Archive for category: Unmanned Systems

The U.S. Marine Corps plans to deploy the unmanned K-MAX to Afghanistan in November 2011. K-MAX will be the Navy’s first-ever cargo unmanned aircraft system to deploy in an operational environment. The deploying team consists of active duty mission commanders, air vehicle operators and company employees has recently concluded training and flight tests at its base in Twenty-nine Palms, Calif., and is currently preparing the aircraft for shipment into theater.

The Chinese Xianglong ‘Soaring Dragon’ UAV was recently seen at Chengdu seemingly prepared for the first test flight. The Soaring Dragon uses an innovative ‘joined wing’ design, employing a conventional swept wing joined with a forward swept wing. A model depicting this configurationwas shown at the Zuhai China Airshow 2006. [...]

Turkey is ready to sell the new ANKA Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles to Egypt. Ankara has already approved a contract signed between with Egypt, for the transfer of six fast intervention vessels.

successfully completed the first flight test of a counter-electronics missile carrying a high power microwave payload designed to zap enemy electronic system. CHAMP is a nonlethal weapon designed to neutralize electronic targets. It is considered a cost effective alternative to current kinetic (explosive) weapons, that cannot penetrate hidden, underground targets.

Following successful firing trials MBDA is preparing to deliver the first Fire Shadow firing units to the British Army. The new loitering weapon could be deployed to Afghanistan by early 2012, significantly extending the reach, coverage and persistent of current artillery fires.

A robotic load carrier developed by Boeing UK in cooperation with utility vehicle manufacturer John Deere and Boeing UK is unveiled today at DSEi 2011. The robotic vehicle called R-Gator A3 Assisted Carriage System (ACS) is based on John Deere’s R-Gator robotic utility vehicle.

A combined, unmanned reconnaissance and attack system developed under a collaborative program between Germany and israel has recently passed an important milestone, demonstrating the integration of KZO and HAROP unmanned aerial systems over the WABEP network

The U.S. Army has awarded AeroVironment a contract worth almost $5 million for the first deliveries of Switchblade agile munition, the company announced today. The contract was awarded two month ago, on June 29, 2011, culminating a selection process for a loitering light weight munition. The procurement is part of [...]

In the past two weeks France has been deploying its medium altitude, long endurance ‘Harfang’ drones over Libya, operating from Sigonella air base in Sicily. Harfang was transferred from Afghanistan to support the Libyan theater of operation.

Pakistani sources claimed an unidentified, bird shaped UAV suspected to be an American surveillance drone, crashed in southwestern Pakistan on 25 August at the town of Chaman near the Afghan border.

AeroVironment, Inc. introduced today a miniature ‘quadcopter’, a lightweight flying sensor called ‘Shrike VTOL’, designed as a man-portable, vertical take off and landing Stealthy, Persistent Perch and Stare (SP2S) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) developed in the past four years under a DRAPA funded program.

While NATO countries fly unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) high above Libya, providing vital intelligence to NATo air forces, imagery was made available to directly support the Libyans rebels. But, according to Canadian UAV manufacturer Aeryon, the Libyan rebels have also obtained at least one drone to independently acquire intelligence on [...]

Lockheed Martin has developed a ruggedized, fuel-cell powered version of its Stalker Unmanned Air System (UAS), called the Stalker eXtreme Endurance (XE) UAS. The new version quadruples the original Stalker’s flight endurance to eight-plus hours, without impacting the mobility of the unmanned system or the flexibility of its payload capabilities. [...]

In anticipation for the U.S. requirement for ISR services in support of combat surface ships, Saab North America has teamed with Computer Sciences to offer a larger version of the Skeldar rotary wing UAV called Skeldar 200, displayed for the first time at the AUVSI convention in Washington DC this week.

The U.S.-Israeli UAS Dynamics joint venture has taken the Skylark 1LE mini UAV to new levels, enhancing its performance, mission capabilities and operability to new levels. According to Peter Klein, UAS Chief Engineer at the company, assessing U.S. requirements made it clear that the needs of the U.S. forces and [...]

Focusing on a range systems complementing unmanned aerial systems (UAS) Israel’s weapon systems expert RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems is introducing at the AUVSI 2011 a range of hardware and software systems, supporting UAS missions.

