SHIELD Aviation, Inc. has announced the granting of a Category 3 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Interim Flight Clearance (IFC) for the ARES Block C UAS by Naval Air System Command (NAVAIR) Patuxent River MD AIR – 4.0P. The ARES UAS IFC supports Navy public aircraft operations of ARES Block C UAS within restricted and warning areas of the U.S. National airspace.
Category Archives: Military UAS
MQ-1B Predator Accident Report Released
An oil leak led to an MQ-1 B Predator crash near Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan, Apr. 26, 2014, according to an Air Combat Command abbreviated accident investigation board report just released.
AeroVironment Gets $27M US Army Raven and Puma Spares Contracts
AeroVironment, Inc. has announced it received three firm fixed-price orders from the United States Army totaling $27,178,075 for RQ-11B Raven and RQ-20A Puma AE unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) spare parts. The company received two orders on August 29, 2014 and one on September 18, 2014. Delivery is anticipated within 12 months. Continue reading
German Defence Minister wants to Revive Euro Hawk
German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen wants to revive the high-altitude reconnaissance drone Euro Hawk after the government backed away from plans to buy some last year, a German newspaper said on Saturday.
General Atomics Gets $53M US Air Force Support Contracts
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., Poway, California, has been awarded a $38,907,316 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price order (00057) under basic ordering agreement contract FA8620-10-G-3038 for 62 ground data terminals, 50 MQ-9 C-Bands diplexer kits, spares and support equipment. Continue reading
Defense Department Questions US Air Force MQ-9 Procurement Plans
The Defense Department Inspector General said the US Air Force has not justified its plan to procure 401 MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft, and “risks spending” some $8.8 billion on 46 Reapers “it may not need,” according to a report from the Defense Department Inspector General, released Sept. 30. But, the Air Force says that report is based on old data. “The Air Force is only buying 346 aircraft, 55 fewer than the 401 figure contained in the report. And, we’ve only received about half that number,” said Lt. Gen. Robert Otto, Air Force deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, in an Oct. 2 release.
Northrop Grumman Gets $306M Global Hawk Operations Contract
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, has been awarded a $306,133,056 definitive contract for Global Hawk contractor logistic services and sustainment III. Contractor will provide contractor logistics support of the Global Hawk fielded weapon system, to include providing material and services for planning, operations and maintenance support.
Iran’s Sadegh UCAV Armed with Air-to-Air Missiles
During this year’s Sacred Defense Week, Iran publicly unveiled the Sadegh-1 (“Allegiant-1”) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). In appearance and layout, Sadegh-1 is similar to the proven, reliable Mohajer-4 (“Migrant-4”) reconnaissance UAV, suggesting manufacture by Ghods Aviation Industry. Continue reading