In an effort to cut costs and avoid civilian casualties, manufacturers are developing small ‘smart bombs,’ drones that resemble model planes and microscopic crystals to tag enemy targets. Under mounting pressure to keep its massive budget in check, the Pentagon is looking to cheaper, smaller weapons to wage war in the 21st century.
Category Archives: Military UAS
Hand-Held Device to Control UAS from Front Line
A small Phoenix-based company is using federal grants to develop technology that will allow U.S. Army soldiers to control UAS for resupply missions, surveillance and zeroing in on targets. Handheld controllers will use Kutta Technologies Inc.’s software so frontline troops can control UAS in a way similar to video gaming.
Raytheon Gets $83M Contract for Unmanned Decoys
The Raytheon Co. Missile Systems segment in Tucson, Arizona., received the go-ahead to start lot 4 low-rate initial production of the Miniature Air Launched Decoy (MALD) under terms of an $83 million U.S. Air Force contract announced last Friday.
UAS to Replace AWACS in DoD Air Force Strategy
The U.S. Defense Department’s 30-year Aircraft Procurement Plan for the Navy and Air Force unleashed a few surprises, such as the possibility of replacing the Air Force’s E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) and RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft with unmanned systems.
Lockheed Martin Repelled Cyber Attack
Lockheed Martin detected a significant and tenacious attack on its information systems network, the company said in a statement late Saturday night. The cyber-assault took place on May 21, and quick action by its security team successfully repelled the attack.
Chandler May Wins AAI ‘Above & Beyond’ Award
ChandlerMay, a supplier of C2 System development, ground control stations and mobile C2 computing solutions, has been recognized by AAI Corporation for its continued contribution to the RQ-7B Shadow 200 tactical unmanned aircraft system (TUAS) programme.
Insitu Gets $83M Support Contract for ScanEagle
Insitu Incorporated is being awarded a more than $83 million contract for operations and maintenance services in support of government-owned ScanEagle UAS.
US Forces ‘Empire Challenge’ Promotes Intelligence Interoperability
Firebird optionally piloted systems, RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft, ScanEagle unmanned aircraft systems, and Desert Hawk unmanned aircraft systemsare among the technologies being tested during U.S. Joint Forces Command’s Empire Challenge 2011 demonstration.