Archive for category: Unmanned Systems

The U.S. Air Force has included AeroVironment’s new WASP AE to its Battlefield Air Targeting Micro Air Vehicle (BATMAV) program. This inclusion enabled the Air Force to place a $2.5 million order for this enhanced configuration of the WASP Micro Air vehicle (MAV), which has already been adopted by the [...]

The RQ-7B Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (TUAS) has officially commenced operations with Australian forces in Afghanistan, providing an enhanced capability to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Finland has selected the Israeli Orbiter-2 mini-UAV system for its next generation Unmanned Aerial System to be used in support of the tactical ground forces. The acquisition of 55 systems is expected to be worth about US$30 million.

The Swiss defense forces has shortlisted two Israeli Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for the next generation Swiss reconnaissance drone. The Heron 1 drone from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Hermes 900 proposed by Elbit Systems were the two systems shortlisted by the Swiss evaluation team

The global UAV market is expected to increase at a Combined Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.08% in the ten-year period between 2011 and 2012. While the demand for advanced technology UAVs is forecast to be on the rise, particularly for MALE UAVs, the global economic pressure and high R&D costs are driving JVs and consolidation in the developed markets, while low reliability and high accident rate limit the use of UAS mainly to combat roles.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) has received the first delivery of the Boeing tactical cross-domain technology, also known as eXMeritus HardwareWall, designed to improve the ability of intelligence analysts and warfighters to securely access videos and imagery from the MQ-1Predator and MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). GA-ASI contracted Boeing to [...]

Lockheed Martin successfully tested a new, lightweight precision guided weapon called ‘Shadow Hawk’ designed specifically for deployment from tactical unmanned aerial systems such as the MQ-7B Shadow 200 used by the US Marine Corps and Army.

The U.S. Navy is ordering eight enhanced unmanned helicopters to be delivered by Northrop Grumman under the designation MQ-8C Fire Scout Endurance program. The Navy plans to deploy 28 such helicopters.

Aerovironment is upgrading the RQ-11B Digital Raven with the Mantis i23 miniature multisensor payload, packing daylight video, thermal cameras and plus laser pointer. The company is also enhancing the system by processing the Raven video to trigger automatic Moving Target Indication (MTI).

MIST, an advanced EO payload designed for mapping and wide area aerial surveillance was displayed for the first time today at the AUVSI Israel event in Tel Aviv. A military version of the camera was designed for unmanned aerial systems and has entered operational service in 2006, just in time for the Second Lebanon War. It has since proved itself in continuous operation over thousands of hours on a number of UAV systems.

AUVSI Israel 2012 opened in Tel Aviv today, gathering over 500 participants, 43 exhibitors and an impressive roster of speakers and presenters from across all industry and military branches. some are depicted in the following photo report. In the exhibit halls, a number of new systems were displayed for the first time. A more detailed review on some of the systems will follow soon.

in 2005, the percentage of Unmanned Systems was just 5% of the US Military Aircraft. At the beginning of 2012, that number had risen to 31%. Given that the UK has set a strategy to keep operational all new air systems for circa 40–50 years, what value can be seen in committing now to spending on a new expensive manned combat aircraft?

The ‘HoverMast’ developed by the Israeli start-up company Sky Sapience is scheduled to go on an operational demonstration in the upcoming months, demonstrating the system’s capability to expand the surveillance coverage of unmanned ground vehicles. The payload currently integrated on the HoverMast is the T-Stamp from Controp, a stabilized multi-sensor [...]

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has established a training and certification facility preparing UAS operators and technicians to support Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The UAS Academy leverages the extensive experience gained by IAI experts through more than 40 years of UAS design, development, operations and training of UAS operators and technicians. [...]

Israel’s Elbit Systems is introducing a new hyperspectral sensor payload developed specifically for UAVs designed by the company’s ElOp electro-optics division. Elbit Systems has completed the development of the system and has recently conducted a series of successful test flights. Particularly useful for this application is the Hermes 900, with [...]

Elbit Systems is displaying its largest platform of the Hermes family of UAS – Hermes 900. Hermes 900 was designed as a derivative of the Hermes family of UAS, introducing significant savings and enhanced capabilities over existing platforms. With over 300,000 operational flight hours with Hermes 450 UAS, the new [...]

Elbit Systems is showing the Hermes with a full range of sensors, including the AMPS, a heavy, high resolution EO payload providing Highly detailed imagery from medium and high altitude. Until now such sensors were commonly employed by manned aircraft, such as the Beechcraft B-200 and similar, as unmanned aerial [...]

