US Air Force leaders outlined what the next 25 years for remotely piloted aircraft will look like in the RPA Vector. Continue reading
Machine Guns Versus Drones
For anyone who has never shot a machine gun outside of Call of Duty, it looks like it would be easy to shoot down small UAS. The vital components of the plane like the engine, battery, receiver, fuel tank, etc. are very small. The main body of the plane is pretty tough and can take numerous hits without affecting it. Continue reading
US Government Accountability Office Report Suggests Better Management of RPA Crews
The US Air Force has managed its remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) pilots using some strategic human-capital approaches, such as planning for the different levels of experience that it needs in these pilots. However, it continues to face challenges. High-performing organizations manage human capital to identify the right number of personnel and to target the right sources to fill personnel needs. Continue reading
DJI Programmes Phantom with No-Fly Zones Around 350 Airports
In announcing what it calls “No Fly Zones” safety modifications, China-based DJI Innovations will modify software that provides satellite GPS guidance for its highly popular ‘Phantom’ series. Continue reading
GoFor is the Uber for UAS
Gofor was created as a concept to explore what an on-demand drone service would look like for normal people. While the service is obviously not real, the finished product is packaged together so well that it almost seems possible. Continue reading
nEUROn Flies Formation with Rafale and Falcon 7X
On March 20, 2014, Dassault Aviation organized a formation flight of the nEUROn unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) with a Rafale fighter and a Falcon 7X business jet. This was the first time in the world that a combat UAS flew in formation with other aircraft. The entire operation lasted 1 hour and 50 minutes and took the patrol out over the Mediterranean to a range of several hundred kilometers. Continue reading
Turkey’s Anka to Get New Engine
Turkish national engine specialist Tusas Turkish Engine Industries (TEI), which agreed to produce prototype engines for the country’s first indigenous UAS, has entered a partnership with GE Aviation and now anticipates export sales. Continue reading
Greece Issues RFP for UAS for Immigration Control
The Greek government in a pilot project is expected to use UAS in order to be able to oversee the country’s sea border in the Aegean sea — which is considered one of the main avenues for immigration into Europe. Greece’ s Ministry of Marine and Aegean Sea has already issued a competition call for a UAS which will be handed to the Greek authorities by the end of June. Continue reading