Northrop Grumman is focusing efforts to save the Global Hawk unmanned aircraft programme on reversing the U.S. Air Force’s intent to retire its young fleet of multi-sensor RQ-4B Block 30s in favour of keeping in service the aircraft they were intended to replace, the Lockheed U-2. Continue reading
Category Archives: Military UAS
X-47B Performs First Ever Carrier Touch-and-Go
The Navy’s X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator (UCAS-D) has begun touch-and-go landing operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) May 17. Continue reading
China’s Lijian “Sharp Sword” UCAV Spotted Taxiing
China’s first jet-powered stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), the Lijian or “Sharp Sword,” was recently spotted undergoing taxiing tests in China. Continue reading
France gets Pentagon Approval to buy Reapers
France has received approval from the U.S. Pentagon to buy two Reapers for intelligence gathering, and now only needs backing from Congress, Le Monde newspaper said on Saturday. Continue reading
Raytheon Delivers Jamming Payloads for Gray Eagle
Raytheon Company has delivered two electronic attack payloads in support of the U.S. Army’s Networked Electronic Warfare, Remotely Operated (NERO) system. The payloads were delivered as part of a contract awarded by the U.S. Navy NAVSEA-Crane in 2012. Continue reading
Israeli Heron Ditched in Mediterranean
The Israeli Air Force ditched one of its Israel Aerospace Industries Heron unmanned aircraft into the Mediterranean Sea off the nation’s coast on 11 May, after an engine problem was encountered by its operators. Continue reading
Egypt to Sign Anka Contract in June
Turkish Aerospace Industries expects to finalise a contract with a first export customer for its Anka unmanned aircraft during June, with Egypt due to sign for 10 of the aircraft. Continue reading
Unmanned Cargo Helicopters Prove Worth in Afghanistan, Leading Way to Civilian Uses
In January a small group of U.S. Marines at a remote base near the village of Shurakay in northern Helmand province was running low on ammunition after fighting fiercely for days. The road in was too dangerous for a resupply convoy, and there were so many Taliban fighters that a helicopter crew trying to fly in would have been at serious risk. Continue reading