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September 07, 2007

Swarms of 'smart' UAVs may decide tomorrow's battles

"Scientists at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel, have come up with a new technology that would allow Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV's) to control themselves. Future battles could see the deployment of UAVs, but controlling a sky...

Outmoded drones put us at risk, soldiers say

"Canadian troops in Afghanistan are being put at risk because of the limited capabilities of the aerial drones that provide them with surveillance, say soldiers on the ground. The use of Sperwer unmanned aerial vehicles, known as UAVs, in...

Hosing Down Hot UAVs

"U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk UAVs operating in the Middle East have a unique heat problem. Being relatively small, unmanned, aircraft, they do not have industrial strength air conditioning for their electronic systems. There are a lot of...

Russia unveils pilotless 'stealth' bomber

"Russia unveiled on Thursday the mock-up of a pilotless bomber plane that its constructors say will be even better than the famous US stealth fighter at evading enemy radars and anti-aircraft fire. NTV television showed a full-sized model of...

August 19, 2007

Flying drone photographs Zaca Fire

'An unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a camera flew over the massive Zaca Fire on Thursday, providing a tool to peer through smoke and pinpoint hot spots while delivering real-time data, officials said. The UAV based at Edwards Air...

August 17, 2007

Navy plans to deploy unmanned aircraft on frigates; orders study

"The Canadian navy could soon be looking for a few good drones. National Defence plans to conduct a study next year on how the country's frigates can safely launch and recover unmanned aerial vehicles - UAVs - at sea,...

August 14, 2007

Predator soars to record numbers of sorties

"When terrorists tried shooting mortar rounds at Balad Air Base in July, they didn't count on the tireless, unblinking eye of an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle overhead, transmitting their every move to Airmen on the ground here. Airmen...

Army Eyes Helicopter Drone for Iraq

"The Army is considering sending a revolutionary new kind of unmanned aerial vehicle to Iraq that can hover at 20,000 feet over the battlefield for more than eight hours, transmitting infrared and optical imagery to commanders on the ground....

UAVs come of age

"Low entry costs have led to rapid growth in numbers of unmanned air vehicles in development or available to buy – for military and civil use. Here is our guide to 100 leading programmes on the market. The four...

Industry has big hopes for Fire Scout UAV

"The “flexibility” of the Northrop Grumman-built Fire Scout unmanned helicopter could see its mission sets expanded in the future from surface warfare, antisubmarine warfare and mine warfare to include special operations, humanitarian relief and other missions, an industry official...

Warrior prepares to fly new Gull 36 unmanned seaplane

"Warrior (Aero-Marine) says it is negotiating a purchase order from the UK Autonomous Systems Technology Related Airborne Evaluation & Assessment (ASTRAEA) consortium for a Gull 36 amphibian unmanned air vehicle. The aircraft will be used to support demonstrations of...

Police agencies push for drone sky patrols

"Police and public safety agencies across the country are beginning to plot a future in which they can freely launch aerial drones that beam down footage of the scenes below. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted more than 100...

Russian drones: the leaders are coming back

"Russian companies are resuming R&Ds on drones (unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)), the sphere where Russia used to be a leader. Many countries are doing their utmost to advance in the UAV technologies, which are predicted to bring billions of...

Army hoping to keep UAVs from Air Force

"A fight between the U.S. Air Force and Army over unmanned aircraft, many managed by the Army in Huntsville, could endanger soldiers in combat, members of Congress and aerospace experts say. Air Force officials have been pressuring Congress for...

August 01, 2007

Predator crashes while landing at Balad

"An MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle crashed at the end of a runway at Balad Air Base, Iraq, while landing at about 11 p.m. Monday. No injuries or building damage resulted. The crash does not appear to be from...

Defense Forces to use Israeli robot spy planes

"TWO Israeli-made robot spy planes are to be used by the Defence Forces for surveillance missions after the country won a tender competition to supply the hi-tech aircraft. In a move that could prove politically controversial, Ireland has selected...

July 30, 2007

Welsh Assembly preparing UAV strategy update

'The Welsh government plans to issue an updated unmanned air vehicle roadmap by late this year with work now under way to identify the region's industrial and research capabilities that could be leveraged as part of an intensified approach...

July 29, 2007

Spain Joins France, Germany in Advanced UAV

"Spain joined France and Germany in the risk-reduction phase of the Advanced UAV on July 18, signing a technical arrangement agreement to develop the large unmanned aerial vehicle for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance missions, the French procurement...

July 26, 2007

Fort Rucker UAV Program Moving

'An Army aviation program at Fort Rucker could be moved following a recommendation by a military advisory council. The joint requirements oversight council has approved an Air Force request for control over medium and high altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicles...

Spain Joins France, Germany in Advanced UAV

'Spain joined France and Germany in the risk-reduction phase of the Advanced UAV on July 18, signing a technical arrangement agreement to develop the large unmanned aerial vehicle for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance missions, the French procurement...

July 24, 2007

Drone makes its mark

"INSURGENTS firing rockets at a British base in southern Iraq were spotted and tracked by an Australian unmanned spyplane, then obliterated with a guided bomb from a US fighter jet. In a stunning demonstration of the capabilities of the...

July 22, 2007

Military aims to spend millions on unmanned attack aircraft

"The Canadian Forces plans to purchase aerial drones capable of directing smart bombs to their targets as well as tracking down insurgents, but the aircraft will be delivered just as the Afghanistan mission officially winds down. The unmanned aerial...

July 20, 2007

Now a UAV fleet for the British police?

