The MQ-X, the unmanned system that will replace the US Air Force’s General Atomics MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper, must be survivable, weather tolerant, modular, upgradable with plug-and-play intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) options and have flexible communications, according to Col. James Gear, director of the USAF’s UAS task force.
Author Archives: The Editor
Guardian UAS to be Based at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Brig. Gen. Ed Wilson, commander of the 45th Space Wing announced last week that one unmanned and unarmed Guardian* UAS, operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection will soon be based at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Two or three more will likely arrive in coming months to patrol for illegal immigration or drug traffic.
US Senators Push for 10 UAS Test Sites
U.S. Senators Charles Schumer (New York) and Ron Wyden(Oregon) plan to submit an amendment on UAS to the FAA reauthorization bill, a two-year $35 billion legislative package. The amendment would establish 10 test sites in the National Airspace System for UAS. As of now, the bill proposes establishing four sites.
IAI Reveals Fibre Optic Gyro Navigation System at AeroIndia
IAI's Fibre Optic Gyro Navigation System
IAI presented a new airborne navigation system called TNF-Tamam Navigation FOG (Fibre Optic Gyro) at Aero India. TNF is a lightweight, airborne navigation and attitude heading reference system (AHRS) for use in UAS, target drones, small aircraft, and helicopters.
Hirth Motors Powers Saab Skeldar
Hirth 3503 EFI
Hirth Motors (Goebler-Hirthmotoren KG) has been working with Saab on the propulsion system for Saab’s Skeldar V-200. The power plant is Hirth’s 3503 EFI engine – a 625cc water cooled in-line 2-stroke engine with electronic fuel injection (EFI) producing 60 hp (44 kW).
US Navy Wants Common Ground Control Stations for BAMS & Global Hawk
U.S. Navy UAS experts are asking engineers at the Northrop Grumman Corp. Aerospace Systems segment in Bethpage, N.Y., to develop common UAS ground control stations to fly the Northrop Grumman Global Hawk and the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) high-altitude, high-endurance surveillance UAS. BAMS and Global Hawk are based on the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 airframe.
Panama Budgets $93M on UAS to Monitor Drug Traffic
Panama’s Security Minister Jose Raul Mulino, announced recently that the country will spend at least $16 million dollars on four UAS to monitor drug trafficking. With operating costs, the total bill could reach $93 million in the first year.
UAS Test Range in the Scottish Hebrides…?
A military rocket range on the island of South Uist in the Scottish Hebrides, could be used for testing civilian UAS. Highlands and island Enterprise, the Scottish Government’s economic and community development agency for the region , commissioned a study which found that there is a growing market for UAS. Continue reading