UAS VISION
an independent online news service for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems world
Boeing was awarded on April 8 a $12,355,455 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract for additional Mid-Wave Infrared UAS intelligence reconnaissance surveillance services in for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Work is expected to be completed in May 2011. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity.
Source: United States Department of Defense (DoD)
The Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division, China Lake, CA has ordered 4 Dual Bay, Block D ScanEagle Upgrade kits from Insitu, Inc., which it identifies as “the only vendor able to produce and distribute these parts which have been extensively tested to ensure the structural and aerodynamic integrity during launch, recovery, and flight operations of the UAS.
Source: FedBizOpps.Gov
Photo: Cpl Steve Follows RAF. Cown Copyright/MOD 2011
The RAF’s Reapers have reached a landmark after clocking up 20,000 operational flying hours over Afghanistan.
The Finnish Defence Forces are in the process of testing four different UAS in Northern Finland as part of the organised competitive bidding process. The final four are apparently: Aeronautics Defense Systems Orbiter 2; BlueBird SpyLite, Elbit Systems/Patria Skylark LE and WB FlyEye (Poland). Continue reading
An $86.2 million contract award last month reveals that the US Air Force will seek to prove if airships can replace fixed-wing aircraft on some surveillance missions over Afghanistan.
Israel Aerospace Industries is offering its electric tethered observation platform (ETOP) to Latin America for tactical use from ground vehicles.
Global Hawk RQ-4B Block 40 configured for NATO AGS. Photo: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman recently submitted its final proposal for the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) core capability – a trans-Atlantic cooperation that will meet the security challenges of the 21st century. The NATO AGS includes an air segment consisting of six Block 40 Global Hawks that will be missionized to meet NATO requirements.