"The UK Home Office is looking at the possibility of setting up a fleet of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) to support police and emergency response operations nationwide, according to a report in www.flightglobal.com. A paper on a UAV capability...

July 17, 2007

Condor UAV Supports FEMA and National Guard Exercise

"Emmen Aerospace announced today that it supported the Emergency Response Exercise Palmetto CWID 2007 last month in Charleston., SC. State officials, South Carolina’s National Guard, FEMA, SPAWAR and emergency managers were assembled this year to practice a hurricane scenario....

July 16, 2007

First 'Robot Attack' Bombers Coming to Iraq Soon

"BALAD AIR BASE Away from the headlines and debate over the "surge" in U.S. ground troops, the Air Force has quietly built up its hardware inside Iraq, sharply stepped up bombing and laid a foundation for a sustained air...

July 15, 2007

UAV To Be Inducted Into Smithsonian

"United Industrial Corporation announced this week a US Army RQ-7A Shadow tactical unmanned aircraft, designed and produced by its subsidiary AAI corporation, has been selected for induction into the aircraft collection of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space...

Russian micro UAVs demonstrate swarming capability

"The little-known Russian A-Level Aerosystems company has demonstrated swarming capabilities using micro unmanned air vehicles with repeated flight displays at this year's ParcAberporth UAV airshow at West Wales airport. Two ZALA 421-08 flying wing UAVs and a single portable...

July 13, 2007

New Damselfly UAV configuration unveiled

"Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems has unveiled models of its new Damselfly vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicle, with the actual flying prototype remaining behind closed doors at the company’s facility at the ParcAberporth UAV centre in west...

Miniature Helicopter UAV in Iraq

"The U.S. Army has successfully tested a miniature helicopter UAV, called the MAV ((Micro Air Vehicle), in Iraq. The 17 pound vehicle can fly as high as 500 feet, and carries day and night cameras. The MAV is most...

Spike in UAV use sets up power struggle

"The use of unmanned aircraft in Iraq has surged by nearly one-third since the buildup of U.S. forces began early this year, and drones are now racking up more than 14,000 hours a month in the battlefield skies. The...

Drone School, a Ground's-Eye View

"The loping, wooden barracks here look pretty much the same as they did in the 1880s, when soldiers marched off to chase Geronimo and his Apache guerillas. From the open, double-story porches, you can still see the adobe home...

Autonomous Flying Ambulances Could Save Troops

"When there’s no safe escape, call in the Mules: These unmanned aerial vehicles could save lives on the battlefield—and off U.S. troops are pinned down in a crowded city center. Several are wounded and need immediate evacuation. There are...

Virginia Tech develops UAV to detect airborne pathogens above agricultural fields

"David Schmale prepares to collect Fusarium samplesA Virginia Tech plant pathologist has developed autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to detect airborne pathogens above agricultural fields. David Schmale, assistant professor of plant pathology, physiology, and weed science in the College...

July 06, 2007

Spike in UAV use sets up power struggle

"The use of unmanned aircraft in Iraq has surged by nearly one-third since the buildup of U.S. forces began early this year, and drones are now racking up more than 14,000 hours a month in the battlefield skies. The...

France and Germany to launch formal talks on Advanced UAV

"France and Germany are to begin formal government and industry talks on a common combined medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) and high-speed deep penetration unmanned air vehicle development programme based on the EADS "Advanced UAV" concept. Defence acquisition authorities in both...

Keeping UAV Eyes in the Sky

"ORWARD OPERATING BASE FENTY, Afghanistan - One of the assets commanders in the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team use to view the battlefield is the RQ-7 Shadow 200 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. The UAV is able to provide the combat...

Maintaining UAVs

"One of the assets commanders in the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team use to view the battlefield is the RQ-7 Shadow 200 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. The UAV is able to provide the combat team with video coverage of an...

Air Guard flies first UAV from Fargo

"The North Dakota Air National Guard's 119th Wing has flown its first mission from Fargo using an unmanned aircraft system. National Guard officials said Monday the mission, flown overseas late last week, is a milestone in the 119th Wing's...

May 25, 2007

The Fire Scout VTUAV Program: By Land and By Sea

"he USA's RQ/MQ-8 Fire Scout Unmanned Aerial Vehicle has had a colorful history. The program was begun with promise by the US Navy, canceled, adopted by the US Army, and finally revived by the Navy as well. A competition...

May 19, 2007

Army set to use made-in-Malaysia drones

"The army will soon use made-in-Malaysia unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to conduct surveillance of the country’s land and sea borders. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that once a contract is signed between the army and...

May 18, 2007

UAVs on Trial over Northern Waters in Australia

'Trials of an unmanned aerial surveillance vehicle, commencing later this year, will assess the suitability of unmanned surveillance platforms to protect Australia’s borders.The ten week trial of the high-tech unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) follow on from the signing of...

May 02, 2007

Northrop gets $7.7M Navy deal

'The U.S. Navy on Monday said it awarded a $7.7 million contract boost to a unit of Northrop Grumman Corp. for operations and maintenance support for an unmanned aerial vehicle used for surveillance. San Diego-based Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems...

Latest 'Today's Air Force' now available

'This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" showcases the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper and how the Air Force is currently working to become the executive agent for unmanned aerial vehicles. Also featured is the never-ending mission of moving...

March 10, 2007

Israel has officially unveiled Heron, the next generation UAV

'The Israeli Air Force has officially unveiled the Heron, it's first long-range UAV - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, which will be capable of carrying out reconnaissance missions at extended ranges of thousands of kilometers. Israeli Air Force chief, General Eliezer...

