On December 4,2018, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) demonstrated a complete MQ-9B mission without the use of a Launch and Recovery Element (LRE) Ground Control Station (GCS). Continue reading
Category Archives: Military UAS
GA-ASI and Raytheon Prove New Digital Sensors
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and Raytheon Deutschland GmbH based in Freising, Germany, have successfully proven the performance of a recently developed Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) sensor called the Advanced Radar Detection System (ARDS). The payload was integrated in a wing-mounted pod and test-flown on an MQ-9 RPAS. Continue reading
New Company for US Army’s Elite Aviation Regiment
For the first time in nearly a decade, the U.S. Army’s elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment has added a new unit to its ranks. The creation of the additional separate company comes as the Regiment, also known as the Night Stalkers, which is best known for providing premier special operations helicopter support for U.S. special operators, is expanding its drone capabilities. Continue reading
US Army Uses New “Macbook”-Sized Tablet to Operate Multiple-Small Drones
The US Army is refining new small drone combat tactics to accommodate emerging technologies such as AI-enabled command and control, higher resolution sensors, faster computer processing, multi-drone control “tablets” and streamlined multi-drone interoperability. Continue reading
US GAO Recommends Improvements to RPAS Operator Career Development
The Government Accountability Office Report on Air Force Pilot Promotion Rates recommends that the US Air Force review its oversight process for managing the non-operational staff positions, including those for RPA pilots, to identify opportunities to increase efficiencies. DOD concurred with this recommendation.
German Crews Start Heron TP Training
German air force personnel have begun training on their new Heron TP unmanned aerial vehicles at Tel Nof airbase in Israel, ahead of the planned delivery of the first example by the end of 2019. A contract for the delivery of the TP—developed by Israel Aerospace Systems—to replace Germany’s Heron 1 variants was signed in June 2018, and now the first crews to train on the type have traveled to Israel for eight weeks of training. Continue reading
US Army Receives first Nano-UAS
The US Army has received approximately 60 systems nano-unmanned aerial systems as part of the Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) Program. Soldier Sensors and Lasers (SSL), Rock Island Arsenal – Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (RIA-JMTC), completed the first shipment of a new unmanned aerial system to the Warfighter. Continue reading
Iran’s New Drone is a Converted 1940s US Jet Trainer
On Jan. 30, 2019, Iranian Air Force unveiled the Khodkar, or “automatic,” at an exhibition in Tehran to mark the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution that toppled the Shah in 1979. Continue reading