Washington has vetoed any further sales of Israeli-made unmanned air vehicles to Russia. For several months Russian companies have contacted Israeli manufacturers in an attempt to reach joint venture agreements. However after checking with the Israeli defence ministry about the potential of formalising any such pact, it became obvious the US administration would be very strongly opposed, and would veto any export license. Further discussions have been halted as a result. Continue reading
Category Archives: News
AUVSI Study of FAA Exemptions Published
The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) has released an interactive analysis that finds 38 types of business operations have been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fly unmanned aircraft systems commercially in the National Airspace System (NAS). According to the report that analyzed more than 3,000 FAA exemptions, aerial photography received the most, followed by real estate and aerial inspection. The report also finds that exemptions have been approved in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Monaco Gets Complete Civil Drone Protection System
Cambridge based radar technology company Aveillant has announced the sale of its Gamekeeper drone detection radar to provide security and privacy over Monaco. As part of a strategic partnership with JCPX Development, the system will be installed at a site in the principality later this year as the core element of JCPX’s comprehensive counter-UAV solution, which as well as the radar element includes high resolution cameras and radio jamming devices.
6,000 Ton Ice Breaker
USS Hartford (SSN-768) surfaces near Ice Camp Sargo during ICEX 2016 in the Arctic Circle. Continue reading
USAF Global Strike Command Seeks Interceptor UAS
The US Air Force unit charged with guarding a nuclear arsenal is searching for mini-drones designed to electronically dogfight other mini-drones. Continue reading
Festo’s Balloon-Like Drone Swallow Objects for Delivery
German-based robotics company Festo unveiled a new flying robot that looks like a giant, blown-up representation of Saturn with its balloon like shape and ring of propellers. The drone can detect objects and fly autonomously, but the most interesting part about it is how it grabs items – it pretty much swallows them whole and then pushes them back out. Continue reading
DARPA XS-1 Program Enters Phase 2
In an era of declining budgets and adversaries’ evolving capabilities, quick, affordable and routine access to space is increasingly critical for both national and economic security. Current satellite launch systems, however, require scheduling years in advance for an extremely limited inventory of available slots. Moreover, launches often cost hundreds of millions of dollars each, due in large part to the massive amounts of dedicated infrastructure and large number of personnel required. DARPA created its Experimental Spaceplane (XS-1) program to help overcome these challenges and create a new paradigm for more routine, responsive and affordable space operations, reducing the time to get capabilities to space.
US Army Successfully Fires Stinger from New Launcher
The U.S. Army successfully fired a Stinger missile from its newest launch platform, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida on March 23. The missile was fired as part of a demonstration of the Army’s new Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-Intercept platform’s multi-mission launcher.