March 07, 2007

Unmanned aircraft to fight insurgency

'The Indian Air Force is making its presence felt in the counter-insurgency operations with the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). The UAV are being used for real-time information gathering of the insurgency infected areas in northern and north-east...

Israeli Air Force receives new UAVs

'The Israeli Air Force is set to receive a new batch of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during an official ceremony at the Palmahim Air Force base on Wednesday afternoon. The drones, called Mahad 2, are manufactured by the Israel...

Silent eye in the sky: Predators keep constant vigil

'Anyone outside the Balad Air Base perimeter thinking of causing harm to those working and living here better think again. They're being watched from above by a Predator -- one with keen eyesight. As the MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial...

February 27, 2007

South Korea’s Ucon systems reveals helicopter UAV development plans

'South Korean-based Ucon Systems is flight testing an 80kg maximum take-off weight (MTOW) vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV and plans to commence flying a 120kg version mid-year as part of plans to pursue opportunities in the commercial agricultural...

Pathfinder-Plus UAV joins Smithsonian Collection

'AeroVironment's (AV) (NASDAQ: AVAV) pioneering solar-electric unmanned aircraft, Pathfinder-Plus, has become the fourth AV innovation to be acquired for the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution. Developed under NASA sponsorship, the ultra-lightweight flying wing was enshrined in the museum's...

Boeing and Austal team to demonstrate Scan Eagle UAV operations from Australian patrol boat

'Boeing Australia is negotiating with the Australian Department of Defence to stage a funded demonstration of a heavy-fuel-engine version of the Boeing-Insitu Scan Eagle UAV aboard a Royal Australian Navy Armidale class patrol boat during the second half of...

February 25, 2007

U.S. UAV crashes in Afghanistan

'A U.S. military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) crashed in eastern Afghanistan owing to technical failure. The military said in a statement on Saturday that the Air Force MQ-1 Predator UAV crashed on Friday afternoon some 6 miles North-east of...

February 21, 2007

IIT-K grads develop UAVs

'Seven students of Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur have developed an innovative multi-purpose unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a low altitude surveillance system (LASS) for reconnaissance and surveillance missions, and medium altitude long endurance (MALE) vehicles for scientific missions, terrain...

Austal plans to give 56m patrol boats organic UAV capability

'If Australian shipbuilders Austal get their way then the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) 56m Armidale-class patrol boats will be some of the smallest vessels yet to integrate the Boeing/Insitu ScanEagle UAV as an organic asset. 'We been looking for...

Zee News - UAV to hover over eastern Maha skies to counter Naxalism

'Unmanned Ariel Vehicle (UAV) is all set to be deployed in eastern Maharashtra to trace the movements of Naxals, a senior police official of Anti-Naxalite Operation (ANO) said today. The UAV over Naxal-infested Gadchiroli district is likely to be...

UAV to UAV Aerial Refuelling System developed by Technion

'Students in the Technion's Faculty of Aerospace Engineering have succeeded in developing a system of refueling from one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to another. The project will be presented at the 47th Israel Annual Conference on Aerospace Sciences, which...

February 20, 2007

Police to Deploy Unmanned Aircraft to Gather Photographic Evidence

'Police plan to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to collect photographic evidence against suspects during illegal protests, a police official said Monday. The new machines are based on military models currently in use abroad, but are adapted to meet...

February 18, 2007

Indian Army Looks Towards Short Ranged Tactical Small UAV's

"Impressed by an Indian private firm's design and development of a tactical mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) — the first and only private initiative of its kind in the country — the Army has invited the company for field...

February 15, 2007

UAVs close in on civil space

'While many technical obstacles must still be overcome before unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) can enter civil controlled airspace, government and industry organisations are actively engaged in establishing national and international regulations for their eventual introduction. The November 2006 conference...

February 13, 2007

Miniature Helicopter Packs Bug-Like Brain

'As tiny as insect brains are, they can still perform extraordinary acrobatics in the air that human flying machines have yet to match. Now scientists reveal a miniature helicopter, with an electronic brain inspired by insects, that could help...

TGR Helicorp Alpine Wasp poised to launch Everest rescue operations

'New Zealand helicopter firm TGR Helicorp plans next month to start operational testing of a prototype high-altitude vertical take off and landing (VTOL) UAV optimised for use as an air ambulance as part of plans to provide rescue services...

FAA cracks down on use of model aircraft rules for UAVs

'The FAA is to issue a policy notice on 13 February declaring that it will refuse to authorise the use of model aircraft regulations as a basis for the operation of small UAVs in the US national airspace, The...

February 09, 2007

Austrlian navy completes UAV sea trials

"Sea trials have been completed on a small, unmanned aircraft system (UAS) that could be deployed aboard Australia's new Armidale-class patrol boats. The Aqua Puma, built by California's AeroVironment, is a hand-launched aircraft that gives the patrol boat crew...

MMIST gets $9M injection for unmanned aerial vehicles projects

"MIST Mobility Integrated Systems Technology Inc. (MMIST) has received a $9-million repayable investment from the federal government to develop its unmanned aerial vehicle technologies for the aerospace industry. The Ottawa-based aerial delivery systems maker will receive the injection from...

February 06, 2007

EuroHawk wins contract for UAV

"The German Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on Feb. 1 that it has awarded a €430 million contract to EuroHawk GmbH (Immenstaad, Germany), a 50-50 joint venture of EADS and Northrop Grumman Corp., for the development, test and support...

February 03, 2007

Alenia Aeronautica: first flight for the Sky-X UAV

"Conceived for a wide range of civil and security missions, ground observation, surveillance and strategic reconnaissance (WAPA) - The Sky-X, the Alenia Aeronautica next-generation unmanned demonstrator aircraft, has made the first flight in Italy. Entirely financed, designed, developed and...

