The U.S. Army took a step toward integrating killer drones into its battlefield tactics after it dropped live grenades from the air at a training area in Germany last week. Continue reading
Category Archives: Applications & Testing & Experience
Northrop Grumman’s Latest MQ-4C Triton Undergoes Testing with the US Navy
Northrop Grumman Corporation’s latest MQ-4C Triton uncrewed multi-intelligence aircraft is undergoing testing with the U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command. The aircraft will go through calibration and other testing prior to being transferred to the Navy’s operational unit. Continue reading
Chinese Engineers Test Artillery-Launched Drones
After 12 years of technical hurdles and scepticism, China has successfully tested artillery-launched drones capable of surviving the crushing load in a 155mm (6 inches) cannon shell. Five live-fire trials at a western test base confirmed the drones endured launch forces exceeding 3,000 times their own weight – comparable to 35 adult African elephants on a person. Continue reading
Boeing, RAAF Demonstrate MQ-28 Teaming with E-7A Wedgetail
In a first of its kind demonstration, Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have successfully conducted a mission against an airborne target using two in-flight MQ-28 Ghost Bat aircraft and a third digital aircraft, all controlled from an airborne E-7A Wedgetail. Continue reading
First Airbus SIRTAP Prototype Ready to start Ground Tests
The assembly of the first SIRTAP prototype – Airbus’ high-performance tactical unmanned aerial system – has concluded and the aircraft is ready to start the ground-tests campaign at the Airbus Defence and Space facilities in Getafe, Spain. Continue reading
GA-ASI Autonomous Jet Demo Includes Successful Simulated Shoot-Down
– General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. completed a first-of-its-kind test involving multiple aircraft and advanced software on June 11 that included a successful simulated autonomous shoot-down. Continue reading
Hermeus Flies Quarterhorse Edwards at Air Force Base
– Hermeus, a venture capital-backed aerospace and defense technology company specializing in high-speed aircraft, announced the flight of its Quarterhorse Mk 1 aircraft. This milestone is a significant step in Hermeus’ development of high-Mach and hypersonic aircraft. Continue reading
Mitsubishi and Yamaha to Research Hybrid-Powered UAVs
– Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) and Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (Yamaha Motor) are conducting joint research to develop a medium-sized multirotor unmanned aerial vehicle capable of carrying a payload of 200 kilograms. Continue reading