Military
The U.K. Ministry of Defence has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to support the Desert Hawk 3 programme and establish the small unmanned aerial system (UAS) as a Core Defence Capability. Desert Hawk 3 has flown more than 30,000 hours, mostly under austere conditions, to support critical mission
Military
Thales’ new modular Watchkeeper X system reflects a growing need for high-end military-standard Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability to wider markets. This modular Unmanned Aircraft System offers a range of options that can be adapted to specific operational requirements. The versatile system is ideal for
Military
The MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter has made an 11-hour, long-range flight. During an endurance demonstration from Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, the Fire Scout flew 150 miles and 11 hours on a planned 10-hour flight, and still had an hour's fuel in
Military
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. announced that its Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper Extended Range (Reaper ER) RPA fleet has achieved a historic milestone with the first operational fielding of Reaper ER by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) last month. “Reaper ER provides a tremendous capability increase in both
Military
The Lockheed Martin Skunk Works has revealed plans for a next-generation, high-altitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platform that could replace the U-2 and Global Hawk from 2025. The company has launched an internally-funded study of a stealthy jet designated the TR-X that might also
Military
Finmeccanica-AgustaWestland has announced that it has completed the U.K. Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Rotary Wing Unmanned Aerial System (RWUAS) Capability Concept Demonstration (CCD) contract it was awarded in 2013, including 27 hours of demonstration flying and 22 automatic simulated deck landings using its SW-4 RUAS Solo
Business
The Indian government has quietly approved the purchase of 10 missile-armed UAS from Israel — a crucial acquisition that will enhance India's cross-border military strike capability. The $400-million proposal for buying armed Heron TP UAS from Israel was cleared last week.These aircraft will be operated
Military
Russia is developing a heavy drone that could be used both as reconnaissance and combat aircraft, one of its designers said in an interview Wednesday. The two ton Avius-1 UAV will bristle with hi-tech gear including an on-board radar and a satellite communications system, Igor Bevzyuk, deputy
Events
BlueBird Aero Systems unveiled the enhanced version of its ThunderB tactical unmanned air vehicle at the AUS&R 2015 conference in Israel. The long-endurance ThunderB weighs around 28kg (61lb), and according to its Israeli developer creates a new niche in the tactical UAV sector because it has capabilities
Military
Pakistan announced the successful deployment of its home-made 'Burraq' UAS in combat, which delivered laser-guided missiles to kill at least three suspected militants in the restive northwest. The deployment of the missile-firing drone will add a new dimension to the threat to India from its
Business
Elbit Systems Ltd. announced that it was awarded a contract from a European country to supply an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)-based cutting-edge intelligence solution. Valued at approximately $78 million, the contract will be performed over a two-year period by Elbit Systems’ ISTAR Division, established several months ago,
Military
The annual report of South Africa's Denel group states that its Seeker 400 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system has completed its flight test programme and has entered production for "our local customer". The South African Air Force has not confirmed that it is re-establishing a