UAS VISION
an independent online news service for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems world
The Italian Air Force’s first two of six General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 Predator B unmanned aircraft will reach initial operational capability during July, ahead of a possible decision to make them available to support NATO’s operation Unified Protector. Continue reading
Unmanned aircraft system manufacturers see new hope for near-term sales, despite the US Air Force’s decision to delay fielding a replacement for the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 Reaper until at least 2018.
Operators of the Navy’s experimental unmanned helicopter were unable to complete a single practice mission at Webster Field in St. Inigoes this year before deploying with the system to Afghanistan, according to a Pentagon report released last month. Continue reading
A French Senate report advocating missile defence is proposing that France and Germany cooperate on the development of an unmanned aircraft-based infrared detection system.
Afghan-Based Australian soldiers will get enhanced protection from a new $170 million US-designed unmanned aircraft system within months, Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare confirmed last week. The catapult-launched Shadow 200 is a tactical unmanned aerial vehicle that will provide day and night surveillance.
Simlat Ltd. presented new solutions for commercial UAS training & simulation at a recent HLS Technologies convention, held in Israel. Among the displayed systems was Simlat’s STAR (Stand-Alone) trainer, customized to train the operator observing a Hazardous Waste Plant, including recognizing residue effects, locating survivors, and providing real-time intelligence to first responders.
TechNewsDaily was recently invited to take a rare behind-the-scenes tour of a UAS ground control station in Italy that is jointly shared by the Italian and U.S. air forces to demystify some of the operations of these robot warrior aircraft.
Northrop Grumman and Cassidian have announced that the first EURO HAWK will land in Germany on July 19, 2011. The aircraft, which will take off from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., is expected to touch down at the Manching Air Base at approximately 10:00 Central European Summer Time.