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
Category Archives: Military UAS
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.
AgustaWestland Completes UK MoD Rotary Wing Unmanned Aerial System Concept Demonstration
Finmeccanica-AgustaWestland has announced that it has completed the U.K. Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Rotary Wing Unmanned Aerial System (RWUAS) Capability Concept Demonstration (CCD) contract it was awarded in 2013, including 27 hours of demonstration flying and 22 automatic simulated deck landings using its SW-4 RUAS Solo technology demonstrator. Continue reading
Indian Government Approves $400M Armed Heron TP Contract
The Indian government has quietly approved the purchase of 10 missile-armed UAS from Israel — a crucial acquisition that will enhance India’s cross-border military strike capability. The $400-million proposal for buying armed Heron TP UAS from Israel was cleared last week.
Russia Developing Multirole Heavy UAS
Russia is developing a heavy drone that could be used both as reconnaissance and combat aircraft, one of its designers said in an interview Wednesday. Continue reading