May 10, 2006
'The newly activated Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training Battalion (provisional) assumed responsibility for training operators and maintainers of the Army’s unmanned aerial systems last month at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. The ceremony marked the transfer of the training mission from the...
May 09, 2006
'An unmanned aerial vehicle ordered by the Hellenic Army has completed a successful test flight. The Sperwer tactical UAV recently conducted a successful test flight by Sagem Defense Security, now part of the Safran Group. The test took place...
'Battery Ventures today announced they have led a $23 million Series C investment in The Insitu Group, Inc., designer and manufacturer of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR). Other previous investors participated in this round,...
May 08, 2006
'It may sound like science fiction, but the prospect that suicide bombers and hijackers could be made redundant by flying robots is a real one, according to experts. The technology for remote-controlled light aircraft is now highly advanced, widely...
May 06, 2006
Kaman Aerospace Corporation reported that on April 28 its new-generation full-scale Vertical Takeoff Unmanned Aerial System (VT-UAS) showed unprecedented mission endurance, completing a 12-hour and 17-minute simulated mission without refueling. Kaman believes this is the first time a full-scale...
'The worth of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has been known for decades, with Israel leading the way in both reconnaissance UAVs and combat UAVs (UCAVS). The increased tempo of US combat operations using UAVs, particularly their continued use in...
May 05, 2006
'Aerial drones are most commonly associated in Arizona with the military and Border Patrol operations, but some of the unmanned vehicles produced in the state are also being put to civilian uses. Tucson drone-maker Advanced Ceramics Research produces a...
May 04, 2006
'Eighteen Midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy will travel to Nevada May 7-11 to compare and test Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) designs with their West Point and Air Force Academy counterparts. The Midshipmen are students in the Aerospace Engineering...
'Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Global Hawk unmanned aerial system has shown its utility as a persistent counter-drug surveillance asset in Congressionally Directed Demonstration flights over the southern U.S., along the Gulf of Mexico and into the Caribbean Sea. Global...
'The Allied Defense Group, Inc. (Amex: ADG) announces its Global Microwave Systems (GMS) subsidiary has successfully completed the industry's first successful unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight demonstration of a High-Definition (HD) video wireless link. The demonstration was held on...
'Calls On Gov't To Remove TFR While UAVs Are Grounded Stating that an accident Tuesday involving a US Customs and Border Patrol Predator B UAV reinforces their position that UAVs must meet manned aircraft safety standards, the Aircraft Owners...
May 03, 2006
'Finmeccanica’s Alenia Aeronautica and Italian aerospace research centre CIRA have signed a three-year co-operation agreement to develop unmanned air vehicle control systems, mission management software and advanced materials and draw up joint technology development plans.' Read more at Alenia...
'he bad guys can use drones too. While billions have been spent on ballistic missile defense, little attention has been given to the more imminent threat posed by unmanned air vehicles in the hands of terrorists or rogue states....
'The Dutch defence ministry has purchased five Aladin mini unmanned air vehicle systems from German manufacturer EMT to support its deployed personnel in Afghanistan’s Uruzgan province. The hand-launched UAV weighs roughly 3kg (6.6lb), has a 1.5m (4.9ft) wingspan, a...
'A newly established joint venture company plans to demonstrate a new mini unmanned air vehicle to the Malaysian army in July. Three Malaysian companies – Composite Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM), Ikramatic and Systems Consultancy Services (SCS) – are jointly...
April 30, 2006
'Many European nations have contributed troops to help out in Iraq and Afghanistan, and, like the United States, they are using the opportunity to try out new weapons and equipment. The Netherlands, for example, is sending German made Aladin...
April 29, 2006
'Unmanned aerial vehicle went down 10 miles north of Nogales The crash and destruction of a $6.5 million unmanned aerial vehicle on Tuesday morning 10 miles north of Nogales remains a mystery but is under investigation. Michael Friel, director...
'US Army will combine UAVs and UGVs (umanned ground vehicles) together at Ft Benning in 2007 to run first ever tests of a combined robotic assault. The tests will use Yamaha R-Max UAVs as the UAV elements, together with...
April 26, 2006
'News 4 has learned that an un-manned air vehicle belonging to the Border Patrol has gone down. An agent says it happened between midnight and 6 Tuesday morning while it was patrolling the Arizona/Mexico border. It crashed on Morning...
'Sydney, Australia: About 130 military, government and industry representatives began a two-day conference sessions here, part of the Asia pacific UAV conference and exhibition designed to probe the state of UAS developments across he region. Sessions are ranging widely,...