ST Electronics Info-Com Systems has unveiled an unmanned duo sensor, dubbed Tactical Throwing Sensor (TTS) and Forward Sensor System (FSS), both are mobile recce robots specially designed to support the Singapore Army Advanced Combat Man System (ACMS). The sensors provide real-time indoor surveillance supporting law enforcement, counter terror, infantry and [...]

The Blade Arrow Precision Attack Munition (PAM) was unveiled today by UVision Air Ltd. five years after being first demonstrated. The PAM concept brings new offensive capabilities for precision strike of high-value and time sensitive targets, in complex terrain and urban background. UVision’s Blade Arrow provides long range, highly flexible [...]

IAI’s new family of networking systems integrates common core capabilities and specific solutions designed for land forces missions, and airborne applications supporting air operations. A special subset of the system is uniquely tailored for the operation of precision-guided weapons.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) marked the first flight of a larger, heavier Avenger jet powered ‘Predator C’ unmanned aerial vehicle. The aircraft features a longer fuselage than the first Avenger aircraft – increased by four feet to accommodate larger payloads and fuel.

For four decades Israel’s aerospace industries are maintaining their world leading position in the field of unmanned systems. The upcoming International Conference on Unmanned Systems will offer international delegates a unique insight into one of the country’s most competitive fields of expertise.

A new X-Plane designed and developed by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works is expected to fly this year, exploring new wing designs leading to the future development of slender, lightweight, high-aspect-ratio wings for use with high flying UAVs.

Northrop Grumman Corporation was awarded $47.2 million by the U.S. air Force for the acquisition of two additional Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) payloads to be integrated on existing Block 20 Global Hawk aircraft.

Few months after declaring the latest model Global Hawk intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) unmanned aircraft ‘operational’ the United States Air Force has announced it has decided to discontinue any further procurement of the Block 30 RQ-4 Global Hawk drones.

The Israel Air Force has lost an Eitan (Heron TP) drone while performing a test flight with new payloads. Apparently, the drone’s wing broke after takeoff, as the aircraft was testing new capabilities.

Rheinmetall and Cassidian are pooling their Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) activities in tactical, Medium-Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAS and cargo loading systems. The newly announced cooperation will consolidate the offering of the two companies to gain customer support.

Lockheed Martin today announced the acquisition of Procerus Technologies, a provider of miniature avionics and autopilot systems for micro unmanned aerial systems

Elbit Systems has recently won the third customer for its Hermes 900 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The contract worth about $50 million was awarded by a governmental agency in the ‘Americas’, to be used in ‘perimeter security’.

A major multi-million deal to sell South Korea four Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk UAVs has been placed on hold, possibly for another year as Seoul is looking at alternatives.

The U.S. Air force has awarded General Atomics a contract to build a third prototype of the stealthy Predator C Avenger unmanned aircraft. General Atomics has already built two such aircraft and is planning to build two more, at least one is now being funded by the U.S. Government. According to David A. Fulghum of Aviation Week, these new ‘Avenger’ versions will be more powerful and will carry more payloads than the first two prototype competed in 2009. A second Avenger flew for the first time in April 2010. The Air Force has allocated $15 million for the first aircraft but the program is expected to grow in size.

In a step further deteriorating relations between Pakistan and NATO, Islamabad announced today its air defense forces will shoot down any aircraft, manned or unmanned, penetrating its borders, turning the airspace over Waziristan along the Pakistan-Afghanistan borderline into a ‘contested access’ airspace for aircraft, helicopters and UAVs.

The SeaFox mine hunting system developed by Atlas Elektronik incorporates a remotely controlled surveillance system and autonomous ‘hunter’. The SeaFox I underwater surveillance vehicle is used for target identification and mine hunting. The system was employed recently to clear sea mines along the Libyan coast during the naval blockade on Libya.

On December 8 Tehran came out open displaying footage of the captured drone which seems in pristine condition. Although the drone was reportedly shot down by Iran’s air defense, its upper surface seems to be intact while the bottom, covered by propaganda billboards and camouflage net may hint about more extensive damage caused by hard landing.

CICADA is a concept for a low-cost, GPS-guided, micro disposable air vehicle that can be deployed in large numbers to “seed” an area with miniature electronic payloads. These payloads could be interconnected to form an ad-hoc, self-configuring network. Communication nodes, sensors, or effectors can then be placed in a programmable geometric pattern in hostile territory without directly over-flying those regions or exposing human agents on the ground.

Elbit Systems has won an initial order worth $11 million to develop a light Remote Weapon Station for the IDF, equipping Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) and Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs). The two finalists in the program were Elbit Systems and IMI.

