November 30, 2006

Airliner flown 'without pilot' in UAV test

"A jet airliner was flown over south-west England recently with no pilot in the cockpit, to test technology that might one day be used to control swarms of unpiloted aircraft from a single fighter jet. The two-hour flight, conducted...
Posted by Darren

November 29, 2006

UAV Could Be Used as Unmanned Refueling Plane

"The Israel Air Force is considering the possibility of developing its new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to also serve as a refueling tanker for other UAVs as well as other aircraft. According to the “Defense News” the IAF is...
Posted by Darren

DRS to Provide UAV Sensors

"DRS Technologies Inc. has been awarded a new $7 million contract to produce lightweight electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor systems for the US Army’s Future Combat System (FCS) program Class I unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The sensors will provide imagery during...
Posted by Darren

November 28, 2006

T-Wing Plane Chopper

'Australian researchers at the University of Sydney claim to have successfully tested a prototype of a vehicle, which combines the best of a helicopter and a fixed wing aircraft. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) takes off vertically like a...
Posted by Darren

Global Hawk starts routine flights

'US Air Force brings UAV into everyday use over the USA following completion of Block 10 operational testing The US Air Force's 9th Reconnaissance Wing last week began its first routine training missions with the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global...
Posted by Darren

Boeing demonstrates UAV reuelling

'Boeing’s Automated Aerial Refuelling (AAR) programme has demonstrated an unmanned air vehicle's ability to autonomously maintain a steady refuelling station behind a tanker aircraft. Boeing Phantom Works conducted the flight tests with the New York Air National Guard 107th...
Posted by Darren

The first UAV pilots school in Lapland?

'That is the Robonic's proposal (WAPA) - Finland's Robonic decided to study the possibility to create a flight school for UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) pilots in cooperation with national and international partners and with the town of Kemijärvi, Lapland,...
Posted by Darren

November 27, 2006

Northrop reveals ultra-UAV plans

'Northrop Grumman has revealed it is studying concepts for what it calls an ultra high-altitude, long-endurance (U-HALE) unmanned air vehicle at the request of a classified US government customer. The aircraft would provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance from...
Posted by Darren

Pilotless jumbos? It's not pie in the sky

'A spy plane in Afghanistan could herald a brave new world in which even passenger jets fly unmanned Milestones in fighter development When Royal Air Force Harrier jets attacked the mountain stronghold of Taleban and Al-Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan...
Posted by Darren

MIT 'air force' could help perfect unmanned craft

"Who says battery-powered airplanes have to be outdoor toys? Not aeronautics professor Jonathan How of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , who along with a team of students this fall has turned an MIT lab into a first-of-its-kind US...
Posted by Darren

November 26, 2006

X-45A Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Inducted Into USAF Museum

'The Boeing X-45A unmanned combat air vehicle was officially inducted into the National Museum of the United States Air Force collection during a ceremony November 13. "The X-45A is a prime example of an air vehicle that points to...
Posted by Darren

BAE in line for unmanned fighter jet deal

'The Ministry of Defence will award BAE Systems a 200 million pound contract in the next two weeks to create the UK's first unmanned fighter jet, The Times newspaper reported on Saturday. BAE said it was developing unmanned aerial...
Posted by Darren

Pilotless fighter plan gets £200m

'Within the next two weeks the Ministry of Defence will award BAE Systems a £200 million contract to create the UK’s first unmanned fighter jet, The Times has learnt. The project will contract BAE to develop a “technical demonstrator”...
Posted by Darren

November 23, 2006

UAV Attacked by Crows - Video

The following video is of an RQ-11B Raven UAV being attacked by crows in Brisbane Australia....
Posted by Darren

Local company making, exporting unmanned aircraft

"Integrated Dynamics a local company is manufacturing and exporting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) at $20,000 per price against starting price of $0.2 million in the global market. “The company has already exported UAVs to Spain, Australia, South Korea, and...
Posted by Darren

SkyLite B Mini-UAV Shows Exceptional Results in Extremely High Winds and Interoperability with Other UAVs

"RAFAEL Armament Development Authority Ltd reveals excellent results for the SkyLite B, mini-UAV in flight demonstrations held in Australia and New Zealand last month. In cooperation with RAFAEL's partner in both Australia and New Zealand, Codarra Advanced Systems, a...
Posted by Darren

November 22, 2006

MIT 'air force' could help perfect unmanned craft

"Who says battery-powered airplanes have to be outdoor toys? Not aeronautics professor Jonathan How of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , who along with a team of students this fall has turned an MIT lab into a first-of-its-kind US...
Posted by Darren