April 24, 2006
'Arotech (Nasdaq: ARTX) announced last week that its Electric Fuel subsidiary was awarded a development contract to develop a high energy density rechargeable lithium battery and smart charger from a supplier of Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs). The supplier was...
'Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works is believed to be developing a high-altitude, stealthy unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for the US Air Force (USAF) under a secret programme, funded with money taken from the terminated Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (J-UCAS)...
April 23, 2006
'The US military has tested a system that helps soldiers to move faster and further into enemy territory while maintaining contact with their commanders via a UAV-enabled communications network. The system, developed by Northrop Grumman and the US Office...
'High-altitude airships could provide a host of surveillance and intelligence advantages. But policy makers have yet to put serious resources behind the concept. Still, some companies have jumped into the market on their own with early research and development....
'Boeing [NYSE: BA] has demonstrated for the first time the ability of an AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter to control an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) weapon payload. Boeing demonstrated the capability in February at its Mesa, Ariz., facility, home of...
'The unmanned aerial vehicle that is supposed to replace the U-2 spy plane when it is retired next year is over budget and behind schedule, and the acquisition program is being restructured for the fourth time, according to government...
'Twenty-five of the USA’s major weapons programmes have experienced “critical” cost growth, although few, if any, face the risk of cancellation. But the US Department of Defense will have to justify continuing the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned...
'Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today opened its Unmanned Systems Center production facility in Moss Point, Miss., where the MQ-8B Fire Scout, and portions of the RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will be produced. The facility signifies Northrop...
'They called it the launch of Mississippi's recovery. State and federal officials at Tuesday's ribbon-cutting ceremonies for Northrop Grumman's Unmanned Systems Center called its official opening an indication that the Mississippi Coast is making a comeback from Hurricane Katrina....
'Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today opened its Unmanned Systems Center production facility in Moss Point, Miss., where the MQ-8B Fire Scout, and portions of the RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will be produced. The facility signifies Northrop...
April 22, 2006
'State and federal officials at Tuesday's ribbon-cutting ceremonies for Northrop Grumman's Unmanned Systems Center called its official opening an indication that the Mississippi Coast is making a comeback from Hurricane Katrina. They also predicted the center would draw more...
'To counter China's rapidly strengthening submarine fleet, the United States should spur a revolution in undersea warfare by focusing greater attention and resources on developing advanced unmanned underwater vehicles, a top naval analyst said Tuesday. Such a move could...
April 21, 2006
'These days, drones are often associated with military surveillance missions. But autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (AUAVs) can also be used for more peaceful tasks, such as tracking pollution in South Asia. With funds from the National Science Foundation (NSF),...
April 20, 2006
'The United States needs to invest in unmanned subs that could neutralize Chinese ones, a top naval analyst says. To counter China's rapidly strengthening submarine fleet, the United States should spur a revolution in undersea warfare by focusing greater...
April 14, 2006
'A single control system developed by Raytheon has successfully controlled simultaneously unmanned aerial vehicles and an unmanned surface vehicle. The Multiple Vehicle Control System (MVCS) is aimed at eventually placing multiple unmanned assets under the control of a single...
'Nigeria is developing a national coastal defence alignment based mainly on unmanned platforms, Jane's has learned. Under a USD260 million contract signed in March, Israeli Aeronautics Defense Systems will design and build the naval array, providing manned and unmanned...
'At least 20 different types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are currently being developed by the U.S. military. Each program may be fine individually, but in sum might some of them represent a duplication of effort? At a hearing...
'The capabilities and importance of Predator UAVs are becoming clearer with each day the unmanned vehicles are deployed on the front lines of Iraq and Afghanistan. From intelligence gathering, to eradication of insurgent forces, the Air Force wants its...
'The first Malaysian made prototype of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is expected to be ready in three months time, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. "In three months time we will have a full scale...
'Calling for a better method of approving unmanned aircraft operations in civil airspace, manufacturers have warned US Congress that delays in Federal Aviation Administration certification are affecting testing and training. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) cannot fly the first...
'Chile may buy what could become a family of unmanned air vehicles encompassing hand-launched close-range, short-range tactical and endurance tactical systems. The Chilean armed forces are assessing the potential of a joint programme, although immediate requirements have been identified...
The N-1, an RQ-4A Global Hawk -- one of two acquired by the U.S. Navy through the Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration Program -- is the first of its kind delivered to the Navy, and is being prepared for participation...
'When San Diego aerospace engineer Alfredo Ramirez sketched his first design for the Global Hawk more than a decade ago, he wanted to create a robotic spy plane that could fly above harm's way at altitudes above 60,000 feet....
