General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is developing a new attritable jet-powered unmanned air vehicle (UAV). Called SparrowHawk, it is intended to be air-launched from and air-recoverable by the US Air Force’s (USAF’s) MQ-9 Reaper. Continue reading
Category Archives: Military UAS
Turkish Army to Get Kamikaze Drones with Facial Recognition
Thirty upgraded KARGU (Autonomous Tactical Multi-Rotor Attack UAV) kamikaze drones developed by Turkish defense contractor Defense Technologies Engineering and Trade Inc. (STM) will join the Turkish Armed Forces’ inventory as of 2020 to take part in critical operations in the country’s east and along the Syrian border. Continue reading
Camcopter S-100 Completes Integration on French LHD
France’s Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) procurement agency has qualified the integration of Schiebel’s S-100 Camcopter rotary-wing unmanned aerial system (UAS) on board the French Navy’s Mistral-class amphibious assault (LHD) ship Dixmude . Continue reading
AeroVironment Gets $55M US Army Contract for Radio Frequency Modifications to Raven
AeroVironment, Inc. announced the U.S. Army awarded the company a firm-fixed-price contract on June 6, 2019 to begin radio frequency modifications on its currently deployed Raven. The initial base delivery order is $862,488, with potential contract options valued up to $55 million. Continue reading
US Marines Narrow List of Capabilities for Large UAS
Bell V-247 “Vigilant” Tiltrotor Unmanned Aerial System
The US Marine Corps has narrowed the list of requirements for its proposed large unmanned aerial system (UAS) and is teaming with Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on an unusual program to accelerate development of the technologies the UAS would need. Continue reading
US Navy Accepts First Hydrogen Powered UAS
Members of the NPS Acceptance Team pose with the HYCOPTER UAS during its acceptance flight on 25 October, 2019. (From L to R) Faculty Associate Gary Parker (SE), Assistant Professor Tony Pollman (SE), Academic Laboratory Engineer Rushen Dal (SE), NPS Students Lt. Col. Joseph Novak (ME) and LT Justin Laddusaw (ME)
The Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California took delivery of the Navy’s first ever hydrogen fuel cell powered rotary-wing unmanned aerial system (UAS) on 25 October 2019. Continue reading
Iran Downs Unidentified Drone Near Gulf Coast
Iran shot down an unidentified drone that “infiltrated” near Bandar-e Mahshahr port on the Gulf coast on Friday, Iranian media reported, after the downing of a US drone nearly triggered air strikes earlier this year. Continue reading
European MALE RPAS in Convergence Phase
Airbus and its partners aim to finalise the scope and price of the European Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS) in the coming weeks, ahead of a planned first prototype flight in early 2023. Continue reading