DARPA’s new Experimental Spaceplane (XS-1) programme seeks to lower satellite launch costs by developing a reusable hypersonic unmanned vehicle with costs, operation and reliability similar to traditional aircraft. XS-1 envisions that a reusable first stage would fly to hypersonic speeds at a suborbital altitude. Continue reading
Iran to Deploy New UAS in Upcoming Wargames
Iranian Army Ground Force will make use of its newest Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) during forthcoming military drills, a senior commander announced. Continue reading
Iran Unveils New UAS
The Iranian Ground Force unveiled the country’s latest home-made UAS named ‘Yasir’ on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at a ceremony attended by Commander of the Iranian Army Ground Force Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan. Continue reading
China UAS Competition Practices Simulated Carrier Landings
Chinese media reports indicate that the winner of the 2nd AVIC-Cup International UAV Innovation Grand Prix (UAVGP) in the fixed-wing category this week was fielded by a group of students representing Shenyang Aerospace University in Liaoning Province. Continue reading
NASA Demonstrates Unmanned Aircraft Systems at Edwards Air Force Base
Source: KTLA5
Raytheon AI3 Missile Intercepts its First UAS Target
In a first-of-its-kind test for Raytheon Company‘s Accelerated Improved Intercept Initiative system, AI3 destroyed an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) in flight. The intercept was part of the second guided test flights for the AI3 programme and follows its first in-flight defeat of a 107mm rocket earlier in the test series. Continue reading
DARPA Commissions Enhanced Version of Legged Infantry-Support Robot
A US military project to develop a donkey-sized legged robot to help infantry warfighters haul ammunition, food, and other gear through rugged terrain is moving ahead with a research contract this week. Continue reading
Predator Supports Firefighters in Rim Fire Disaster Relief Efforts
(click to enlarge)
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. announced that a MQ-1 Predator RPA successfully supported firefighters in their efforts to contain California’s Rim Fire, marking another instance of using Predator-class RPA for disaster relief in the United States. Continue reading