Technology
Military
Military
Senators Want to Build Back MQ-9 Fleet by 2028
The Air Force had 182 MQ-9s as of last October, split 158-24 between the Active and National Guard fleets. But losses have mounted over the past nine months. Today, there are only about 135 aircraft.
Military
GA-ASI Offers SeaGuardian for US Air Force Reaper Shortage
The rate of losses has forced the Air Force to consider near-term and long-term options for replacing a fleet of MQ-9s that stood at less than 140 in early May.
Military
Teledyne FLIR Defense Launches Black Recon Autonomous Micro-Drone
Autonomous launch, recovery, and recharge from military vehicles and fixed installations. Three-drone rotation provides persistent surveillance and real-time targeting data in contested environments
Testing
Aerodata Completes Final Assembly of the MALE-UAS AeroForce X Prototype
The prototype’s first flight is scheduled to take place in Germany this year
Military
US Can’t Replace the 51 Reaper Drones Shot Down Over Iran and Yemen
The aircraft can perform maritime and land target surveillance missions during peacetime, as well as tactical reconnaissance of specific targets, while in wartime its real-time reconnaissance capabilities allow for the immediate transmission of imagery for analysis and use.
First Responders
Sea Drone Rescues US Army Apache Crew Near Strait of Hormuz
They were floating at the crash site for about two hours before being picked up by the drone, according to CENTCOM spokesperson Tim Hawkins.
VTOL
Airbus Introduces the U145 - Unmanned Version of the H145
Compared with a manned H145 helicopter, the U145 will have no physical cockpit, and will include significant adaptations for cargo, such as an integrated nose door including a foldable loading table and a dedicated cargo floor.
Military
Airbus Showcases Versatile Drone Portfolio at ILA Berlin
Military
USAF Wants 'MQ-9 Next' Reaper Replacement to be Modular and Cheap
Greater control over intellectual property, and software in particular, has emerged as a major guiding principle for the U.S. military, in general, in recent years.
Accidents
Whistleblowers Reveal Severed Fingers and 50 Crashes During Shield AI V-Bat Testing
Reuters found that the V-BAT has crashed more than 50 times over the past 18 months, that several staff who raised safety concerns were dismissed
Military
US Brings MQ-1 Predators Back into Service After Loss of 50+ MQ-9 Reapers
Extreme losses in the MQ-9 fleet are likely to have been a primary factor in the decision to deploy the now much more expendable MQ-1 drones for surveillance operations, and possibly for limited strike operations