Military
The US Navy has outlined the details of a 15-month competition to start later this month to select an unmanned helicopter that could be purchased in the hundreds by the end of this decade. The medium-range, multi-role unmanned aircraft system (MRMUAS) contract has already drawn interest from
Testing
Operational trials with the British Army's Watchkeeper remain on track to start next month, after the WK450 aircraft set a new endurance record in testing. Major Matt Moore, SO2 UAS for headquarters, Royal Artillery, said that a WK450 completed an almost 14 hour flight in early September from
Business
AeroVironment, Inc. announced that it received a $15,909,962 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract order on September 1, 2011, under an existing contract with the US Army. The order comprises Army contractor logistics support for Raven systems. The logistics support services are scheduled to be delivered within the next
Military
Thales UK’s Hermes 450 unmanned aircraft fleet has reached a major milestone, having now flown more than 50,000 operational flying hours in support of UK operations. After more than 4,000 sorties, the Hermes 450 system continues to deliver crucial battle-winning capability, providing the lion’s share
Testing
A combined, unmanned reconnaissance and attack system developed under a collaborative programme between Germany and Israel has recently passed an important milestone, demonstrating the integration of two unmanned aircraft systems – the Rheinmetall Defense KZO aerial reconnaissance drone and IAI’s loitering weapon – the Harop. The highlight of the test was
Testing
The Lockheed Martin-led unmanned K-MAX team successfully completed a five-day Quick Reaction Assessment (QRA) for the U.S. Navy's Cargo Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) programme. "The autonomous flying K-MAX is designed to resupply Marines on the battlefield and in remote locations," said
Testing
[Warning - the music is dreadful] This video of Textron’s T-Ram - Tactical Remote Aerial Munition just appeared on YouTube. This 'new' machine looks suspiciously similar to the Prioria Maveric, that we covered in May. Indeed, Prioria gets a logo credit on the video... Source: You Tube
Military
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. has unveiled its MIC-AD system, which displays on a single screen all the threats that air defences need to deal with in a single defined sector. Including Patriot anti aircraft and anti-ballistic missile batteries, Iron Dome anti rocket batteries, the future Magic Wand
Business
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has announced that it has received new contract awards totalling $4.2 million for certain Unmanned Aircraft System programme related equipment. Under the contract awards, Kratos will design, engineer, manufacture and deliver specialised equipment to support this mission critical National Security programme. This specialised
Military
Taiwan has revealed that it is developing clones of the Predator and X-47B. Taiwan is cut off from most major foreign arms suppliers. Even the United States is sometimes intimidated by Chinese pressure. As a result, Taiwan is developing and building more and more of the high-tech weapons
Military
The Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base, Warner Robins, Georgia is about to receive an RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft that has flown more than 7,000 combat hours - more than any other Global Hawk.The aircraft, #2011, recently retired from active Air Force operational use and
Military
The Israel Air Force is seeking to augment its UAS capability with the procurement of new MALE aircraft, some of which may be armed. The decision was made to buy Elbit Systems’ Hermes 900 and additional units of Israel Aerospace Industries Heron 1, which is the IAF’s reconnaissance and