March 31, 2006
'A potential terrorist slips across the U.S. border under the cover of darkness. Unchallenged, he disappears into the night - or so he thinks. Unknown to this intruder, he's been detected all along - from 20,000 feet. And now,...
'Having demonstrated their abilities in combat on the frontlines of Iraq and Afghanistan, it's little wonder why unmanned aerial vehicles are being looked at for a variety of roles over US soil. That could prove to be a blessing......
March 30, 2006
'Piloted remotely from a Nevada air base half a world away or by soldiers on the scene, unmanned aircraft have become so indispensable in Iraq and in the war on terror that by next year the U.S. could be...
'Unmanned aerial vehicles have soared the skies of Afghanistan and Iraq for years, spotting enemy encampments, protecting military bases, and even launching missile attacks against suspected terrorists. Now UAVs may be landing in the United States. A House of...
An MQ-1B Predator unmanned aerial vehicle engaged three anti-Iraqi forces in the process of placing an improvised explosive device along a road near Balad Air Base yesterday evening. The Predator launched an AGM-114 Hellfire missile against the group. The...
'Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), in conjunction with the Office of Naval Research, successfully demonstrated the ability to extend communications range and capability using the RQ-8A Fire Scout vertical take-off and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (VTUAV). Northrop Grumman's RQ-8A...
'The U.S. Navy's first Global Hawk unmanned air system (UAS), N-1, an RQ-4A (BuNo 166509), arrived today at its new home at Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland. The vehicle is one of two RQ-4A aircraft which the Navy...
'Students are invited to submit their ideas for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) suitable for exploring Mars – the best designs will win a place at the Euroavia Design Workshop to be held at the Erasmus User Centre in...
March 29, 2006
'Piloted remotely from a Nevada air base half a world away or by soldiers on the scene, unmanned aircraft have become so indispensable in Iraq and in the war on terror that by next year the U.S. could be...
'Geneva Aerospace successfully completed six consecutive auto landings of a Dakota UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) at the United States Army Yuma Proving Grounds in Yuma, Arizona. This flight test was the next phase under Geneva's current contract with the...
'An unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) used by Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) for surveillance and reconnaissance missions crashed down colliding against the television antenna in a private house Tuesday morning at about 10.15 in Poonthodam Maharambaikulam, in Vauniya. The...
'The United States' spending on unmanned aircraft could rise to seven times as much as pre-September 11 levels by next year. Spending on the planes is expected to total at least $12 billion over the next five years, up...
March 28, 2006
'Northrop Grumman has demonstrated its private-venture Killer Bee low-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air vehicle for the US Air Force, as industry awaits a US Marine Corps request for proposals for a divisional/regimental unmanned aircraft system to enter service in 2010....
'Texas-based Geneva Aerospace is in discussions with the US Navy about turning its unmanned air vehicle shipboard landing technology research programme into a funded concept demonstration. The current programme, run under a US small business innovation research grant, will...
'An unmanned Little Bird helicopter could fly nap-of-the-earth autonomously using software-enabled control (SEC) technology developed for unmanned air vehicles under a US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and US Air Force Research Laboratory project, says Boeing. The software...
The U.S. unmanned aerial systems (UAS) market has had considerable momentum due to recent operational successes and increasing mission roles. In addition, UAS market penetration in all four military services and the commercial sectors in surveillance and weaponized capabilities...
Check out this new manual (PDF) on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS - or UAVs) that the US Army has released. it covers all the latest on their UAV/UAS operations....
'In Europe, several robotic warplanes ( the Neuron, the Barrakuda and the Corax) are under development. These UACV (Unmanned Aerial Combat Vehicles) concepts began in the Untied States, but Europe wants to remain competitive with the U.S. military aircraft...
March 27, 2006
'Turkey will sell multi purpose unmanned aerial vehicles and high technology products. In accordance with the demand of Italy and the United Arabic Emirates, the producer of the unmanned aerial vehicles, Global Technical Joint Stock Company, started production works...
'QinetiQ, Europe's largest science and technology organization, has completed the first flight trials of Zephyr - a High-Altitude, Long-Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that has a 12 meter (39 ft) wingspan but weighs just 27 kilograms (59 pounds). The...
'By the end of this month, U.S. Border Patrol officials plan to monitor a larger area of the southwest border with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which has been in use since September 2005. They plan to add a...
March 26, 2006
'The Air Force recently completed a vision document to provide high-level guidance to service development and integration of unmanned aircraft for the next 25 years. While the Air Force has been experimenting with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles since 1962, the...
March 25, 2006
'The U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force are both looking to buy the same new UAV from Predator manufacturer General Atomics. As a result of that joint interest, the two services are looking for ways to save money by...
