The Namibian government has deployed three Falcon Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in conservancies to support the anti-poaching operations by the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) as part of a new ‘aggressive’ strategy to combat an upsurge in the poaching of elephants and rhinos.
UAS Could Limit Fertilizer Flow into Lake Erie
A toxic algae bloom in Lake Erie this summer left the city of Toledo, Ohio, without drinking water for three days. Now environmentalists and farmers are working to prevent future blooms by evaluating fertilizer use in hopes of cutting excess runoff. In the aftermath of the water quality emergency that plagued Lake Erie last month, some residents who live along its shores are calling for solutions. And they are looking outward, to the countryside.
Polish UAV Producers Target Domestic Sales
Poland’s MSPO defence show in Kielce saw several local companies exhibit new unmanned air systems (UAS) for the first time, as they pursue emerging requirements with the nation’s armed forces.
US Air Force Thunderbirds History Video
This video recaps the history of the US Air Force Thunderbirds. The Air Force Thunderbirds performed its first public flyover of 2014 at the opening of the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 1.
UAS Examine Quake Damage in Napa valley
Researchers from UC San Diego’s structural engineering department are using drones to capture unique views of the earthquake damage to Napa’s historic landmarks. Continue reading
City of Cape Town to Test UAS
Last week, JP Smith, the City of Cape Town’s Mayco Member for Safety and Security, said in a meeting with the police that the City aims to test drones within the next two months. He said that different departments within the City – Metro Police, Disaster Management, Fire and Rescue and Engineering departments – have had to spend money on hiring helicopters for aerial surveillance. The acquisition of a drone (for around R600 000) could be more cost-effective. Continue reading
General Atomics Gets $41M Reaper Software Contract
General Atomics – Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, has been awarded a $40,906,190 cost-plus-fixed-fee order (0033) on contract FA8620-10-G-3038 for development of requirements description documents for the MQ-9 Reaper Block 1 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) and the MQ-9 Reaper Block 5 UAS with the 904.6.0 system/software release. Continue reading
Northrop Grumman Aims X-47B at UK
Northrop Grumman is pitching the unmanned combat air vehicle technology derived from its US Navy-sponsored X-47B demonstrator to the UK, to feed into its Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme. Continue reading