2013 was an especially successful year for Elbit Systems’ unmanned aircraft systems operations, where the Hermes family, particularly the most advanced of the UAS family – the Hermes 900, reported noteworthy achievements. Continue reading
Category Archives: Military UAS
France, Britain to Push Work on Armed UAS at Jan. 31 Summit
British and French defence companies will carry out a two-year study on building armed UAS for their countries’ military, according to an agreement to be signed Jan. 31. The memorandum of understanding to develop a Predator-type UAS is one of several that will be signed at a French-British summit at Brize Norton airbase near Oxford in southern England, French officials said. Continue reading
Fire Scout MQ-8B Spotted in Malta
Naval aviation enthusiasts in Malta had a treat last week when they spotted a Fire Scout MQ-8B unmanned helicopter on the flight deck of the US frigate Simpson in Grand Harbour. Continue reading
US Air Force to Send Two Global Hawks to Japan
Global Hawks, America’s largest unmanned surveillance aircraft, will fly out of Japan for the first time this summer, the Air Force says. Continue reading
Morocco Now Has French Harfangs
International media sources have reported recently that Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) has acquired the three ‘Harfang’ unmanned aircraft systems retired by the French Air Force after several years of service in Afghanistan. The Harfang, which is based on the Israeli IAI/Malat Heron-I system and deployed with the ‘Armee de’Lair’ in 2008, was delivered by EADS (Now Airbus Defense & Space), under the Eagle I cooperative development with Israel Aerospace Industries. Continue reading
Global Hawk v U2 – Debate Returns for Fiscal 2015
Less than two years after proposing termination and premature mothballing of the new Block 30 version—once eyed as a replacement for the venerable, high-flying U-2 reconnaissance aircraft—the Pentagon leadership is toying with a complete reversal on its position as it works through options for the fiscal 2015 budget proposal. Continue reading
UK Royal Navy To Deploy ScanEagle UAS
The ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system (UAS) capability, commissioned by UK Royal Navy in June 2013,was set to go operational last week. Continue reading
Sagem Gets French Army Contract for 5 Sperwer UAS
Sagem (Safran) recorded a new order at the end of December 2013 from French defence procurement agency DGA for five additional Sperwer tactical UAS (including two on option), to be deployed by the French army. They will be delivered in 2015.