Iran has developed an ‘improved’ variant of its Shahed-129 unmanned aerial vehicle, which was displayed by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) for the first time during a rally in mid-February to mark the anniversary of the Islamic revolution in 1979.
Smart Grid-Independent Drone Battery Charging System
H3 Dynamics has unveiled DRONEBOX, developed by one of the three H3 Dynamics Group entities (HUS Unmanned Systems), a revolutionary system that converges professional drone-enabled service activities with the Industrial Internet of Things. Continue reading
Northrop Demonstrates Global Hawk Payload Adapter
Two flights in February with a Senior Year Electro-Optical Reconnaissance System (SYERS)-2 intelligence gathering sensor strapped to a Block 30 Global Hawk were the first demonstrations by Northrop Grumman of its Universal Payload Adapter – a move toward creating one fleet of the unmanned aircraft to carry any sensor the US Air Force needs.
Shark Hunting UAVs in Australia
High-Tech UAVs developed by Australia’s first astronaut and a philanthropist whose friend was killed by a shark are to patrol NSW’s coast, spotting great whites and other man-eaters. Continue reading
Fifty UAVs Guard Russian Nuclear Missile Assets
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.
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
French Air Force Explores Fuel Cell Technology
EnergyOr Technologies Inc., a leader in advanced PEM fuel cell systems for aerospace applications, recently signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with the French Air Force’s Centre d’ Expertise Aérienne Militaire (CEAM). This JDA will serve as the foundation to advance development of optimized long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms powered by EnergyOr’s fuel cell system technology.