Around 50 unmanned aerial vehicles are protecting the assets of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces (SMF), responsible for the country’s nuclear arsenal, according to the Russian defense ministry.
Category Archives: News
FAA Considers Risk-Based Approach for Micro UAVs
The US Federal Aviation Administration is exploring the introduction of new regulations for micro-unmanned aerial vehicle operations, which could potentially move away from weight classifications, similar to rules being proposed in Europe.
Facebook to Test Internet UAV this Year
Facebook will begin test flights of its solar-powered Internet UAV later this year, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The Aquila aircraft has the wingspan of a Boeing 737 but weighs about the same as a car. Its wings are covered in solar panels that provide enough energy to keep it aloft for three to six months at an altitude of 60,000 to 90,000 feet, well above aircraft. Continue reading
Predator B Extended Range First Flight with Long Wings
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. has announced the successful first flight of Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper Extended Range (ER) Long Wing, retrofitted with improved long-endurance wings with greater internal fuel capacity and additional hard points for carrying external stores. The flight occurred on February 18 at GA-ASI’s Gray Butte Flight Test Facility in Palmdale, Calif., on a test aircraft.
FAA Announces Effort to Expand the Safe Integration of Unmanned Aircraft
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is establishing an aviation rulemaking committee with industry stakeholders to develop recommendations for a regulatory framework that would allow certain UAS to be operated over people who are not directly involved in the operation of the aircraft. Continue reading
Kratos Gets $18.7M US Air Force Target Contract
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. announced that its subsidiary, Composite Engineering, Inc. (CEi), has received a $18,674,455 million award for the Lot 12 option on the previously awarded Air Force Subscale Aerial Target (AFSAT) Lots 11-13 production contract. Continue reading
Turkish Mountain Commando Units use DJI Phantom
Chiefs of Staff of Tunceli, Siirt, Bingöl, Nevsehir 4th Commando Brigade Command in Tunceli shared their photos of the Commando troops in recent operations held in Igdir. Continue reading
Sunset of the Predator
The US Air Force intends—once again—to divest itself of the MQ-1 Predator and transition to an all-MQ-9 Reaper fleet of medium-altitude remotely piloted aircraft, according to Lt. Gen. Mike Holmes, the Air Force deputy chief of staff for plans and requirements. Continue reading