UAS VISION
an independent online news service for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems world
X-47B Landing at Edwards Air Force Base
Less than a month after the first flight of the U.S. Navy’s X-47B UCAS-Demonstration aircraft, flight test engineers from Northrop Grumman and the Navy have successfully completed the aircraft’s second and third flights. The flights, both conducted at Edwards Air Force Base, mark the beginning of the envelope expansion process to prove that the tailless aircraft can perform safely over a broad range of altitudes, air speeds and operating weights.
Northrop Grumman’s Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System has completed a critical design review with the U.S. Navy.
Proteus Approaches Global Hawk
Northrop Grumman Corporation, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and NASA Dryden Flight Research Center have just released pictures of a key risk reduction flight test in which Northrop Grumman’s Proteus test aircraft and a NASA Global Hawk flew as close as 40 feet apart at an altitude of 45,000 feet, an industry-setting record.
UAV Factory in Latvia has announced that it has upgraded the options for the Penguin B small UAS, extending its range and capabilities. With a new on-board generator system, the Penguin B can now constantly supply 80W of dual-voltage power to payloads.
Northrop Grumman’s MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (VTUAV) achieved a significant development milestone in November when it flew its first test flights from the U.S. Navy’s littoral combat ship, USS Freedom (LCS-1).
Kaman Aerospace Corporation and the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) recently made aviation history with the Unmanned K-MAX helicopter by successfully completing multiple guided airdrops via sling load at 10,000 ft above sea level.
Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investments Company (ADASI) and L-3 Communications WESCAM have announced the first flight of a CAMCOPTER® S-100 UAS with the WESCAM MX-10 EO/IR payload installed in the United Arab Emirates. After brief installation and integration activities by the ADASI team, the MX-10 completed three proving flights at ADASI’s test range in the UAE.
AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems announced that it has completed a fee-for-service operation on behalf of the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren Division. NSWC Dahlgren has been chartered to conduct UAS flights in conjunction with tests of various types of ground radars and capture and analyze those results.