'We hear a lot about Unmanned Aerial vehicles from the size of a butterfly to a full blown jet, and unmanned ground vehicles have been getting their share of the limelight recently too. So it figures that Unmanned Underwater...
'The Air Force recently completed a vision document to provide high-level guidance to service development and integration of unmanned aircraft for the next 25 years. While the Air Force has been experimenting with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles since 1962, the...
March 24, 2006
'The arrival of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) at Grand Forks Air Force Base could be just the beginning in a number of financial and academic opportunities for UND and its students. The Red River Valley Research Corridor Action...
March 23, 2006
'Is there a way to ensure robotic fighter planes do not mistake civilians for enemy soldiers and kill innocent people? Is "system malfunction" a justifiable defence for contravening the Geneva Convention? Should robotic sex dolls resembling children be allowed?...
'QinetiQ has completed the first flight trials of Zephyr - a High-Altitude, Long-Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (HALE UAV) that has a 12 metre wingspan but weighs just 27 kilograms. The trials took place at the White Sands Missile Range,...
'The U.S. Air Force is undergoing another shift in leadership, as defined by the type of warplane the generals spent their formative years piloting. After World War II, the bomber pilots monopolized the air force leadership, and heavy bombers...
'It is almost four years since the Indian Navy had acquired Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to boost up surveillance, which is still to deploy them inviting serious censure by the Comptroller and Auditor General. "Twelve UAVs purchased at a...
March 22, 2006
The revolutionary model plane has been developed as part of a £6.2m programme, involving engineers from the University of Leicester, funded jointly by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and BAE Systems. The five-year programme is called FLAVIIR...
'Recent flights of the Spider-Lion fuel-cell-powered unmanned aerial vehicle have shed light on the potential for deploying fuel-cell technologies in the future. Researchers at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory designed the Spider-Lion, and while the aircraft itself is not...
'Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works is believed to be developing a high-altitude, stealthy unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for the US Air Force (USAF) under a secret programme, funded with money taken from the terminated Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (J-UCAS)...
'An unmanned aerial vehicle crashed this morning in Iraq, and combined operations continued in Salah ah Din province as part of Operation Swarmer. A pilot at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. , was piloting an Air Force MQ-1 Predator...
'Most people are familiar with NOAA’s use of unmanned or autonomous underwater vehicles, but NOAA is also interested in routinely using unmanned aircraft systems to explore and gather data in the atmosphere between satellite and ground-based observing systems. UAS-acquired...
'The barrage of corruption in defence deal continues. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has blasted the defence ministry again for lapses in deals of VVIP executive jets, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and air-to-air missiles. The UPA...
'Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works is believed to be developing a high-altitude, stealthy unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for the US Air Force (USAF) under a secret programme, funded with money taken from the terminated Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (J-UCAS)...
March 21, 2006
'UK defence and security technology company Qinetiq is encouraging unmanned air vehicle technology developers to demonstrate systems to potential civil users next month. The demonstrations are for platforms and payloads and their use in non-military roles.' Read more at...
'General Atomics chairman predicts it will not be long before unmanned aircraft will be a familiar sight in civil skies In the not-too-distant future, the name of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) might not be associated just with military...
Aurora Flight Sciences announced today that its GoldenEye-50 unmanned aerial system (UAS) completed its 100th flight during a 22-minute flight at the company's flight test facility earlier this month. Aurora's GoldenEye team is now focused on transforming the aircraft...
March 18, 2006
'The army has plans to procure Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), said army chief Gen. Datuk Seri Abdul Aziz Zainal. Abdul Aziz said the procurement would complete the defence assets of the army. “We' ve yet to own this aircraft....
SONEX RESEARCH, INC., a leader in the field of combustion technology, announced that it has been awarded a follow-on project worth approximately $235,000 to continue development and pre-production qualification of a heavy fuel engine (HFE) conversion process for a...
March 17, 2006
'The US federal government's expenditure investigation body is calling for the suspension of serial production of the Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned air vehicle and for the programme to be massively reviewed. A report by the US Government...
'Geneva Aerospace Inc., developer of unmanned vehicle technologies, has completed six consecutive auto landings of a Dakota UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Grounds in Yuma, Ariz. The flight test was the next phase under...
March 16, 2006
'Monrovia, California-based AeroVironment announced today that its Raven Unmanned Aerial Vehicle has surpassed the 3000 vehicle mark in production. The firm's UAV is used by the U.S. Army and Special Forces for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.' Read more at...
'Pakistan is acquiring two types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles from Europe to enhance surveillance capabilities while continuing with its indegenous development efforts, a defence weekly reported today. The Pakistan army has finalised an order from Germany for the EMT...
