The US Army recently issued a request for information for small guided munitions that can be outfitted to rotary wing and unmanned aerial systems.
Category Archives: Military UAS
USAF Shows ‘Arsenal Plane’ Concept at Air Warfare Symposium
The US Air Force has offered an artist’s impression of the Pentagon’s “arsenal plane” concept in a video presented by service secretary Deborah Lee James at the Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Florida. Continue reading
Iran has a New Redesigned Shahed-129
Iran has developed an ‘improved’ variant of its Shahed-129 unmanned aerial vehicle, which was displayed by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) for the first time during a rally in mid-February to mark the anniversary of the Islamic revolution in 1979.
Northrop Demonstrates Global Hawk Payload Adapter
Two flights in February with a Senior Year Electro-Optical Reconnaissance System (SYERS)-2 intelligence gathering sensor strapped to a Block 30 Global Hawk were the first demonstrations by Northrop Grumman of its Universal Payload Adapter – a move toward creating one fleet of the unmanned aircraft to carry any sensor the US Air Force needs.
Fifty UAVs Guard Russian Nuclear Missile Assets
Around 50 unmanned aerial vehicles are protecting the assets of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces (SMF), responsible for the country’s nuclear arsenal, according to the Russian defense ministry.
Predator B Extended Range First Flight with Long Wings
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. has announced the successful first flight of Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper Extended Range (ER) Long Wing, retrofitted with improved long-endurance wings with greater internal fuel capacity and additional hard points for carrying external stores. The flight occurred on February 18 at GA-ASI’s Gray Butte Flight Test Facility in Palmdale, Calif., on a test aircraft.
Sunset of the Predator
The US Air Force intends—once again—to divest itself of the MQ-1 Predator and transition to an all-MQ-9 Reaper fleet of medium-altitude remotely piloted aircraft, according to Lt. Gen. Mike Holmes, the Air Force deputy chief of staff for plans and requirements. Continue reading
Afghan Army to Fly First Unmanned Aircraft in March
The Afghan military is expected to field its first specialised surveillance drones as soon as March, a U.S. commander in Kabul said recently, as the nation slowly expands its own air force.