General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, has been awarded a $163,212,869 modification (P00119) to contract W58RGZ-13-C-0109 for MQ-1C Gray Eagle extended range supplemental production hardware. Continue reading
Category Archives: Military UAS
The First Drone Strike – in 1944
Navy officer Delmar Fahrney was among the first visionaries to realize that remotely piloted aircraft could be used to deliver ordnance without putting soldiers at risk. Fahrney was instrumental in creating three Special Task Air Groups (STAGs) to deploy drones in the Pacific Theater. Continue reading
China’s CH-5 Live-Fire Trial with New Precision Weapon
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has successfully integrated and launched a new precision guided missile (PGM) on its Cai Hong 5 (Rainbow 5, or CH-5) strike-capable, medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (MALE UAV), Jane’s sources have confirmed. Continue reading
China’s Tengoen Unveils Armed UAVs
Tengoen 10 m-long TB001
Chinese company Tengoen unveiled a series of armed reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at the 14th China–ASEAN Expo in Nanning from 12 to 15 September, including two fixed-wing and two vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAVs. Continue reading
Israel Grounds Skylark Fleet After Two New Crashes
An IDF soldier from the Artillery Corps launches an Elbit Skylark drone, known in the IDF as a Sky Rider, on January 21, 2013. (Cpl. Zev Marmorstein/Israel Defense Forces)
Two small IDF drones crashed in the West Bank on Monday, the latest Israeli unmanned aircraft to go down in recent months, for as yet unclear reasons, the army said. Continue reading
UK Protector to Get Sovereign Upgrade Capability
YBC02, the second prototype SkyGuardian air vehicle for non-US markets
A sovereign upgrade capability for the Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) new Protector unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is a vital part of the project to renew the service’s fleet of unmanned systems. Continue reading
Insitu Gets $9.8M US Navy ScanEagle Contract
Insitu Inc., Bingen, Washington, is being awarded a $9,830,523 firm-fixed-price contract to provide unmanned aircraft systems intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance services in support of maritime operations, including operations and maintenance of the ScanEagle unmanned aircraft systems and real-time electro-optical imagery and infrared imagery. Continue reading
Islamic State: UK Military Could Honour Drone Pilots
Military drone pilots fighting so-called Islamic State could be awarded medals, the UK defence secretary has said. Sir Michael Fallon said there would be a review of how servicemen and women were recognised for contributions to UK operations “outside the battle space”. Continue reading