Avionics maker Rockwell Collins reveals that it has won a broad system-level contract on the US Air Force’s $86 million Blue Devil Block 2 airship programme, the company’s first “nose to tail” command and control win in the unmanned aircraft systems sector.
Category Archives: Lighter Than Air
Airships Are Back in Fashion
In recent years, airships have once again become a major force in aviation. The Pentagon has gone especially blimp-crazy, pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into advanced — and massive — surveillance airships that can stay in the sky way longer than any unmanned aircraft. Here is a review of some of the new generation by Wired’s Danger Room:
Lockheed Martin High Altitude Long Endurance-Demonstrator Launch Video
Lockheed Martin just posted this video of the launch the first-of-its kind High Altitude Long Endurance-Demonstrator on July 27, 2011, from the historic Goodyear Akron Airdock*. The U.S. Army launched its new $150 million airship on Wednesday only to watch it come down in some Pennsylvania woods just hours later.
Raytheon’s JLENS Aerostat Successfully Completes Endurance Test
Raytheon Company‘s aerostat system – Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensors (JLENS) – recently completed a successful endurance test.
Lockheed Martin Unmanned Airship Down on Test Flight
An unmanned, remote controlled airship, launched from Akron, Ohio, crash landed Wednesday morning, just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
World Surveillance Group Continues Argus One Tests
World Surveillance Group Inc. has announced that it has completed additional testing of its Argus One UAV in Easton, Maryland in preparation for the airship’s flight testing and demonstration at the U.S. Army’s proving ground facility in Yuma, Arizona.
Aerostat and Shadow Test Joint Tactical Radio Systems
Persistent Surveillance System at Camp Julien, Afghanistan
Aerostat blimps and Shadow Unmanned Aircraft Systems configured with Joint Tactical Radio Systems, or JTRS, have been flying above the desert terrain at White Sands Missile Range, N.M, during the Army’s Network Integration Evaluation. Continue reading
World Surveillance Group Inc. (ex Sanswire) Gets Funding from Space Florida
World Surveillance Group Inc. (formerly Sanswire) has announced that it was awarded a $200,000 contract from Space Florida to create a Performance Data Package in connection with the flight testing of the Argus One at the U.S. Army’s proving ground facility in Yuma, Arizona in May/June 2011.