Russia has transferred a number of Kvant 1L222 Avtobaza Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) systems to Iran in October, RIA Novosti news agency announced. Each 1L222 system includes an passive ELINT signals interception system and a jamming module capable of disrupting airborne radars including fire control radars, terrain following radars and ground [...]

Iran’s semi-official news agencies released today some details about a possible intercept and downing of a U.S. RQ-170 Sentinel jet-powered stealth unmanned aerial vehicle.

Seeking to establish home grown UAS development and manufacturing capability, the UAE is becoming a test case for Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAS export. Two companies intend to compete on the emirate’s tender – the UAE based International Golden Group (IGG) and Turkish based TAI. With designs considered marginally compliant with MTCR guidelines, this case could become a game changer in the UAS export market, pushing leading UAS manufacturers to offer innovative design solutions to meet new operational objectives within these MTCR guidelines.

One of the most noticeable UAVs on the flight line at Dubai is Adcom Systems’ United 40. The Abu Dhabi based company unveiled a full scale model of the United 40 featuring a unique tandem-wing, S-shaped fuselage design. According to Adcom, the concept has been in research and development for about [...]

The Swiss company Unmanned Systems is showing a model of its Orca rotary-wing unmanned air vehicle at the Dubai 2011 Airshow. The Orca employs a revolutionary tip-jet propulsion method that not only improves performance in many key areas, but also overcomes many of the operational problems encountered with conventional propulsion methods

Rustom-1, the indigenously designed and developed unmanned air vehicle, made its fifth successful flight on Friday morning, November 11th, 2011. It flew for 25 minutes near Hosur at an altitude of 2,300 ft and at a speed of 100 knots, a DRDO release said. The UAV, a “MALE” or medium altitude [...]

U.S. Navy Sea Systems Command has awards General Dynamics Advanced Informational Systems (GD-AIS) $87 million contract to develop an Unmanned Underwater Mine Countermeasure Vehicle.

An aH-64D Apache Block III equipped with the new Unmanned Aerial Systems Tactical Common Data Link Assembly (UTA) recently controlled an unmanned vehicle, while both were in flight. This marks the first time an unmanned vehicle has been controlled from the cockpit of an Apache, a significant accomplishment in manned-unmanned [...]

Northrop Grumman Corporation has started work outfitting the U.S. Navy’s MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter with the Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System (APKWS) laser-guided 70mm rocket. Such an armed unmanned platform will provide naval platforms, specifically the Littoral Combat Ship an autonomous engagement capability highly suitable for littoral warfare. This [...]

Microflown Avisa is now offering UAV acoustic sensors to equip miniature UAVs. At ISDEF Microflown highlights the sensor integrated on a Aerovironment Raven, offering effective situational awareness for small units operating the miniature drone. According to John Bremner, business development manager at Microflown, the sensor weighing about 200 grams can be best integrated in the mini UAVs employing pusher propellers, as it offers a clean environment for the system. The sensor can also be integrated on aerostats, typically operated on force protection missions.

A new robot at the show is new weaponized version of the Amstaf from Automotive Robotic Industries (ARI). The company has already displayed the security guard version in the past, and the system is currently being evaluated for airport security missions. The combat support vehicle represents ARI’s concept of a vehicle combining the fire support and load carrying platform (mule), supporting dismounted infantry teams.

Bowing under economical burden the german Government plans deep cuts in defense spending, dramatically reducing planned procurement of main weapon systems and platforms. Overall the personnel level in military services will be reduced from 185,000 to 65,000, to include only professional service members. Among the hardest hit industry group will be EADS, with its Eurofighter Typhoon, NH90, Tiger helicopters and Euro Hawk drones affected, all programs are managed by EADS subsidiaries.

The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration aircraft reached a major milestone Sept. 30 when it retracted its landing gear and flew in its cruise configuration for the first time. The flight, conducted at Edwards Air Force Base, also helped validate precision navigation hardware and software that will allow the X-47B to land with precision on the moving deck of an aircraft carrier.

IAI Elta is introducing a new version of their lightweight Synthetic Aperture radar (SAR) Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) sensor designated EL/M-2054. The new radar is based on another Elta SAR radar, the EL/M-2055DX modular SAR/GMTI radar, The new version is designed specifically for small form and size, low weight and power consumption, making it suitable for small, tactical unmanned aerial systems (STUAS) and Tactical Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) platforms, light reconnaissance aircraft and aerostats. The new radar employs an open architecture for rapid integration and configuration to meet the requirement of different platforms and applications.