Despite recently acquiring the GA-ASI Reaper from the U.S., the French Air Force has extended the service of its predecessor UAS, the Harfang, until at least the end of 2017. The Harfang UAS consists of IAI Heron 1 UAS that are equipped with a communications and control system designed by Airbus Defence & Space (previously EADS Cassidian) in France. Continue reading
Category Archives: Military UAS
Rafael Unveils Hovering Maoz for Infantry Use
Rafael has released details of a small, hovering tactical intelligence-gathering system that could be supplied to infantry soldiers. The plan is to equip many of the soldiers in an infantry unit with the micro hovering system that will serve as “eyes over the hill”. The “Maoz” is carried in a small canister stowed in the personal gear of an infantry soldier. After mission completion it can be returned to the canister for further use.
US Marine Corps Shifts Money from Shadow to Finance Blackjack Engine Upgrade
The US Marine Corps (USMC) has requested that the US Congress allow it to shift USD18.75 million from its RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to its RQ-21 Blackjack UAV programme in order to extend the latter’s range.
US Air Force UAS Team
In this USAir Force video, a Predator team discusses their various functions and how the team works together. Continue reading
French Harfang Completes Command Handover Tests
A French Air Force-led team has demonstrated the mid-flight handover of the command and control of a Mali-based Harfang to the aircraft’s base in Cognac, France, during an hour-long demonstration on 17 June.
UK Royal Navy Completes First Flight of ScanEagle UAS
Just 7 months after the Ministry of Defence ordered the system from Boeing Defence UK, ScanEagle took off from HMS Somerset in the Gulf. The system, which can be launched by a pneumatic catapult from Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels, is unarmed and used for real-time intelligence-gathering and reconnaissance only.
Global Hawk First Flight from Misawa
The RQ-4 Global Hawk made its first operational flight out of Misawa Air Base on June 6. The flight marked two milestones: the first time an RQ-4 mission has flown out of Japan, and the first operational mission flown out of a jointly-used civilian and military airfield. Continue reading
Can Europe Ever Build a Workable UAS ?
There’s great interest in Europe developing a homegrown UAS-building programme “to add reconnaissance and strike capability at lesser cost and risk to service members.”