'Geneva Aerospace,(R) Inc., a leader in the development of unmanned vehicle technologies, successfully completed six consecutive auto landings of a Dakota UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) at the United States Army Yuma Proving Grounds in Yuma, Arizona. This flight test...
March 15, 2006
'The Pentagon is trying to develop “insect cyborgs” able to sniff out explosives, or “bug” conversations by lurking unseen in enemy hideouts with micro-transmitters strapped to their bodies. The cyborgs - half insect, half robot - would be created...
'After the incredible response to yesterday’s story on weaponised micro unmanned aerial vehicles, it is interesting to note AeroVironment’s significant production milestone of Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (SUAV) systems that was announced today. The Raven (RQ-11A), a manpackable SUAV...
'Pakistan is acquiring two types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles from Europe to enhance surveillance capabilities while continuing with its indegenous development efforts, a defence weekly reported today. The Pakistan army has finalised an order from Germany for the EMT...
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has demonstrated its KillerBee low-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the U.S. Air Force, highlighting its ability to provide real-time streaming video and precision targeting information to warfighters. Northrop Grumman demonstrated its KillerBee low-altitude,...
March 14, 2006
'Aeronautics Defense Systems and the Israel Highway Police have employed the Company's Aerostar UAV in a successful experiment to detect and arrest traffic offenders on the highways of Southern Israel. A police patrol pilot joined the Aeronautics Operating Team...
Sonex Research, a leader in the field of combustion technology, announced that it has been awarded a follow-on project worth approximately $235,000 to continue development and pre-production qualification of a heavy fuel engine (HFE) conversion process for a small,...
'Facing problems in its efforts to train insects or build robots that can mimic their flying abilities, the U.S. military now wants to develop 'insect cyborgs' that can go where its soldiers cannot. The Pentagon is seeking applications from...
'UK-based GFS Projects has demonstrated its Coanda-effect unmanned air vehicle to the Ministry of Defence. The 0.91m (3ft)-diameter, 5.45kg (12lb) GFS-6a and smaller -7 prototypes were demonstrated at an indoor flying area in Peterborough. The battery-powered vertical take-off and...
'ndia on Monday test fired a short range, air-to-air missile and an indigenous drone for the second time in less than a week. The testing was done at a military base in Orissa, military sources said. The Lakhya drone,...
'Despite its advanced age, an Israeli-origin unmanned aerial vehicle continues to be used by the U.S. military in Iraq. The Pioneer UAV has been operated by the Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2 in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion...
March 13, 2006
'Northrop Grumman and the University of California, San Diego have completed a study that will enable the MQ-5B Hunter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to carry additional payloads, increasing its effectiveness in providing communications, intelligence and firepower for the U.S....
March 10, 2006
'Israel reportedly will unveil its biggest-ever unmanned aerial vehicle. Jane’s Defence Weekly reported this week that Eitan, a UAV with a wing-span of 80 feet, will soon be formally introduced into Israel’s air force and navy. With an altitude...
'Northrop Grumman and the University of California, San Diego have completed a study that will enable the MQ-5B Hunter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to carry additional payloads, increasing its effectiveness in providing communications, intelligence and firepower for the U.S....
'The French government has recommended the formal inclusion of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) funding in future defence budgets, adding that the country could terminate its state-funded European medium-altitude long-endurance (EuroMale) project in favour of the Dassault Aviation-led Neuron unmanned...
'Honeywell has doubled the flight endurance, upgraded the sensors and fixed GPS software bugs in its micro air vehicle (MAV) in preparation for a critical design review (CDR) later this month. The ducted-fan vertical take-off and landing MAV is...
'The issue of the overall development of various types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including unmanned helicopters for civilian and military purposes, has been and still is well addressed by the Moscow-based analysts and defense correspondents. However, what has...
'The Canadian Forces is looking to add unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to its arsenal and local companies are already exploring the opportunities despite the fact that any serious buying is still some time away. On the table is the...
March 09, 2006
'The French government has recommended the formal inclusion of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) funding in future defence budgets, adding that the country could terminate its state-funded European medium-altitude long-endurance (EuroMale) project in favour of the Dassault Aviation-led Neuron unmanned...
March 08, 2006
'The Australian government is to consider proposals in the next three months for initial funding of its Project Air 7000 Phase 1 high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) multi-mission maritime unmanned air vehicle requirement. The initial funding approval has been brought forward...
'L-3 Communications (New York, NY) announced on March 6 that the Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL), developed by L-3 Communication Systems-West (Salt Lake City, UT) has been successfully used for command and control of a US Army Hunter unmanned...