Predator UAV sees action in Iraq

"n Iraq , Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons and an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Samarra, according to CENTAF airpower summaries released for January 30, 31. The Predator...

February 01, 2007

Two Unmanned Aerial Vehicles cut from FCS

'The Army has begun realigning its suite of unmanned aerial vehicles, cutting two of four UAV classes intended as part of Future Combat Systems program. The realignment is being conducted to keep costs in check while still modernizing for...

January 25, 2007

IRAN DEVELOPS MINI-UAV

"Iran has reported the development of its first miniature unmanned aerial vehicles. Officials said Iran's state-owned industry has produced a family of mini-UAVs for tactical missions. They said the UAVs could be launched by a sole operator and conduct...

January 18, 2007

MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle crashes

"A U.S. Central Command Air Forces MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle crashed five miles southeast of Baghdad International Airport Jan. 17 at approximately 11:35 p.m. local Baghdad time. The crash site is an unpopulated area and no collateral damage...

IAF to showcase radar, UAV at R-Day parade

"The Indian Air Force (IAF), which is celebrating its platinum jubilee, will showcase a new generation radar and an advanced version of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at the annual Republic Day parade here Jan 26 that will conclude...

Unmanned FCS Platforms May be Cut

"Additional cuts to the Future Combat System could be on the horizon as Army officials examine whether they can reduce the number of unmanned ground vehicles in the program, Gen. William Wallace, commanding general of Training and Doctrine Command,...

January 17, 2007

Germany To Field Unmanned Aircraft Recon Fleet by 2014

'Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, this month is expected to decide on a contract to develop a signals intelligence (SIGINT) system to be integrated into the Euro Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), work worth 430 million euros ($558 million). Such...

January 16, 2007

US Army axes UAV projects

"Two of the four unmanned air vehicles under development for the US Army's Future Combat System (FCS) have been cancelled, following a 13-month study of the service's UAV requirements. The company-level Class II and battalion-level Class III systems have...

East Asia remains main focus of UAV spy activity as US defence watchdog releases suspected espionage report

"The United States Defence Security Service (DSS) believes UAV programmes developed by US companies are continuing to be major focal point for “suspicious collection” activities by foreign governments, particularly in regards to unmanned tactical systems and air vehicle avionics....

January 13, 2007

UAV test successful for Northrop

"Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, based in San Diego, and the Navy have successfully conducted a first set of flights for a new version of the Fire Scout, an unmanned helicopter that takes off and lands vertically. The new Fire...

Global Hawk UAV Gets Death Ray Radar

"High resolution radar is being installed in a Global Hawk UAV. This Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar consists of thousands of tiny radars that can be independently aimed in different directions. An AESA radar was used on the...

January 12, 2007

Israel Developing World's Largest Unmanned Aircraft

'The Israeli army is reported to be developing the world's largest unmanned aerial vehicle, to be used for long-range deployment and destroying ballistic missiles as they are being launched. Security officials said on Monday that the Israel Aircraft Industries...

Recent Purchases Spurred FCS UAV Cuts, General Says

'The U.S. Army's recent purchases of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to support ongoing operations provided part of the rationale for the decision to cut two of the four classes of UAV planned for the Future Combat Systems (FCS) program,...

Fire Scout UAV Makes Flight Debut

'The U.S. Navy’s MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) made its first flight last month at the Webster Field annex of Patuxent River Naval Air Station in St. Inigoes, Md. The Navy’s vertical takeoff and landing tactical UAV...

Gaza: IDF drone crashes; Hamas presents photos

'An Israel Defense Forces UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) crashed in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday. The aircraft crashed near the town of Beit Hanoun following a technical malfunction. The circumstances of the incident are still unclear. Upon hearing...

January 06, 2007

Pilotless Target Aircraft test-flown

"An advanced version of the Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA) was test-flown for the second time in three days from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, about 15 km from here, today. The unmanned aerial vehicle was test-flown at...

Boeing Provides ScanEagle UAV to Australian Army

"Boeing Australia Limited announced it has been awarded a contract to provide reconnaissance and surveillance services to the Australian Army using the ScanEagle autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The services provided by ScanEagle are currently being used in southern...

December 23, 2006

Boeing wins $6.7M Navy order

"The U.S. Navy is awarding The Boeing Co. a $6.7 million order, the U.S. Department of Defense said Wednesday. Under a modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract, Boeing will provide follow-on persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) unmanned aerial...

Navy's New "Fire Scout" UAV Made Debut Flight at St. Inigoes This Week

"The U.S. Navy’s MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) made its first flight on Monday, at the Webster Field annex of Patuxent River Naval Air Station, in St. Inigoes, Maryland. The Navy’s vertical takeoff and landing tactical UAV...

December 19, 2006

Second Navy Global Hawk UAV Arrives At NAS Patuxent River

'Aero-News has learned the second of two US Navy RQ-4A Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration (GHMD) unmanned aircraft arrived on December 6 at Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, MD following an 11.1 hour flight. The aircraft flew from Edwards Air...

December 17, 2006

Boeing Australia to Provide Australia's First Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

"Boeing Australia Limited has signed a contract to provide the Commonwealth of Australia its first Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) capability under Joint Project (JP) 129. Boeing Australia, with partner Israel Aircraft Industries' (IAI) MALAT Division, will deliver the...