Elbit Systems unveils unmanned patrol boat

"The Silver Marlin is 10.6 m long, has a maximum speed of 81 kmh, and has a range of 500 km, Elbit Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq: ESLT; TASE: ESLT) has revealed to “Globes” its “Silver Marlin”, an unmanned patrol boat...
Posted by Darren

Guam to host UAVs

"The first unmanned aeriel vehicle slated for the U.S. island of Guam is due to arrive at Andersen Air Force base in the spring. Brig. Gen. Douglas O. Evans, the base's new commander, said the first UAV would be...
Posted by Darren

Global Hawk To Fly First Mission Over US Soil

"True or false: the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle has never flown a mission over US soil. For the moment, the answer is "true"... but that's likely to change by the end of the day Monday, when the first...
Posted by Darren

Australia signs $12.7m UAV lease contract

"The Australian Army has signed a $12.7 million contract with Boeing Australia for the supply of Boeing-Insitu ScanEagle unmanned air vehicle services for a six-month period. Newly released Australian government purchasing records show the lease runs until 30 June...
Posted by Darren

November 21, 2006

ScanEagle to get heavy-fuel engine

"Insitu has teamed with Sonex Research to develop a heavy-fuel engine for the ScanEagle unmanned air vehicle as it prepares to compete to keep its contracts to provide UAV services to the US Marine Corps and Navy in south-west...
Posted by Darren

AeroVironment's handheld UAV wins Popular Science award

"AeroVironment's handheld and hand thrown unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has won Popular Science's award for the Best of What's New in Aviation and Space. The Wasp UAV is the smallest aerial vehicle in used by the United States military,...
Posted by Darren

November 20, 2006

Boeing's A160 Hummingbird Unmanned Aircraft Resumes Testing

"After nearly a year since its first flight with an uprated powerplant, Boeing's A160 Hummingbird unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) returned to the skies over as Victorville, CA last week. Flight testing on the autonomous rotorcraft resumed November 8. A...
Posted by Darren

Shadow UAV Video

Posted by Darren

Indonesia has started procedure to buy UAV from Israel

"The spokesmen of the Indonesian Armed Forces denied the accusations made by the Jakarta Parliament about possible irregularities on the procedures to purchase UAV planes (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), remote controlled planes, from Israel. The Commandant Marshal Djoko Suyanto assured...
Posted by Darren

Canadian Army's Elbit UAV grounded by malfunctions

"Use of the Skylark 1 model UAVs was halted after faults "disrupted operations." Elbit Systems Ltd. Skylark unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), deployed by the Canadian Army in Afghanistan, were grounded following an operational malfunction. Elbit has confirmed the grounding...
Posted by Darren

Canada signals plans to arm new MALE UAVs

"The Canadian defence force wants to arm its planned medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAV systems. A final requirements statement recommending a weapons capability is due to be signed off within the defence headquarters late this month ahead of formal applications...
Posted by Darren

November 19, 2006

Disaster zone role for BAE spy plane

"BRITAIN'S new Fylde-built "spy-in-the-sky" could be used to bring relief to the world's disaster zones. Bosses at BAE Systems say they can programme the new Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to "fly where manned aircraft would not dare to explore"....
Posted by Darren

November 17, 2006

UAS reaches new highs

"Boeing and team member Insitu recently reached two new milestones with its ScanEagle unmanned aerial system (UAS). The milestones were achieved when the UAS logged its longest continuous flight after a prototype was flown for for 22 hours and...
Posted by Darren

November 16, 2006

Australia signs $12.7 million Scan Eagle UAV lease deal

"The Australian Army has signed a $12.718 million contract with Boeing Australia to supply Boeing-Insitu Scan Eagle unmanned air vehicle services for a six month period. Newly released Australian government purchasing records show the lease runs until 30 June...
Posted by Darren

BAE spy plane video footage

"The UK's first Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has carried out its first test-flights at BAE Systems in Warton. As revealed exclusively in The Gazette this summer, the Herti is the latest hi-tech plane being launched on the Fylde's production...
Posted by Darren

November 11, 2006

Elbit System's Skylark II - UAV Received Popular Science's "2006 Best of What's New" Award in the Aviation & Space Category

Elbit Systems Ltd. announced that its Skylark II UAV received Popular Science's "2006 Best of What's New" Award in the Aviation and Space category. The Skylark II is a newer and larger model and came following the achievements of...
Posted by Darren

November 10, 2006

Alenia UAV Makes Automatic Take-off and Landing

"The Sky-X, Alenia Aeronautica’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology demonstrator, has made its first automatic take-off and landing (ATOL), the firm said Nov. 9. The 30-minute flight was made at Sweden’s Vidsel base on a predetermined flight pattern without...
Posted by Darren

