Unmanned aircraft system (UAS) designers at Navmar Applied Sciences Corp. in Warminster, Pa., will upgrade their TigerShark medium-sized UAS with electro-optical sensor payload and airframe improvements under terms of a $44.7 million U.S. Navy contract announced late last week.
Category Archives: Military UAS
MQ-9 Reaper Extended-Range Variant First Flight
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ MQ-9 Reaper extended-range variant took to the skies for the first time on Feb. 12, company spokeswoman Kimberly Kasitz told the Daily Report. This configuration features two external fuel pods to increase the remotely piloted aircraft’s endurance. Continue reading
Guardian, Heron and Hermes 900 Compete for Canada’s Arctic Mission
Canada’s military wants its next unmanned aircraft system to be capable of dropping search-and-rescue supplies in the Arctic and in other areas as it looks to expand UAS roles into activities formerly conducted by manned platforms. Canada plans to spend between CAN $1 billion (US $998 million) and $1.5 billion on a new fleet of UAS. Continue reading
Poland Abandons Decision to Replace Strike Fighters by UAS
Warsaw is backtracking on its decision to withdraw 32 Sukhoi Su-22 strike fighters from service by 2015, and replace them with armed unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak confirmed recently that the 32 Sukhoi-22s stationed at Swidwin will remain in service for at least 3 years, or even 10. Continue reading
Israel Overtakes American UAS Exports
U.S. manufacturers including General Atomics, which makes the Predator, can only sell to a few countries because of tight export restrictions. The controls give rival UAS makers from countries such as Israel and China a chance to win more business in the growing global market for unmanned aircraft systems, which one group forecasts to more than double in the next decade. Continue reading
Second Northrop Grumman-built MQ-8C Fire Scout Completes First Flight
Northrop Grumman Corporation and the U.S. Navy successfully flew the second MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter for the first time. Conducted at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, California, the flight will allow the team to ramp up testing efforts to prepare the system for operations. Continue reading
Schiebel Camcopter S-100 – Wins Contract With the Italian Navy
The Italian Navy has selected the CAMCOPTER S-100 UAS (Unmanned Air System) to provide support for its fleet, making it the first European Navy that has S-100 in operational use. Continue reading
IAI Unveils Super Heron – Heavy Fuel Unmanned Aircraft System
Israel Aerospace Industries‘ (IAI) revealed its new Super Heron heavy fuel Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) during a special ceremony held at the IAI chalet at the Singapore Air Show. Continue reading