The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Atlantic (SSC Atlantic) call on innovators of every kind – scientists, engineers, citizen scientists and dreamers to collaborate on the UAVForge Challenge and win $100,000.
Category Archives: Business News
US Navy Issues $870M RFP for Small UAS
The US Navy has issued a request for proposal (RFP) worth up to $870 million for a small unmanned aircraft system to provide a bridge system between current capabilities and the 2014 entrance of the small tactical unmanned aerial system (STUAS)/tier II entry into service, projected to be 2013.
AME Unmanned Systems to Cut 20% of Workforce
After years of explosive growth, AME Unmanned Systems is cutting about 20 percent of its workforce in response to cuts in the U.S. defence budget and changes in its contracts.
Founded in 1999 by two Cal Poly graduates in a garage and on a shoestring budget, AeroMech grew to employ about 100 people and occupy about 78,000 square feet of space on Venture Drive. The firm makes unmanned aerial systems that range from hand-launched planes to its flagship Fury 1500, which has a 14.3-foot wingspan.
In 2009, Alabama defense contractor ChandlerMay acquired a controlling stake in AeroMech. In April, the parent firm installed a new CEO and changed AeroMech’s name to AME Unmanned Air Systems.A ChandlerMay spokesman confirmed that the company has “executed a restructuring to account for some contract changes with the U.S. government” but declined to say how large the employee cutbacks would be.
But a person familiar with the company told the Business Times that the layoffs will affect about 20 percent of AeroMech’s workforce, cutting the headcount from 100 to roughly 80. This person also said the affected employees would be eligible for rehiring if the firm wins new contracts.
Source: Pacific Coast Business Times
CybAero and Astrium Letter of Intent for Automatic Take-off and Landing Positioning Solution
CybAero AB, Sweden, and Astrium Satellites, part of the aerospace group EADS, have launched a partnership in the field of precise near-field navigation for automated UAS landing operations.
Italy: Selex Galileo Acquires UTRI
Italian company Selex Galileo reported it has acquired Unmanned Technologies Research Institute, a provider of mini-micro unmanned aircraft systems.
Kratos Buys Integral Systems for $225 M
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc is to buy rival Integral Systems Inc for $225 million in cash and stock to expand into the satellite signal monitoring segment .
Cassidian and TAI sign Talarion MoU at IDEF
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed yesterday at the 10th International Defence Industry Fair held in Istanbul between Cassidian on behalf of EADS Deutschland GmbH and Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. to establish a close collaboration in the Talarion programme.
Alenia Aeronautica Seeks Partner for NextGen MALE UAS
(c) Alenia Aeronautica
Alenia Aeronautica is looking for a partner to develop a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air system to rival the Franco-British venture announced earlier this year by BAE Systems and Dassault Aviation.