December 15, 2006

ADF signs deal for new drone aircraft

'The Australian Defence Force has signed a deal with aviation company Boeing for new Israeli drone aircraft for the army. Under the $145 million contract, Boeing will supply and support a tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (TUAV) capability, with the...

Lockeed Martin Tests Centralized UAV Controller

'Lockheed Martin successfully controls four unmanned devices from a single control point Lockheed Martin is proud to announce it has successfully tested a new centralized controller device for unmanned vehicles. The successful tests enable the military to further expand...

UAV crashes in J&K, no casualty

'An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) crashed on Wednesday at Chakra in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir. There was, however, no casualty as the UAV fell half a kilometer away from human habitation.' Read more at UAV crashes in...

December 14, 2006

MoD to trial new technology in June

'A three-week event which enabled the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to test new technology and identify areas for improvement has been announced for next June. The Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration (CWID) is set to take place in Fareham next...

December 13, 2006

U.K. developing unmanned fighter jet

"The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence is spending $242 million (124 million pounds) to develop stealth robot fighter jets, with a prototype expected in the air by the end of the decade. It has awarded a $242 million contract...

Smiths Aerospace, BAE Systems partner on Taranis UAV technology demonstrator project

"Smiths Aerospace, part of the global technology business Smiths Group, has teamed with BAE Systems to develop an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) technology demonstrator project called Taranis. Under a contract awarded by the U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD), BAE...

Second Navy Global Hawk UAV Arrives at Patuxent River

"The second of two U.S. Navy RQ-4A Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration (GHMD) unmanned aircraft arrived on December 6 at Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland, after an 11.1 hour flight. The aircraft flew from Edwards Air Force Base, California,...

December 12, 2006

Lockheed Tests Controller for Multiple Unmanned Systems

'Lockheed Martin announced it has successfully tested a centralized controller device consisting of a touch-screen laptop and hand controller that allow a single user to direct four unmanned systems. Lockheed officials say that the hand-held Centralized Controller Device can...

December 11, 2006

France deploys UAVs to stop IAF flights | Jerusalem Post

'In an effort to put a stop to Israeli overflights in Lebanon, the French Armed Forces has deployed an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) squadron in southern Lebanon to conduct intelligence-gathering missions in place of the IDF. France, a member...

BAE Systems to lead £124 million Taranis UAV technology demonstrator programme

'Under a contract awarded by the UK Ministry of Defence, BAE Systems will be the industry lead and prime contractor of a joint £124 million project to develop a world-class UAV (Unmanned Air Vehicle) Technology Demonstrator Programme called Taranis....

December 10, 2006

Emerging Australian company (Recoilless Technologies International Corp Limited) joins forces with rotary-wing UAV manufacturer

'An emerging Australian company is set to revolutionize the unmanned aerial vehicle battle space after landing a major deal with an American manufacturer. Melbourne based Recoilless Technologies International Corp Limited (RTI) will join forces with UAV manufacturer, Tactical Aerospace...

December 09, 2006

UAV Operators Headed for Extinction

'The U.S. Air Force has greatly expanded the training of UAV operators. In 2005, the air force was running four UAV Predator crew training classes a year, each class producing twelve crews (one officer pilot and one enlisted sensor...

December 08, 2006

Aurora's Goldeneye 80 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Makes First Flight with Athena's Guidestar Flight Controls

Athena Technologies announced today its GuideStar™ flight control and navigation system contributed to the successful first flight of Aurora Flight Sciences’ GoldenEye 80 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The unique design and embedded capabilities of the GoldenEye 80 enable the...

BAE captures United Kingdom UAV deal

'BAE Systems Plc won a $224 million contract to develop an unmanned aerial vehicle demonstration project known as Taranis for the U.K. Ministry of Defence. The award was announced by Smith Aerospace, which is a subcontractor on the project...

State to test remote-control spy planes

'UNMANNED spy planes capable of a range of tasks from crop-spraying to detecting terrorists will be tested in regional Queensland. Experts have gathered at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane for a workshop on aerospace automation. The...

Pilotless drones to replace RAF Tornado bomber fleet

'One of the frontline bombers for the RAF is to be replaced by an unmanned aircraft that will be able to seek out and attack a target by itself, the Ministry of Defence announced yesterday. The first of the...

Taranis un-manned combat vehicle trial approved

'The government has announced the awarding of a £124 million contract to BAE Systems to develop Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology. Part of the Defence Industrial Strategy, the programme will explore how cutting edge technology can be used to...

December 06, 2006

All-seeing radar tested on tactical UAV

"Lockheed Martin says it can deliver real-time imagery from high-resolution MiniSAR radar on an unmanned aerial vehicle directly to U.S. tactical ground units. The company announced Tuesday it had conducted a successful demonstration test of a MiniSAR (Miniaturized Synthetic...

U.K. Will Unveil New UAV Demonstrator Project

"Britain this week is expected to commit more than 100 million pounds to launch an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology demonstrator program. The test vehicle is expected to be about the same size as BAE Systems’ 32-foot wingspan Hawk...

December 04, 2006

Britain Creates Robotic Wingmen

"Britain has developed software that enables UAVs to operate independently, but cooperatively, under the command of a manned aircraft, on combat missions. The UAVs would, most of the time, take care of themselves, following the plan of the operation...

Indian Navy to go in for long-range spy planes

"To enhance its surveillance capability as it dons a much wider blue water role, the Indian Navy is the first of the three defence services to opt for inducting rotary-based Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and has put on fast track...

New UAV software allows pack tactics

"Britain's QinetiQ has announced development of a guidance system to control simultaneously numbers of unmanned aerial vehicles. The Inquirer reported on Nov. 9 that the Ministry of Defense sponsored the QinetiQ project. QinetiQ used a modified BAC1-11 twin jet...

