an independent online news service for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems world
UAV Turbines, Inc. , a pioneer of microturbine technology, announced the inaugural flight of its Monarch 5 engine, a first-of-its-kind microturbine propulsion system, at Griffiss International Airport. This new turboprop technology is engineered to provide mid-sized commercial and military unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) with a reliable, efficient, safe, heavy-fuel propulsion system. Continue reading
Once a novelty, drones have become standard military equipment around the world. 
In The Drone Databook, a new study just released , the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College presents an encyclopaedic catalogue of military drone inventories, units, bases and test sites, training academies, research and development programs, operational experiences, and exports, showing that at least 95 countries now maintain active military drone programs, a 58 percent increase over a decade ago, and that there are likely at least 21,000 military drones in operation around the globe. Continue reading
The United States Postal Service (Postal Service or USPS) is investigating the feasibility of utilizing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones as delivery vehicles for mail as an integrated part of its vehicle delivery fleet, as well as to provide image and other data collection services. Continue reading
FLIR Systems, Inc. has announced the FLIR MUVE C360, the industry’s first multi-gas detector specifically built for unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Continue reading
AirMap, a global airspace intelligence platform for the drone economy, has announced that it has acquired Hangar Technology, a drone workflow automation platform for enterprises. The acquisition continues AirMap’s strategy of extending open, connected, and automated airspace management solutions to the entire drone economy and expands Hangar’s reach to new international markets and industry applications. Continue reading
Raytheon Company will deliver a prototype high-power microwave system to be deployed to troops overseas under a U.S. Air Force contract. Troops will use the HPM system to destroy hostile drones. Continue reading
On September 14, Yemen’s Houthi militants claimed responsibility for an attack on crucial Saudi Arabian oil facilities in Buqayq and Khurais, which was carried out using a number of suicide drones (allegedly 18) and 7 cruise missiles. The exact area(s) from which the strikes were delivered still remains unknown (Interfax, September 18). And some strong evidence actually points more directly to Iran Continue reading
As a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers seeks to ban Chinese drone purchases by federal agencies, new research from DRONERESPONDERS – the world’s leading non-profit organization supporting public safety UAS – examines the perspectives of America’s first responders operating foreign-made, small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). Continue reading