March 06, 2006
'The Israeli defence force plans to evaluate five contenders for a platoon-level unmanned air vehicle requirement next month, and will select an “over-the-hill” intelligence system by the end of 2006.' Read more at Israel to test small UAV contenders...
'Aeronautics Defense Systems Ltd. and the Israel Highway Police have employed the Company’s Aerostar UAV in a successful experiment to detect and arrest traffic offenders on the highways of Southern Israel. A police patrol pilot joined the Aeronautics Operating...
'The California company that produces the Predator drone has joined forces with General Dynamics Canada to pitch the American-made UAV to the Canadian military. General Atomics' Aeronautical Systems unit has signed a memorandum of understanding with General Dynamics, Canada's...
'Robert Mitchell, vice president, Special Programmes, Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems flew to London on Wednesday 22 February to present a lecture on Fire Scout UAV developments to an audience at the Royal Aeronautical Society. He had been invited by...
'When unmanned Predator aircraft prowled the skies of Afghanistan using their electric eyes to hunt down al-Qaida operatives, they provided examples of a blossoming technology that probably will become more common in civilian uses. Over about 10 years, unmanned...
'ScanEagle, a long-endurance fully autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Boeing [NYSE:BA] and The Insitu Group, has surpassed 10,000 combat flight hours in less than two years supporting U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy operations. Since being deployed with...
'The aptly named Pioneer unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) will most likely be remembered over the deserts of Iraq during Desert Storm where it proved that the UAV had truly come of age. Today, 20 years, four wars and 40,000...
'Gen. Michael Haugen, North Dakota National Guard commander, said Thursday that an unmanned aerial vehicle mission is coming to Grand Forks Air Force Base regardless of crosswind runway problems reported on this week by the Herald. While it's true...
'Soaring on the seventh month of deployment, the Marines of Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, prepare to return home to Twentynine Palms, Calif., after going above and beyond the...
March 05, 2006
'The U.S. Air Force flew its Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle in Japanese airspace last month, government sources said Saturday. Washington may have wanted to demonstrate the Global Hawk's performance to Tokyo, which plans to introduce the remote-controlled, high-endurance...
March 02, 2006
'After spending $28 million on a new runway this summer, state and Air Force officials are talking about building another runway to accommodate lighter unmanned aerial vehicles scheduled to start arriving in Grand Forks next year. The lack of...
February 22, 2006
'Over about 10 years, unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, have been employed by the military to perform dangerous duties. But other uses -- including homeland security and scientific experiments -- are being explored, along with ways to integrate the...
'Drivers tempted to ignore a no-entry sign or cross a continuous white line in order to overtake another vehicle when the police don't seem to be around may need to be more cautious in the future. This is because...
'The Raspet Flight Research Laboratory at Mississippi State is developing an ultra-light, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle designed to improve U.S. surveillance and communication capabilities for battlefield and border-patrol operations, the university says. Ground tests and initial manned flight-testing of...
'New warplanes like the stealthy F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will continue to play a crucial role in combat despite the emergence of unmanned drones, US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin said Tuesday. The F-35 will undergo its first flight test...
During its overseas deployment, UAV-3 logged more than 4,800 flight hours supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and the Combined Task Force—Horn of Africa. On hand at the homecoming event, were Maj. Gen. Curtis Bedke, commander, Air Force...
February 21, 2006
'Singapore Technologies Aerospace (ST Aero) is expecting to fly a prototype of its FanTail 5000 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the first time in March. A mock-up of the UAV made its first show...
'This is a second real time report from the siege at the Balata refugee camp near Nablus on the West Bank (aka Occupied Palestine) where the IDF has located two major leaders of Al Aqsa in the last hours......
February 20, 2006
'The Pentagon’s push to build up its inventory of unmanned aircraft is fanning a robust emerging market for the defense industry, and Lockheed Martin and Bell Helicopter say they plan to be in thick of the action. In a...
'Unmanned aerial vehicles are vital to the Defense Department’s net-centric operations, according to the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review, but the bandwidth essential to supporting them is disappearing. John Pike, director of GlobalSecurity.org, said DOD’s plans for greater use are...
February 18, 2006
'A prototype unmanned surveillance aircraft on duty for four years in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq is returning to a California air base next week. The Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle tail number 3 has flown 4,245 hours...
'US military officials gave P50,000 to a Sulu farmer in exchange for the return of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that crashed in Indanan town on Feb. 10. Jolo councilor Temojen Tulawie said the money was handed to the...
'A military intelligence unit will try Sunday to make the first U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle flight over this training area. Company C, 101st Military Intelligence Battalion is at the Vilseck Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) attempting to fly...