The second and final flight test of DARPA’s Hypersonic Test Vehicle 2 (HTV-2) failed today as the capsule, launched by the Minotaur IV missile, was lost upon reentering earth atmosphere, about nine after launch. “We do not yet know how to achieve the desired control during the aerodynamic phase of flight.” HTV-2 PM said. DARPA has assembled an independent Engineering Review Board to review and analyze the data collected through the experiment.

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) have established a leading position in modern air power, already performing far more operational hours, compared to any other military aircraft. Typically, UAS fly 2,000 operational hours a year on average, compared to manned fighter jets that perform 200-400 hours / year at a typical military [...]

A large blimp launched by Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Army, has crashed into a thick wood area in a rural section of Greene County, Ohio two days ago. Lockheed Martin said the blimp was launched from Akron, Ohio, at 5:47 a.m. and reached 32,000 feet before “an anomaly” stopped it [...]

The first high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) Euro Hawk Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) unmanned aircraft platform has landed today in Manching Air Base, southern Germany. The unmanned aircraft flew directly from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., landing in Germany after a 23 hour flight. On a typical mission the Euro Hawk has an [...]

The France Government plans to acuire or lease F-Heron TP Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial systems, to be developed jointly by Israel Aerospace Industries and Dassault Aviation, based on the Israeli Heron TP currently operational with the israel Air Force.

Automotive Robotic Industry is displaying here the AMSTAF robot, an unmanned patrol vehicle developed for security, border patrol, load carrying and casualty evacuation missions. The vehicle has already been selected for operation with the 5th Army of the Republic of Korea Defense Force, patrolling the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) with North [...]

BlueBird Aero Systems is displaying its latest electrically-powered mini-UAVs, including the sub-kilogram MicroB, the combat proven Skylite mini-UAV and the flying-wing shaped Boomerang small-UAV, which has demonstrated mission endurance of 10 hours, powered by fuel cells, a record unmatched by other small-UAS of its class. Beside these innovative US systems [...]

UVision has introduced the WASP – a personal, mini UAV that has performance characteristics of a missile, with versatility, user control and reusability of a UAV.

AME Unmanned Air Systems (AME UAS) is displaying the Fury 1500 Small Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (STUAS) for the first time at the Paris Air Show 2011. The UAV has recently demonstrated flying powered by a heavy fuel engine. The use of JP8 significantly increases the capability of the system, [...]

After nine years of development, Rafi Yoeli, founder and CEO of Urban Aeronautics says he is confident the Air Mule can achieve operational level within four years. The new design is gaining much interest and support within Israel Defense Forces (IDF), bringing Yoeli closer to achieve its goal. “If funding [...]

Aeronautics ltd., one of Israel’s leading unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) providers is unveiling its newest platform – Orbiter 3 Small UAS at the Paris Airshow. The UAS is already operational, with first system formally delivered three weeks ago to an undisclosed customer. “The Orbiter 3 STUAS brings to the unmanned [...]

Controp is unveiling at the Paris Air Show 2011 the TD STAMP, a new lightweight payload optimized for small UAVs. TD STAMP is displayed at the airshow on Aeronautics’s Orbiter 3 UAV, also making its international debut here.

Following successful battle experience Iron Dome counter-rocket missile system, along the Stunner interceptor, part of the future David’s Sling, Arrow II and III and Barak 8 are demonstrating Israel’s future multilayer missile defense systems at the Paris Airshow. Air and missile defense systems are at the center stage of Israel’s [...]

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is displaying the Guardian, its maritime variant MQ-9 Predator B Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), at the Paris Air Show 2011. The Guardian is flown from its home base at Cape Canaveral, Fla., to Le Bourget, France, onboard a U.S. Air Force C-17.

The Boeing Company Phantom Eye High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned airborne system completed 12 days of ground vibration and structural mode interaction tests this month at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The aircraft is being prepared for its first flight, scheduled for later [...]

Elbit Systems demonstrated how the Skylark 1LE, a small, silent, tactical mini-unmanned aircraft systems (Mini-UAS) can be operated with standard ‘Dominator’ wearable command and control, significantly reducing the warfighter carried load, relieving forward units from the need to deploy, control and retrieve UAS and empower special operations teams with persistent, ‘semi-organic’ ISR support.

