systems. After charging that smaller domestic developers wasted public funds - and pointedly purchasing Israeli drones for military trials - the Defense Ministry has switched to a
Business
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., Poway, California, was awarded a $30,342,272 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract. The award will provide for the modification of an existing contract in support of the MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft system quick reaction capability. Work will be performed in Poway, Calif., with an estimated completion
Business
US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) issued contract N00019-11-C-0061 to Insitu Inc., Bingen, WA as a FFP effort to procure UAS ISR services. The period of performance of the mentioned effort will be an estimated 12 month period for 24/7 service capable of providing Electro Optical (EO), Infrared (IR)
Electronic Sub-Systems
Lockheed Martin announced the acquisition of Procerus Technologies, a company specialising in autopilot and other avionics for micro unmanned aerial systems. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but are not material to Lockheed Martin's results. "This acquisition is consistent with our focus on acquiring capabilities
Business
Israel's defence ministry has blocked a contract to sell Aeronautics Defense Systems Dominator XP unmanned air systems to Abu Dhabi, after reviewing the contents of the deal. Aeronautics declined to comment on the ministry's decision, while the defence ministry said it would not comment on the
Military
The US Navy is soliciting bids for the Autonomous Aerial Cargo/Utility System (AACUS), an unmanned vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) programme designed for autonomous cargo resupply to isolated units. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is executing the programme on behalf of the US Marine Corps, which routinely deploys
Business
AME Unmanned Air Systems, Inc., a Chandler/May company, announced that retired US Air Force Colonel Sean Frisbee has been named Vice President, AME Unmanned Air Systems, and will oversee the development, production, and manufacturing of the company’s portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including the Fury 1500 UAS,
Testing
Aurora Flight Sciences has been awarded a contract by Boeing Defense, Space & Security to design and fabricate structural components for the revolutionary Boeing SolarEagle unmanned aircraft. Aurora will design and fabricate the ribs and skins for the 400 foot long wing and the solar collection panels. The work includes