December 03, 2006

Navy opts to induct rotary-launched UAVs

"To bolster its surveillance capability as it dons a much wider blue water role, Navy is the first of the three services to opt for inducting rotary-based Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and has put on fast track the purchase of...

UAV Video from Cornell University

UAV Video from Cornell University...

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Market is Ready to Take Off

"One day not long from now, planes without pilots could share the skies with commercial airliners. Equipped with infrared imaging, these flying robots could patrol the nation's borders for illegal immigrants and fly over storm-ravaged regions looking for survivors....

World's First In-Flight Demo of Multiple Unmanned Aircraft Autonomy System

"QinetiQ has successfully completed the world's first flight demonstration of a system capable of controlling and autonomously organising multiple unmanned aircraft. The successful flight trial was conducted to support the concept of using a package of self-organising unmanned air...

Finns propose common UAV training

"he Finland-based Robonic Arctic Test UAV Flight Centre is proposing the development of a common European unmanned air vehicle flight training centre around its UAV flight test centre at Kemijärvi on the edge of the Arctic Circle. The concept...

UK RAF to raise UAV squadron

"The UK Royal Air Force is to establish a formal UAV operations squadron as the home for its two General Atomics MQ-9 Predator B aircraft. Approvals for the new squadron have recently been given within UK Ministry of Defence,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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”...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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"....

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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"...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

November 02, 2006

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...

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...

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...

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,...

October 25, 2006

Trident Systems Inc. Awarded a $2.8M Contract to Develop and Fly a Family of UAV-mounted Payloads for the Global War on Terror and Force Protection

Drawing on its expertise in signal processing and small electronics, Trident Systems -- www.tridsys.com -- has been selected to develop a family of interoperable sensor and communications payloads. These will support ground operations in the Global War on Terror...

October 22, 2006

Navy awards Boeing unit $15M in contracts

"The Boeing Co.'s aerospace division won two U.S. Navy contracts worth a total of about $15 million. The Boeing unit won a $9.85 million modification to a previously awarded contract for work associated with an engineering change for the...

Predator to be on the prowl again

"According to a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection report, officials expect to have a Predator B unmanned aerial vehicle flying along the U.S.-Mexico border again in November. It will mark the return to flight of the agency’s unmanned...

Northrop to offer Global Hawk to Navy

"Northrop Grumman officials confirmed yesterday that they would offer their Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle for a Navy surveillance program. If Northrop wins, the potentially billion-dollar program would be managed in Bethpage, N.Y., instead of San Diego." Read more...

October 21, 2006

Unmanned aerial vehicle takes flight

'In descent, the graceful, little plane — No. 05-134 — spirals in the sky, flickering in and out of sight in the sun. No pilot guides elusive No. 05-134, but the unmanned aerial vehicle glides obediently to the end...

October 20, 2006

Navy's quest for high-altitude drone attracts major firms

'A major defense contractor announced Wednesday that it will compete to supply the Navy with a new high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle, the contract for which is expected next year. Officials of Northrop Grumman Corp. said they will propose...

October 19, 2006

AAI Receives up to $102.6M in New Contracts for its RQ-7 Shadow UAVs

'AAI Corp. of Hunt Valley, MD has now detailed 3 contracts announced by U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL on October 5, 2006. While the initial awards add up to $57.7 million, AAI states that...

Marines check out urban-combat UAV system

'The latest tests have been completed on a U.S. system of low-flying unmanned aerial vehicles that scout out enemy positions in an urban battle. The HURT system is designed to provide unit commanders with the real-time video help they...

October 18, 2006

Customs and Border set to resume UAV patrols

'U.S. Customs and Border Protection expects to have a Predator B unmanned aerial vehicle flying along the U.S.-Mexico border again in November, officials announced in a new report. It will mark the return to flight of the agency’s unmanned...

AAI Corporation Receives Unmanned Systems Contracts

'United Industrial has announced that its AAI Corporation defense subsidiary has received three significant orders from the U.S. Army for production, refurbishment, and repair of equipment for Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (TUAS). Total potential value of the...

US Air Force To Study A Pilotless U-2

'The civilian chief of the U.S. Air Force says the retirement of the storied U-2 spy plane is on hold until the Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance aircraft can be an effective substitute. The Air Force in late December 2005...

October 14, 2006

UAV Crashes Near Fort Huachuca

'Investigators are looking into the crash of an unmanned aircraft just yards outside Fort Huachuca. It happened about 11 a.m. Thursday morning, 50 to 75 yards outside the northwest corner of Fort Huachuca, just off the Rugge-Hamilton airfield. That's...

U.S. Air Force considers pilotless U-2 Spy Plane

'The civilian chief of the U.S. Air Force says the retirement of the storied U-2 spy plane is on hold until the Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance aircraft can be an effective substitute. The Air Force in late December 2005...

October 10, 2006

Teal Group Predicts Worldwide UAV Market Will Top $54 Billion

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) will continue to be the most dynamic growth sector of the world aerospace industry, report Teal analysts during this week's Association of the U.S. Army's Annual Meeting & Exposition at the Washington Convention Center. Teal...

Camcopter S-100 VTOL UAV successfully completes two-week border patrol trial in Austria

'Schiebel's CAMCOPTER S-100 VTOL UAV successfully completed a two-week border patrol exercise for the Austrian Ministry of Interior (Bundesministerium für Inneres - BM.I) from 18 to 28 September, 2006. The S-100 completed a total of 9 routine night flights...