Israel Aerospace Industries is unveiling the Medium range Laser Guided Bomb (MLGB), a 250 pound class (115 kg) laser guided weapon designed for operation from fighter and light attack aircraft using standard weapon attachments.

The growing interest in unmanned systems for use by Indian police and law enforcement agencies is bringing the Home Ministry to evaluate some of the technologies available for paramilitary use.

Innocon announced today the signature of a contract for the supply of 50 MicroFalcon Systems to an unnamed customer in Asia. All 50 systems will be delivered through 2012. The MicroFalcon is designed for close range low altitude surveillance missions. Innocon has already sold the MicroFalcon in Peru, the first [...]

Elbit Systems reported today the first export sale of its Hermes 900 UAV to a customer in Latin America (although the identity of the country has not been confirmed, the country is believed to be Chile). The UAV system selected by Chile also includes DCoMPASS payload systems and an unidentified radar systems.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) specialist General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA‑ASI) announced yesterday a teaming agreement with one of Canada’s leading defense companies CAE, to offer the Predator B UAS to Canada. GA-ASI and CAE will jointly compete for this program, with GA-ASI serving as the prime contractor supporting a U.S. Foreign Military Sale (FMS) procurement.

Metal Storm has introduced today the ‘Fury’, a new member of the ‘FireStorm’ weapon system family, designed as a High Intensity Multi-Barrel Weapon Systems, mounting up to 30 barrels, each packing up to six projectiles.

Northrop Grumman is positioning its optionally piloted / unmanned FireBird as an operationally flexibly platform. The system has already demonstrated simultaneous operation of four EO sensors supporting multiple users.

Boeing made Phantom Ray unmanned airborne system (UAS) successfully completed its first flight April 27 at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. “Autonomous, fighter-sized unmanned aircraft are real” Program manager comments.

AVIBRAS, established in 1961 as an independent aerospace company in Brazil shifted its focus in the 1970s to the development of artillery rockets. At LAAD Avibras displayed their latest member of the ASTROS 2 Mk 5 multiple launch rocket system, the AV-SS-80 300 mm rocket, fully compatible with the ASTROS [...]

  Among the armored vehicles on display were the SandCat from Oshkosh, and the Gladiator, making its debut at LAAD 2011. Gladiator is a bulletproof vehicle developed as a ‘shielded car’supporting Civil Disturbance Control (CDC) law enforcement teams. The vehicle, introduced at the show by the Brazilian company InbraFiltro, is [...]

Embraer Defense and Security division (Embraer Defesa e Segurança S.A) has entered into a strategic agreement with AEL Sistemas S.A (“AEL”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems. The two companies have yet to define the specific programs to be pursued but, according to officials from the two companies, the [...]

Israel’s defense electronics company RADA is unveiling at LAAD 2011 a new phased array ground and air surveillance radar optimized for homeland security applications. The RHS-40 Multimode Hemisphere Surveillance Radars (MHSR) is a new member RADA’s Family of Pulse Doppler, AESA, Solid State Radars, utilized for active protection systems, perimeter defense and [...]

iRobot has unveiled pre-production prototypes of its latest new product, the iRobot 110 FirstLook unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). This small, light and throwable robot provides hasty situational awareness, performs persistent observation and investigates confined spaces.

IAI will unveil the new Stark IRV, a reconnaissance vehicle developed by IAI’s subsidiary Elta Systems, based on a Brazilian platform produced by TAC Motors. We plan to expand our activities in Brazil through cooperation with local companies.” IAI President Yitzhak Nissan comments.

An unmanned aircraft crashed early Friday around 2:30 a.m. near the southwest corner of Rogers Dry Lakebed off the Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., where it was flying on test flights. The Global Observer designed and built by Aerovironment has a 175-foot wingspan. The unmanned aircraft was flying with the [...]

Northrop Grumman Corporation submitted its final proposal for the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) core capability. NATO AGS system will employ an air segment consisting of six Northrop Grumman Block 40 Global Hawks specially missionized to provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to ground, maritime and air commanders, anytime and anywhere [...]