General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) used its second full-scale MQ-9B to conduct successful lightning tests at its facility in Poway, California last month. The test was conducted jointly between engineers from GA-ASI and NTS Pittsfield, a recognized leader in the development of sophisticated lightning protection systems for the aerospace industry. Continue reading
US Senate Panel Approves Counter-Drone Authorities for DHS, Justice Departments
A bill that would give legal authorities to the U.S. departments of Homeland Security and Justice to counter threats posed by malicious drones in limited instances domestically was approved by a Senate panel Wednesday, but there might be jurisdictional disputes that prevent the legislation from getting to the Senate floor as quickly as hoped. Continue reading
Ball Aerospace Remote Sensing Technology Detects Methane Leaks During Mobile Monitoring
Ball Aerospace demonstrated its methane remote sensing technology flying on board a piloted aircraft during the Stanford University and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Mobile Monitoring Challenge, resulting in high-resolution, geo-referenced imagery of simulated methane leaks in near real-time. Continue reading
Aevum’s New Rocket-Drone Airplane Duo Could Launch Satellites Every 3 Hours
A space launch every 3 hours may soon be possible using rockets carried on a fully autonomous unmanned airplane, a new startup company suggests. Alabama-based startup Aevum aims to per mission, using an air-launch system called Ravn. Continue reading
Delair Appoints Canadian Reseller
Delair, a global supplier of commercial drone solutions, announced an agreement with Cansel, a full-service provider of surveying and mapping solutions to the Canadian market. Cansel becomes the first Canadian reseller of Delair’s innovative Delair UX 11 long-range drone, and the two companies plan to rapidly expand the agreement to include the entire Delair product line. Continue reading
NASA Picks Black Swift to Develop UAS for Atmospheric Observations of Venus
Black Swift Technologies (BST), a specialized engineering firm known for its purpose-built scientific aerial platforms, announced it has been awarded a NASA contract to develop an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to perform upper atmospheric observations of the planet Venus. Continue reading
French Army to Receive Patroller in 2019
The arrival of Safran’s Patroller tactical unmanned aerial system next year will provide the French army with significantly upgraded capabilities and increased performance with a lower logistics footprint for reconnaissance operations and other missions, industry and military officials said June 12. Continue reading
Drone-Based Vaccine Deliveries in Vanuatu
UNICEF has published, on behalf of the Ministry of Health of Vanuatu, an invitation to tender for the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) as a quick, reliable, and effective mode of transportation to deliver vaccines from main health facilities to dispensaries, aid post, and mobile vaccination teams. Continue reading







