The Welsh Assembly Government has just launched a two year research and development programme to explore the potential for advanced remote sensing, using small unmanned aircraft, for use in land applications, primarily high input arable farming. The programme is called Project URSULA – UAS Remote Sensing for Use in Land Applications.
Category Archives: Applications & Testing & Experience
After 600,000 Combat Hours Shadow Fleet Improvements Save $5M per Year
The AAI RQ-7B Shadow 200 Tactical UAS, which won the prestigious Performance-Based Logistics Award from the Secretary of Defence last autumn, continues to improve performance and efficiency after 600,000 combat hours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Phantom Eye Arrives at NASA for Testing
Boeing’s unmanned hydrogen-powered Phantom Eye HALE demonstrator aircraft has arrived at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Centre for assembly and preparations for flight tests.
Canadian Company Buys Commercial Rights for SkyTug from Lockheed Martin
Aviation Capital Enterprises, Inc. of Canada has entered into an exclusive contractual agreement with Lockheed Martin to design, develop, build, flight test and Federal Aviation Administration certify a family of hybrid airship. Based on Lockheed Martin’s P-791, a fully functional manned flight demonstrator, the commercial 20 ton variant is called SkyTug.
Structural Proof Testing of X-47B Completed Successfully
X-47B AV-2 Undergoes Proof Load Test Photo: Norhrop Grumman
Following a rigorous, five-week series of structural proof tests of the jet’s airframe, the US Navy /Northrop Grumman test team have proven that the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System will be able to withstand all of the structural stresses and strains associated with takeoff, flight and landing – including those uniquely linked with landing or taking off from the moving, pitching deck of an aircraft carrier.
India’s Lakshya Target Flies Low
© ADE
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation announced that it has conducted low-altitude trials (down to 82ft – 25m) with its Lakshya-2 unmanned aerial target.
Iran Reveals Unmanned Flying Saucer
Iran's Unmanned Flying Tea Cup
The official Iranian news service, the Fars News Agency has announced that the Islamic Republic has built an unmanned flying saucer. Quote from the release:
Cassidian’s Ram-Air Cargo Parachute System is a UAS – Official Certification
Cassidian ParaLander - A UAS by Any Other Name
The ParaLander ram-air cargo parachute system, developed and produced by Cassidian, has been approved for operational deployment by the Bundeswehr Technical Centre (WTD) 61 in cooperation with Cassidian in Manching. ParaLander was classified as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) following extensive flight testing.