Boeing Manned/Unmanned Light Helicopter Makes First Flight

The Boeing Company has flown its newly designed A/MH-6X light-turbine helicopter for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the continuing development of the versatile manned/unmanned military aircraft. The aircraft combines the proven performance of the A/MH-6M Mission...

Kinshasa UAV accident highlights need for standards development

'The accidental death of a civilian in the Democratic Republic of Congo after a UAV crash landing is likely to strengthen international efforts to establish common design and certification standards according to Dewar Donnithorne-Tait, dean of the Association for...

Global Hawk to Launch

'Even to the fully initiated, the next-generation Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Block 20 Global Hawk will be at first sight hard to differentiate from its well-known predecessor when it is unveiled in Palmdale, California in August. Yet, packed into its...

October 07, 2006

Dragonfly Pictures DP-5X UAV conducts live fire demonstration with Metal Storm 40mm gun system

'The US-based Dragonfly Pictures Inc company has used one of its prototype DP-5X vertical take-off and landing UAVs to demonstrate airborne live firing of a Metal Storm GE40 40mm grenade launching gun system. Multiple live fire demonstrations were carried...

Malaysia's Unmanned Surveillance Aircraft To Roll Out Next Year

'Malaysia's first unmanned surveillance aircraft is expected to roll out next year to protect the country's waters and airspace from any threats, chief of Defence Forces Admiral Tan Sri Mohamad Anwar Mohamad Nor said here Thursday. He said several...

Live Firing on Dragonfly Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Metal Storm Limited (ASX: MST) (NASDAQ: MTSX) -- Metal Storm is pleased to announce that it has conducted a live firing of its 40mm weapon system installed on a Dragonfly Pictures, Inc. (DPI) DP-5X prototype Vertical Take Off and...

October 06, 2006

South Africa's UAV duo ATE and Denel in merger talks

'South Africa’s two primary UAV manufacturers are in advanced discussions over a potential merger of their respective capabilities to form the basis of a single national unmanned systems company or co-operation agreement. Officials from the Pretoria-based Advanced Technologies and...

Unmanned aerial vehicles get funding boost

'Congress has given the Homeland Security Department funding and permission to expand its use of unmanned aerial vehicles for patrolling the nation's borders and other missions, despite continuing concerns about their cost, safety and use in domestic airspace. The...

October 05, 2006

Indian Army to acquire Israeli Heron UAVs mid 2007

'Israel will start delivering the Heron aircraft, the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to the Indian Army, by the end of this year which will be fully functional by mid next year. The Heron deal was concluded at US $...

Belgian B-Hunter UAV crashes and kills woman in Kinshasa

'A Israeli Aircraft Industries / Belgian Hunter Consortium B-Hunter UAV has reportedly crashed this afternoon killing one woman and injuring two others in the Congolese capital city of Kinshasa. Details of the accident are still emerging.' Read more at...

BBC NEWS | UK | Futuristic naval devices tested

"A series of futuristic-looking, remote-controlled water vehicles could be added to the Royal Navy's arsenal. The Ministry of Defence has commissioned a £200,000 study of a group of drones. These include a robot patrol dinghy and a small aerial...

October 04, 2006

EU drone crashes in Kinshasa, one dead

"One person was killed and two injured when a drone from the European Union force in the Democratic Republic of Congo crashed in the capital Kinshasa, witnesses and officials have told AFP. "According to our information, a woman was...

October 03, 2006

Two Boeing-built UAV head to museums

'Two unmanned combat air vehicles designed and built by The Boeing Co. through partnerships are heading to new homes at two prominent aviation museums for permanent display, Boeing said Monday. The two X-45A aircrafts were designed and built by...

US Raven "loan" to MoD

'Ministry of Defence (MoD) procurement in the surveillance sector has been given a boost by the US loaning Raven unmanned aerial vehicles to British forces in Iraq. Mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (MUAVs) have been heavily deployed by the US...

Power System fuels unmanned aerial vehicles

'Protonex Technology Corporation, a leading provider of advanced fuel cell power systems for sub-kilowatt portable, remote and mobile applications, will unveil its ProCoreTM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) propulsion system at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Unmanned...

September 29, 2006

Thales selected by Canadian military for a mini-UAV system

'Thales Canada has been selected by the Department of National Defence Land Forces to deliver a mini-UAV system based on Elbit’s Skylark technology. Thales Canada had already been selected by the Canadian Forces Experimentation Centre (CFEC) for the Silver...

British Forces in Iraq now have Raven UAV for surveillance

'British military personnel in southern Iraq have taken delivery of a cutting edge new surveillance device which it is hoped will greatly assist their efforts to reconstruct the country. Raven, a sophisticated airborne “eye in the sky”, is a...

September 28, 2006

Thales' PowerNode5 to provide computing power for Watchkeeper UAV componentry |

'Edison, New Jersey and Toulon, France computers activities of a leading provider of integrated PowerPC and Pentium-based VME COTS computing systems and solutions to OEMs and system integrators, today announced that it has been selected to provide its fully...

September 27, 2006

Northrop Gets Global Hawk Work

'Northrop Grumman Corp. received contracts totaling more than $42 million for the company’s Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle program, the Pentagon announced Sept. 26. The two contracts were awarded by the 303rd Aeronautical Systems Group at Wright-Patterson Air Force...

Intelligent unmanned aircraft planned

'U.S. researchers say they are creating an intelligent airborne fleet of small, unmanned vehicles for military use. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists and their colleagues at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Boeing Phantom Works in Seattle...