'The European Defense Agency (EDA) on Feb. 16 awarded a 750,000 euro ($891,000) contract to a consortium led by Sagem to conduct a study on sense-and-avoid technologies that would allow unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to fly in civil airspace,...
'MUSLIM villagers are holding for ransom a crashed unmanned US drone used in military exercises against the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group in the southern Philippine island of Jolo. The remote-controlled spy plane crashed February 10, in the mountain enclave...
Check out this great video of a home made UAV with four rotars and an onboard camera. Very cool....
February 17, 2006
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) concluded a series of flights Jan. 5 that demonstrated the weapons-capable MQ-5B Hunter unmanned aerial vehicle's (UAV) ability to fly more than 21 hours, which is almost a ten-hour increase over the original RQ-5A Hunter...
'Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) plans to bring its showcase aircraft to the Asian Aerospace Expo in Singapore next Tuesday, according to company officials. The company made its final preparations this week for the show, one of the most important...
'The Raspet Flight Research Laboratory at Mississippi State is developing an ultra-light, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle designed to improve U.S. surveillance and communication capabilities for battlefield and border-patrol operations, the university says. Ground tests and initial manned flight-testing of...
February 16, 2006
'DNA analysis of the bodies recovered from the attack on an al Qaeda meeting in Pakistan last month, have confirmed that the main target, al Qaeda number two leader Ayman al Zawahiri, was not there. In the immediate aftermath...
February 15, 2006
'A high-flying prototype “Airman” is heading home after being deployed more than four years and flying 4,245 hours supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and the Combined Task Force-Horn of Africa. Global Hawk Air Vehicle No. 3 began...
'Concepts for innovative new military technologies spanning space, unmanned vehicles, force protection, and urban warfare are due at the Pentagon next week. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is planning to make a series of small awards -- ranging...
February 14, 2006
'Royal Australian Navy interest in a patrol boat-launched and recovered short-range unmanned air vehicle to support maritime and fisheries patrol duties has spurred interest from manufacturers including Aerosonde/Lockheed Martin, Aerovironment and Schiebel. The service is actively studying options to...
'Civic officials in the Sadr City district of Baghdad returned an unmanned aerial vehicle belonging to Multinational Division Baghdad today, officials said. Maj. Gen. Jawad, commander of the 2nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, received the aircraft from city...
'The U.S. Air Force has deployed a miniature unmanned aerial vehicle to ensure security for convoys and bases. The system has been used in missions by the 379th Security Forces Squadron to supply U.S. troops in Iraq. Central Command...
'Germany is the latest country to send it's UAVs off to war. Ten KZO UAVs are being sent to Afghanistan with the next contingent of German troops. KZO development began, in 1989, as a joint venture between French and...
'Concepts for innovative new military technologies spanning space, unmanned vehicles, force protection, and urban warfare are due at the Pentagon next week. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is planning to make a series of small awards -- ranging...
February 10, 2006
'A U.S. military official on Thursday said an unmanned aerial vehicle flown by American troops to help Filipino soldiers fight militants has gone missing and appealed to the public for its return. The drone disappeared in November and U.S....
'India on Wednesday tested an advanced version of the home-grown pilot-less plane Lakshya from a defence base in Orissa, officials said here. The unmanned aerial vehicle was test flown at 11.48am from the integrated test range at Chandipur in...
February 09, 2006
'North Dakota officials want the state to be a player in the commercial development of unmanned vehicles. Gov. John Hoeven was among the participants at a workshop Tuesday in Grand Forks to discuss an unmanned aerial vehicle mission at...
Civic officials in the Sadr City district of Baghdad returned an unmanned aerial vehicle belonging to Multinational Division Baghdad today, officials said. Maj. Gen. Jawad, commander of the 2nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, received the aircraft from city...
'If it's a dull dirty or dangerous task, unmanned aerial systems can replace piloted aircraft, said an industry expert Tuesday in a UAS workshop held in the Alerus Center. Local and state leaders invited Laurence Newcome, director of unmanned...
February 08, 2006
'The Bush administration has sent Congress a $439.3 billion defense budget for fiscal year 2007 that makes large investments in defense language programs, special operations forces and unmanned air vehicles, which the White House believes are key to waging...
February 07, 2006
'Israel is backtracking on its commitment made to India over “reciprocal procurement” of defence-related items, wavering over the purchase of Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA), 'Lakshya', and Advanced Light Helicopter , 'Dhruv'. “The Indian UAV (Lakshya) was one of the...
