A Jetstream aircraft became the first to fly “unmanned” across UK shared airspace last month. Continue reading
Insitu Pacific Delivers ScanEagle UAS for the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force
Insitu Pacific, the Australia-based subsidiary of Insitu Inc., announced that it has delivered a ScanEagle Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) to its partner Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) of Japan. This delivery means that the ScanEagle UAS is now ready for operational use by the Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces (JGSDF).
Israeli Heron Ditched in Mediterranean
The Israeli Air Force ditched one of its Israel Aerospace Industries Heron unmanned aircraft into the Mediterranean Sea off the nation’s coast on 11 May, after an engine problem was encountered by its operators. Continue reading
Egypt to Sign Anka Contract in June
Turkish Aerospace Industries expects to finalise a contract with a first export customer for its Anka unmanned aircraft during June, with Egypt due to sign for 10 of the aircraft. Continue reading
Unmanned Cargo Helicopters Prove Worth in Afghanistan, Leading Way to Civilian Uses
In January a small group of U.S. Marines at a remote base near the village of Shurakay in northern Helmand province was running low on ammunition after fighting fiercely for days. The road in was too dangerous for a resupply convoy, and there were so many Taliban fighters that a helicopter crew trying to fly in would have been at serious risk. Continue reading
Europe Considers ‘Black’ Armed MALE UAS Project
Frustrated by apparent U.S. ambivalence in granting authority to integrate weapons onto its Reaper aircraft, the Italian Air Force is looking at possible alternatives, including a yet-to-be-announced “black programme” to create a European medium-altitude/long-endurance (MALE) armed UAS. Continue reading
NASA’s $500K Aircraft Operations Challenge
NASA has selected a Dayton non-profit organization to manage the only unmanned aircraft systems contest in the nation to help make UAS safe to fly in civilian airspace, the space agency announced last week. Continue reading
Iran Ramps Up UAS Development Programme
Last week Iran unveiled its latest UAS dubbed “Hamaseh”. This unmanned aircraft follows a classic twin-boom tail design, pioneered by IAI’s Scout and Tadiran Mastiff in the 1980s. Continue reading