November 09, 2006

Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles to join air force

'In a significant move, the Indian Air Force has decided to go in for Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles. Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi told the latest issue of India Strategic magazine that the Indian Air Force (IAF) had "completed"...
Posted by Darren

Plane sailing for no-pilot air UAV scrutiny

'MONITORING of the energy-rich Northwest Shelf off WA with pilotless planes has moved a step closer with a successful trial by the Department of Defence. On target: The Defence Department is happy with tests of the Mariner pilotless aircraft...
Posted by Darren

Conference planned on UAV systems

'New Mexico State University is going to host a conference on the development of U.S. unmanned aerial systems next month. The event is expected to draw participants from federal agencies, private industry and academia, the New Mexico Business Weekly...
Posted by Darren

Aurora's GoldenEye 80 Makes Successful First Flight: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

'Aurora Flight Sciences announced today that the company's GoldenEye 80 unmanned air vehicle made a successful first flight. The flight marked another first as GoldenEye 80 became the first ducted fan UAV to fly under the power of a...
Posted by Darren

Drones may aid Arctic oil exploration

'With heightened interest in offshore oil and gas exploration coinciding with elevated awareness of the need to protect marine wildlife, oil companies are scrambling to find ways to meet government requirements for wildlife protection. And, in the Alaska Arctic,...
Posted by Darren

November 07, 2006

Indian Air Force to induct armed pilotless aerial vehicles

'In a major step forward, the Indian Air Force has decided to induct Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles for better surveillance and targeting of enemy movements. The Air Chief, Marshal SP Tyagi told India Strategic magazine that the IAF had...
Posted by Darren

UAV Squadron Continues Surveillance

'While it has no onboard pilot, its small frame carries a high-performance camera that provides instant tactical information to ground troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Pioneer unmanned aerial vehicle flown by Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1, Marine...
Posted by Darren

Plane sailing for no-pilot air scrutiny

'MONITORING of the energy-rich Northwest Shelf off WA with pilotless planes has moved a step closer with a successful trial by the Department of Defence. Mariner On target: The Defence Department is happy with tests of the Mariner pilotless...
Posted by Darren

Aurora's GoldenEye 80 makes successful first flight

'Aurora Flight Sciences announced today that the company’s GoldenEye 80 unmanned air vehicle made a successful first flight. The flight marked another first as GoldenEye 80 became the first ducted fan UAV to fly under the power of a...
Posted by Darren

November 04, 2006

Drones To Patrol U.S.-Mexico Border

'The federal government has unveiled a new multimillion-dollar gadget to patrol and protect the U.S.-Mexican border It’s an unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV. The high-tech plane, typically used in military combat, has become an important tool in the border...
Posted by Darren

FAA certifies Raytheon Cobra test UAV

'The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has certified the airworthiness of Cobra, an experimental unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) being developed by Raytheon. The FAA ticket allows the new UAV to begin test flights in airspace over southeastern Arizona. Thursday's announcement...
Posted by Darren

UAV Squadron Continues Surveillance

'While it has no onboard pilot, its small frame carries a high-performance camera that provides instant tactical information to ground troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Pioneer unmanned aerial vehicle flown by Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1, Marine...
Posted by Darren

November 02, 2006

Queensland carries out UAV tests within city

'Aerovironment has become the first unmanned air vehicle manufacturer to fly mini-UAVs legally in an Australian state capital city. A series of demonstration flights was carried out in Brisbane, Queensland's capital, on 25-27 October using Aerovironment RQ-11B Raven systems....
Posted by Darren

Customs unveils its new plane for the border

'U.S. Customs and Border Protection unveiled its new Predator B spy drone on Monday, six months after the agency's previous unmanned surveillance plane crashed in an unpopulated area north of Nogales. The new Predator B is expected to be...
Posted by Darren

November 01, 2006

New UAV resumes border surveillance

'It's a high tech way of watching the border and took flight at Fort Huachuca Monday. It's an unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV. You'll remember, a craft just like it crashed in the desert earlier this month. Now a...
Posted by Darren

Unmanned plane to aid search

'Sheriff Brian Schlueter has requested the use of a MicroPilot, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle autopilot plane similar to a military drone, to assist in the search of Troy Allen Schultz, whose truck was found partially submerged in a slough...
Posted by Darren

Raytheon Announces Revolutionary New 'Cockpit' for Unmanned Aircraft

Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN - News) today unveiled the Universal Control System (UCS) -- a first of its kind unmanned aerial system (UAS) "cockpit" that revolutionizes operator awareness and efficiency, while providing the ability to control multiple unmanned aircraft,...
Posted by Darren