Unmanned planes latest farming tool

'Scientists are investigating whether unmanned planes could one day help cattle farmers carry out labour-intensive tasks such as counting stock and checking dam levels. Queensland's Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and agricultural organisation Kondinin Group are carrying out a...

MIT's intelligent aircraft fly, cooperate autonomously

'The U.S. military depends on small, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to perform such tasks as serving as "eyes in the sky" for battalion commanders planning maneuvers. While some of these UAVs can be easily carried in a backpack and...

South Africa's ABAT unveils plan for mini-UAV courier business

'The South African-based autopilot manufacturer ABAT has unveiled concepts for a local area courier delivery business based around small electrically powered UAVs. The “Posduif” – an Africans language word for carrier pigeon - business would utilise a flying wing...

September 26, 2006

Fort Polk Searching For Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

'Officials at Fort Polk in Vernon Parish are searching for an unmanned aerial vehicle lost during a training exercise last week in the North Fort Polk Slagle training area. The area is located south of Louisiana Highway 28. Post...

Altair UAV Re-Certified For High-Altitude Ops

'Aero-News learned Monday the Altair -- an improved, high-altitude version of the famous Predator unmanned aerial vehicle -- was recently awarded re-certification by the FAA to continue tests in the high atmosphere. The Altair, built by General Atomics with...

Stations look to unmanned planes over traditional labour

'Remote control aeroplanes that can monitor stock, fences and water levels are becoming cost competitive with farm labour. That is the finding of an MLA sponsored project being carried out by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and the...

US outfit patents 'invisible' UAV

'A US unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturer has been granted patents on an "invisible" surveillance platform which relies on persistence of vision to achieve stealth, Aviation Week & Space Technology reports. Minneapolis-based VeraTech Aero's "Phantom Sentinel" is a "single...

Rafael close to signing $239m deal with Indian Air Force

'The Indian Air Force (IAF) is in advanced negotiations with Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd. and MBDA of France for a $239 million contract to procure the Spyder SR short-range air defense system. The Spider air defense system combines...

September 25, 2006

Unmanned military aircraft crashes on approach to San Javier Airbase

'A prototype military aircraft - known as an unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAE - crash landed into the sea on its approach to San Javier Airbase on Saturday, just 800 metres before it could be brought in to land...

September 24, 2006

Burns Files Key UAV and Meth Amendments to Immigration Bill

'Today U.S. Senator Conrad Burns (R – Mont.) filed two critical amendments to H.R. 6061, the Secure Fence Act, which the Senate is currently considering. The Burns amendments will require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct...

Arming Predator UAVs

'Much is being made now of the video now circulationg in which a Predator UAV had Osama Bin Ladin in its sights - yet the then POTUS Bill Clinton did nothing. Clinton's defenders will point out that he could...

Next generation internet protocol a potential solution to UAV frequency access problem

'Lockheed Martin Integrated System and Solutions plans to launch shortly a six month demonstration programme of UAV command and control (C2) using internet protocol version 6 (IPv6). The demonstrations will initially focus on how UAV C2 can be distributed...

EADS UAV ditched into the sea on approach to San Javier AFB, Spain

'An EADS-owned Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has ditched into the sea on Saturday morning upon approach for landing at San Javier Air Force Base (Murcia / Spain) after a test flight. The test was part of the current flight...

UAV Catches Anti-Iraqi Forces Mortar Team

'Two men were detained and a small cache discovered after coalition forces observed, with the intelligence gathered from an unmanned aerial vehicle, six men fleeing the origin of an indirect fire attack on the civilians of Khan Bani Sa'ad,...

September 22, 2006

Night Strike event marked by UAV overlap

'The Night Strike 2006 – Freedom of Flight organised by The Shephard Group on behalf of the Canadian government showed the increasing overlap between UAV and manned fighter operations with a major focus on how to integrate the former...

September 19, 2006

Israel: UAV Infiltration Unprecedented

'An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launched by Hezbollah and shot down over Haifa, Israel, during the conflict with Lebanon was attempting to attack the Gush Dan region, a senior Israel Defense Forces officer said Sept. 18. The officer also...

UAV catches AIF mortar team in the act

'Two men were detained and a small cache discovered after Coalition Forces observed, with an unmanned aerial vehicle, six men fleeing the origin of an indirect fire attack on the civilians of Khan Bani Sa'ad, south of Baqubah Tuesday....

September 18, 2006

UN force protests Israeli overflights

'The IAF is violating the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, and the UN force in Lebanon intends to launch an official complaint against Israel following the violations, UN sources reported on Thursday. Spokesman for the UN peacekeeping force currently stationed in Lebanon,...

U.S. Air Force's first hunter-killer UAV named Reaper

'September 14, 2006 The Air Force has announced "Reaper" has been chosen as the name for the MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle, the Air Force's first hunter-killer UAV. Formerly known as the Predator B, the MQ-9 is still in final...

September 15, 2006

Sensors UAVs could cure border problems

'Sensor devices and unmanned aerial vehicles could play a pivotal role in patrolling the nation’s land borders in the near future, government officials and expert witnesses said at a congressional hearing Wednesday. U.S. borders soon might be dotted with...

'Reaper' Moniker Given to MQ-9 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

'The Air Force Chief of Staff announced "Reaper" has been chosen as the name for the MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle. The Air Force is the Department of Defense's executive agent for designating and naming military aerospace vehicles. In the...

U.S. Air Force's first hunter-killer UAV named Reaper

'September 14, 2006 The Air Force has announced "Reaper" has been chosen as the name for the MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle, the Air Force's first hunter-killer UAV. Formerly known as the Predator B, the MQ-9 is still in final...

September 14, 2006