The guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) conducted testing of an unmanned aircraft system during a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX). RQ-20A Puma (Block II) is the second iteration of the all-environment unmanned aircraft models and is used in situations with a greater need for maneuverability, such as maritime interdiction and counter-piracy operations.
Category Archives: Military UAS
General Atomics Gets $47M US Army Contract for Gray Eagle Improvements
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. was awarded a $47,499,986 modification to undefinitized contract W58RGZ-13-C-0109 for an improved Gray Eagle engineering change proposal applicable to 19 aircraft, four lots of ground support equipment, and one lot of unique initial spares.
Insitu in Middle East Talks
Institu currently has “between 12 and 15 active pursuits right now in the Middle East region,” Mark Russell, the company’s business development manager told reporters. Each potential sale consists of six Institu ScanEagle surveillance UAS and four Institu Interceptor UAS. Continue reading
UK Awards Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk 3 Contract
The U.K. Ministry of Defence has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to support the Desert Hawk 3 programme and establish the small unmanned aerial system (UAS) as a Core Defence Capability. Continue reading
Thales Launches Modular Watchkeeper X
Thales’ new modular Watchkeeper X system reflects a growing need for high-end military-standard Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability to wider markets.
Fire Scout Makes 11 Hour Long-Range Flight
The MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter has made an 11-hour, long-range flight. During an endurance demonstration from Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, the Fire Scout flew 150 miles and 11 hours on a planned 10-hour flight, and still had an hour’s fuel in reserve, according to a Northrop Grumman announcement. Continue reading
First USAF Operational Fielding of MQ-9 Reaper ER
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. announced that its Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper Extended Range (Reaper ER) RPA fleet has achieved a historic milestone with the first operational fielding of Reaper ER by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) last month.
TR-X: New High-Altitude Jet from the Skunk Works
The Lockheed Martin Skunk Works has revealed plans for a next-generation, high-altitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platform that could replace the U-2 and Global Hawk from 2025. The company has launched an internally-funded study of a stealthy jet designated the TR-X that might also carry alternative payloads such as a high-energy laser, or for electronic warfare. Lockheed Martin (LM) believes that a U.S. requirement for the TR-X could emerge within the next 18 months.