In recent years, airships have once again become a major force in aviation. The Pentagon has gone especially blimp-crazy, pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into advanced — and massive — surveillance airships that can stay in the sky way longer than any unmanned aircraft. Here is a review of some of the new generation by Wired’s Danger Room:
Mercury Delivers More Radar Subsystems to Raytheon
Mercury Computer Systems is delivering its radar subsystems to Raytheon for Patriot Air and Missile Defence System upgrades. The upgrades support Raytheon’s recently announced contracts for System upgrades for Taiwan and Saudi Arabia.
EOS Develops Laser-Sintering for UAS Parts
EOS, the world-leading manufacturer of laser-sintering systems, is developing UAV parts and promoting the use of laser-sintering as a competitive business strategy. Laser-sintering involves no tooling, and very little machining or fixturing, making it highly cost-effective and speedy for the low production runs of most UAVs.
Global Hawk Set to Replace U-2
Despite a spate of delays, second-guessing and cost overruns, the Global Hawk is once again on track to replace one of America’s most noted aircraft: the U-2 spy plane, famed for its role in the cold war and more recently Afghanistan.
Oregon State University and Economic Development Agency Partner on UAS Technologies For Natural Resource Management.
Economic Development for Central Oregon and Oregon State University announced that they have signed an agreement to develop technologies related to unmanned aerial systems that will benefit OSU’s academic and research programmes, particularly natural resource management.
Composite Engineering to Provide Unmanned Aerial Target Drones to Singapore
Composite Engineering Inc. (CEi), announced that it has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract with the Government of the Republic of Singapore. The contract was established to supply High Speed Aerial Target Drones to the Ministry of Defence of Singapore.
WASP: The Linux-Powered Unmanned Aircraft That Cracks Wi-Fi & GSM Networks
Highlight at The Black Hat Security Conference and DEFCON this year is an unmanned aircraft called the Wireless Aerial Surveillance Platform, or WASP. [Not to be confused with the WASP missile -Ed.]
US Navy Simulated Unmanned Landing Tests Employ UCAS-D Technology
A U.S. Navy F/A-18D surrogate aircraft emulated an autonomous, unmanned aircraft as it performed several approaches to arrested landings on the deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) on 2 July.