The announcement that testing of GBU-38 JDAM guided-bombs delivered using the American hunter-killer MQ-9 Reaper UAV got underway this month is a reminder that drone warfare is getting much cheaper and far more precise. At US$20,000 each, the GBU-38 costs just a fraction of the $110,000 AGM-114 Hellfire missile which the MQ-9 currently delivers, with the additional strength that it can be used in inclement weather. Continue reading
Ship Agency to use Drones for Ship Deliveries
Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) is launching a pilot program to study the use of unmanned aircraft systems for delivering supplies to ocean vessels. Continue reading
The Drone World Expo 2017 Interviews – Joelle Coretti
In the first of a series of interviews with key figures involved in the success of Drone World Expo, we start out with the Event Director herself, Joelle Coretti.
Joelle has been with JD Events since 2002 and has developed and managed all marketing and media relations for JD Events’ portfolio of conferences and trade shows. Currently, Joelle is focused on audience development, strategic partnerships and conference programming for Drone World Expo and the launch of Commercial Drone Week. Continue reading
Camcopter Completes Successful Flight Trials in Norway
Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER S-100 was presented to the Norwegian Coastguard, Royal Norwegian Navy, Royal Norwegian Airforce, Norwegian Coastal Administration, Police Directorate as well as other Norwegian authorities during demanding trials at Andøya Test Center (ATC). Continue reading
Russia to Create Drone Flight Management System
Russia will create a system to control flights of small unmanned aerial systems (UAS), including small quadcopters, Mikhail Kirechko, the chief constructor of the system, developed by the Russian Space Systems holding, which belongs to the state-run Roscosmos space corporation, told Sputnik in an interview. Continue reading
US Marines Get Tools to Build Drones on the Battlefield
On the battlefield, U.S. Marines have long had a reputation for resourcefulness, a talent for adapting quickly and decisively to the unexpected. So try to imagine a future where Marines, using a laptop and a 3-D printer, are able to build and deploy a drone customized to support that day’s mission. Continue reading
L-3 Gets $14M Predator Training Contract
L-3 Link Simulation and Training, Arlington, Texas, has been awarded a $13,946,359 modification (P00071) to previously awarded contract FA8621-13-C-6323 for Predator Mission Aircrew Training System (PMATS) Blue Box High Definition (BBHD) retrofit upgrade. Continue reading
9 Takeaways from AUVSI’s Xponential 2017
Every year, AUVSI organizes the biggest drone conference in the world – the perfect place to sense where this emerging technology is and where it’s heading. This year the industry met in Dallas, Texas. Here are some of my takeaways. Continue reading