The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee conducted a hearing on Wednesday on the current state of research and development in the drone industry. The goal was to discuss with industry advocates how best to safely integrate this new class of flying craft into our national airspace.
UAS and India to Discuss Local Production of Raven
The US and India are discussing possible opportunities for collaborative production programs, Reuters reported. Two of the programmes under discussion are the local assembly of RQ-11B mini UAVs and integration and manufacturing of mission packages designed for C-130J tactical transport planes, to be used for emergency response.
Drug Smuggling Hexacopter Crashes Near Mexico Border
A witness called Tijuana Municipal Police at 9:50 p.m. Tuesday after watching something fall from the sky and land in the Pueblo Amigo complex parking lot, just southeast of the San Ysidro Border Crossing, authorities said. Continue reading
New Carriage and Release Systems for MQ-9 Reaper
Exelis recently received a follow-on contract valued at more than $27 million from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. to continue producing and supplying the BRU-71/A ejector rack for the Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) system. Continue reading
Spitfire Mk.I – Battle of France
In 1936, before the first flight of the prototype, the Air Ministry placed an order for 310 Spitfires. However, in spite of the promises made by the Chairman of Vickers-Armstrongs (the parent company of Supermarine) that the company would be able to deliver Spitfire at a rate of five a week, it soon became clear that this would not happen. Continue reading
Norway Wants UAS to aid Search and Rescue
As Norway’s polar waters open to development, that country’s lawmakers are becoming increasingly convinced that drones could serve as a potentially life-saving tool in the event of a maritime accident. Members of the Storting, Norway’s national assembly, gathered representatives from the industry last week to discuss how drones take over operations currently performed by manned aircraft.
800 Entries for UAE Drones for Good Award
The UAE Drones for Good Award, launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, during the second Government Summit last February, has received more than 800 local, Arab and international entries. Continue reading
Mexico Deploys UAS to Protect Endangered Porpoise
Mexico has begun testing unmanned aircraft that could help it save the critically endangered vaquita marina, the world’s smallest porpoise, which is threatened by illegal fishing in the upper Sea of Cortez.