Military
African peacekeepers fighting al-Qaida’s allies in Somalia are about to get their first UAS, courtesy of the Pentagon. Under a proposed $45 million counter-terrorism package, Uganda and Burundi, two major contributors to the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia will get four small unarmed Raven UAS. But
Testing
Northrop Grumman and Cassidian have confirmed that the Euro Hawk test-bed, the German version of the RQ-4 Global Hawk, will fly to Germany for payload integration and testing. The aircraft will be ferried to Germany as soon as July 2011, said Northrop Grumman. The test aircraft, a modified
Military
The UAE was seeking armed Predators from the US in 2004, secret US diplomatic cables revealed. Although UAE officials claimed they needed them “to control [the UAE`s] long land and maritime borders”, it is not altogether clear from the cables and can only be speculated why the Emirati authorities
Business
Boeing has received a $480,000 study contract from the U.S. Navy to support pre-Milestone A activities including development of a concept of operations, an analysis of alternatives, and an investigation of potential material solutions for the Navy's Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS)
Military
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has launched a small, armed, unmanned helicopter which it hopes could prove attractive to Middle Eastern countries as an attractive alternative to the products being produced in Israel. The R-IHA – the Turkish acronym for rotary-wing UAS – was launched at the Paris Air Show last
Military
Poland is expected to begin the selection process for a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aircraft system next year. Sources at the Paris Air Show said that three Israeli manufacturers will offer products. The Polish defence department is preparing the tender that will initially include between two and four systems.
Military
A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force aircraft spotted an unmanned aircraft in the air when a Chinese naval fleet was sailing in the eastern Philippine Sea on a recent training operation, passing between Miyakojima and the main island of Okinawa, This is the first confirmed sighting of a Chinese UAS.
Military
AME Unmanned Air Systems displayed the Fury 1500 Small Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (STUAS) for the first time at the Paris Air Show 2011. The aircraft has recently demonstrated flying powered by a heavy fuel engine. The use of JP8 significantly increases the capability of the system, decreasing the logistical
Testing
Innocon's MicroFalcon mini unmanned aircraft system has completed flight testing as it nears delivery to the Peruvian army. The MicroFalcon is a mini UAS with a duration of up to 4h and ceiling of 15,000ft (4,580m). "The MicroFalcon has demonstrated its long-endurance, wide-area
Military
Raytheon Company has been awarded a one-year subcontract worth $24.7 million for support services of the ground station elements of the RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft system. Work under this contract will provide field support services to the mission control and launch and
Military
The British Army will be ready to start using its first Watchkeeper tactical unmanned aircraft in Afghanistan this December, following the completion of operational field trials that will commence in October. Major Matt Moore, from the army's headquarters directorate, Royal Artillery, said one operational "task line"
Military
Aeronautics Ltd. has delivered the first Orbiter 3 Small Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (STUAS) to a first undisclosed customer. "The Orbiter 3 STUAS brings to the unmanned systems market capabilities that did not exist previously" said Ran Carmeli, Head of the Aerial Division at Aeronautics. "A field