'The FAA has temporarily reduced the size of the temporary flight restriction (TFR) along the U.S.-Mexico border. That TFR is in place to protect civilian aircraft from being run over by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) patrolling the border. AOPA...
'India has successfully test-flown an upgraded version of its Lakshya unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV. Scientists from the Indian Defense Research and Development Organization, who developed the Lakshya, launched it Feb. 6 at the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur...
February 06, 2006
'The Pentagon is speeding up the development of new weapons designed to knock out targets anywhere in the world in short order. The Defense Department said on Friday it wants to develop a new “land-based, penetrating strike capability” for...
'A Maryland Army National Guard detachment operating the Shadow 200 tactical unmanned aerial vehicle will officially open for business here Feb. 5, with a 2 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new armory located next to Gate 3. The event...
'A UAV based on the tilt rotor V22 has made its first flight. Called the Eagle Eye, this UAV is designed for use from ships. The first customer is the U.S. Coast Guard, which is buying 69 of them,...
'The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department on Friday unveiled what could become its latest weapon for fighting crime -- a high-tech model plane equipped with a video camera -- and said a SWAT team will begin testing the new...
February 03, 2006
'A UAV based on the tilt rotor V22 has made its first flight. Called the Eagle Eye, this UAV is designed for use from ships. The first customer is the U.S. Coast Guard, which is buying 69 of them,...
February 02, 2006
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp is being awarded a $23,375,521 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-05-C-0040) to exercise an option for the procurement of 60 BQM-74E Aerial Targets, 60 Radar Altimeters, 15 Low Radar Cross Section Nose Cones,...
February 01, 2006
'Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo authorized the joint procurement or lease of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by different civilian and armed agencies to ensure national security, officials said on Tuesday. The procurement initiative was included into the government's program to...
January 31, 2006
'The DoD continues work on its X-45C UAV and has called for an unmanned heavy bomber by 2020 When it comes to the future of military aircraft, unmanned planes seems to be where the United States is heading. The...
'Singapore Technologies Aerospace (ST Aero) has delivered its first production unmanned air vehicle – a short-range, hand-launched reconnaissance aircraft – to the Singaporean army. ST Aero says it delivered the first of four Skyblade II UAVs in late January,...
January 30, 2006
Protonex Technology Corporation, a leading manufacturer of high-performance fuel cell power systems for portable and remote applications, was awarded a contract by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to develop power systems for long- endurance micro unmanned aerial...
'Lockheed Martin Corp., the largest U.S. defense contractor, is providing the University of North Dakota's aerospace school with specialized training and access to an unmanned aerial vehicle, the school says. "We will have an operational UAV available for test...
January 24, 2006
'Yamaha's highly revered RMax UAV may have slipped into the hands of the People's Liberation Army In what could be an unnerving revelation, several Japanese unmanned helicopters produced by Yamaha Motor may be in the possession of the China's...
'Defense Tech reports on BAE Systems' CORAX Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV), an unmanned fighter with stealth features whose early models look somewhat like the USA's Darkstar technology demonstrator. DefenseTech offers a quick background that draws on behind-the-wall material...
'Whether mustering cattle on vast outback stations, searching for missing bushwalkers or conducting military operations on the ground, the advantages of seeing “over-the-hill” without having to move from your current location don't need to be spelled out. These are...
'Troops on the ground in Iraq face many risks - the insurgents and anti-Iraqi forces are devious when it comes to placing improvised explosive devices and hiding weapons caches. It always helps to have an extra set of eyes...
'European manufacturers of remote sensors need to bridge the technology gap that exists between them and their US counterparts to avoid missing out on a potentially huge market for military and civil unmanned air vehicles. European suppliers need to...
January 21, 2006
'In the dark, pre-dawn hours of Friday, the thirteenth of January, near the Afghan-Pakistani border, the buzz of an unmanned robot plane broke the silence. Half a world and 12 and a half time zones away, someone on the...
January 19, 2006
'The U.S. Department of Defense has decided to make the next generation heavy bomber an unmanned aircraft. The Department of Defense also wants the new aircraft in service by the end of the next decade, some twenty years ahead...
'More than 300 aircraft of all types will roll off assembly lines and improve the Army’s war-fighting capability during the next seven years, according to Army aviation leaders at a forum here. Speaking to more than 400 attendees during...
'A recent simulated test of military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) demonstrated yet one more envisioned GPS role in future military operations. As part of the Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) program, Northrop Grumman performed a test of simulated,...
'The UK has proved that there's a little fight left in its military aerospace industry by unveiling the “Corax” unmanned stealth surveillance aircraft: According to the BBC, the BAE systems project looks a bit like “a cancelled US