Science Applications International Corporation announced it was awarded a prime contract by the United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) to provide Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Ground Control Station (GCS) and Combined Operations Center (Combined Ops Ctr) support. Continue reading
Canadian Frigate’s Farewell to ScanEagle After 7 Month Deployment
In late August, HMCS Charlottetown wraps up a seven-month deployment and bids farewell to the ScanEagle unmanned aircraft detachment that shared the flight deck with Osprey, the Halifax-class frigate’s CH-124 Sea King helicopter. Continue reading
TE Connectivity Nanominiature Connectors Offer Critical Size and Weight Savings for Rugged Environments
Nano-miniature connectors from TE Connectivity combine appealing size and weight with desired performance attributes such as high reliability, low contact resistance and wide operation temperature range, making them among the smallest and toughest connectors available to designers. Continue reading
Rheinmetall Airborne Systems Tactical Hybrid UAS
Rheinmetall Airborne Systems GmbH has announced details of the completely new, bi-hybrid tactical Unmanned Aircraft System that we revealed last week. The airborne system, currently operating under the project name TU-150 *, unifies fixed-wing with VTOL characteristics and is being developed in close cooperation with the Swiss UAV AG. Continue reading
Supersonic Flying Wing Gets $100K NASA Development Funding
An aircraft that resembles a four-point ninja star could go into supersonic mode by simply turning 90 degrees in midair. The unusual “flying wing” concept has won $100,000 in NASA funding to trying becoming a reality for future passenger jet travel. Continue reading
German Air Force Wants Armed UAS
The head of Germany’s Air Force called for Berlin to buy controversial missile-armed Predators for future conflicts. Continue reading
Thought-Controlled Quadcopter
Researchers at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China, have developed a quadcopter that can be controlled by thought alone. The idea is to give people with impaired motor abilities a new avenue for interaction. Continue reading
EASA Publishes Notice of Proposed Amendment 2012-10
On 21 August 2012 EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) made NPA-2012-10 “Transposition of Amendment 43 to Annex 2 to the Chicago Convention on remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) into common rules of the air” available for public consultation on its website. Continue reading