The BAE Systems Taranis unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator has made its maiden flight and is currently conducting initial flight trials, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed in written statement submitted to the UK parliament’s defence select committee. Continue reading
Australia’s CASA Warns Bushfire UAS Operators of Potential Fines
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is warning anyone caught flying unapproved UAS over fire affected areas in New South Wales could be fined. It says that there have been two incidents in the past week of people operating UAS over fires in Lithgow and the Blue Mountains. CASA says the UAS flights are putting firefighting responses at risk. Continue reading
US Air Force Predator/Reaper Programme Accumulates 2M Flight Hours
The U.S. Air Force’s MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft accumulated 2 million flight hours Oct. 22, not only marking a significant milestone, but also demonstrating the evolution of the programme. Continue reading
Iran’s New Suicide UAS held Together with Tape
Iran TV has recently showed video of a modified Mohajer suicide UAS. Closer inspection reveals that it appears to be held together with plastic packing tape, particularly in the nose area. Continue reading
AeroVironment Unveils Pocket DDL Secure Video and Data Receiver for UAS
AeroVironment has unveiled its new Pocket DDL secure digital video and data receiver at the 2013 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition. The four-ounce device enables remote viewing of video and data from AeroVironment small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) as well as from helicopters, airplanes, other unmanned aircraft and ground robots equipped with the company’s Digital Data Link. Continue reading
Iran Presents ScanEagle Clone to Russian Military
In an attempt to prove its ability to reverse-engineer captured American UAS, Iran has presented a functional copycat model of the US ScanEagle to a Russian military delegation visiting Tehran. Continue reading
Improved Gray Eagle Flies Over 45 Hours Non-Stop
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. announced the successful completion of the first of two planned U.S. Army endurance demonstration flights with its Improved Gray Eagle (IGE) aircraft. IGE, a next-generation derivative of the combat-proven Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), lifted off from GA-ASI’s El Mirage Flight Operations Facility in Adelanto, Calif., at 6:56 a.m. on October 11thand landed 45.3 hours later at 4:16 a.m. on October 13th.
Aerial Anarchist Appeals $10K FAA Fine for Reckless Commercial UAS Flight
Raphael Pirker’s model-airplane-sized UAS darted around buildings, zoomed over a hospital heliport and buzzed passersby to shoot a promotional video. Continue reading