US Air Force leaders outlined what the next 25 years for remotely piloted aircraft will look like in the RPA Vector. Continue reading
Category Archives: Military UAS
US Government Accountability Office Report Suggests Better Management of RPA Crews
The US Air Force has managed its remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) pilots using some strategic human-capital approaches, such as planning for the different levels of experience that it needs in these pilots. However, it continues to face challenges. High-performing organizations manage human capital to identify the right number of personnel and to target the right sources to fill personnel needs. Continue reading
X-47B Completes Night Flights
The unmanned X-47B conducts its first night flight April 10 over Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. Night flights are the next incremental step in developing the operations concept for more routine UAS flight activity. Continue reading
US Navy Global Hawk Strays into Canadian Airspace
A U.S. Navy Global Hawk wandered into Canadian-controlled airspace this week off the coast of NovaScotia. It was over the ocean when it crossed into the Canadian zone about 230 kilometres southwest of Yarmouth. Continue reading
US Navy Triton Programme Advances without “Sense-and-Avoid” System
The U.S. Navy’s MQ-4C Triton unmanned maritime surveillance aircraft is progressing through its flight-test programme, but still without a “sense-and-avoid” system that would protect against collisions with other aircraft. The Naval Air Systems Command (Navair) programme office said it is taking a “layered approach” to meeting the requirement until it finds a technology solution. Continue reading
US Marines Demonstrate Autonomous Aerial Cargo/Utility System (AACUS)
Autonomy options for the Marines have taken a major step forward, as officials at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) announced today two successful helicopter flight demonstrations with unmanned flight capability at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., part of the Autonomous Aerial Cargo/Utility System (AACUS) programme. Continue reading
US Air Force Report Details Future UAS Plans
The US Air Force next month will finally reach the target number of 65 combat air patrols for its Predator and Reaper fleet, while the administration seeks to cut back on its drone operations in theatre. The Air Force’s long-term outlook for its remotely piloted aircraft fleet was released last Friday, and includes insights into how future generations of unmanned systems will take on some missions exclusively flown by manned aircraft today, along with the current state of drone operations. Continue reading
RQ-4 Global Hawk Expands Satellite Communications Capability
The U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS) has completed a series of ground and air demonstrations at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., expanding the adaptability of the Global Hawk system to use an additional Satellite Communications (SATCOM) link to improve the transfer of mission data. Continue reading