The UAE was seeking armed Predators from the US in 2004, secret US diplomatic cables revealed. Although UAE officials claimed they needed them “to control [the UAE`s] long land and maritime borders”, it is not altogether clear from the cables and can only be speculated why the Emirati authorities needed armed unmanned aircraft and who the real target for such long-range weapons systems might be.
ISAF Unmanned Aircraft Crash in Afghanistan
An International Security Assistance Force remotely piloted aircraft crashed in eastern Afghanistan yesterday.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Predator B Provides Video of Mississippi Flood Zones
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is using its Predator B unmanned aircraft system to provide streaming video of the flood zones along the Mississippi River. Continue reading
Camcopter Monitors Power Cables in Austria
Scheibel’s Camcopter S-100 recently performed high-voltage power line monitoring flights for several days in Austria. At an average airspeed of 30 knots (55 km/h) also the poles, surge arresters and isolators were inspected.
Controversy Over ParcAberporth Test Centre
It seems that the locals do not share the official view about the developments at ParcAberporth, as this reader’s letter to the local newspaper suggests: “Reports about the CAA allowing ACP to enable UAS to fly over a large swathe of Wales cannot pass without comment.
Boeing Gets $480,000 UCLASS Study Contract from US Navy
Boeing has received a $480,000 study contract from the U.S. Navy to support pre-Milestone A activities including development of a concept of operations, an analysis of alternatives, and an investigation of potential material solutions for the Navy’s Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) programme.
TAI Launches Unmanned Armed Helicopter
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has launched a small, armed, unmanned helicopter which it hopes could prove attractive to Middle Eastern countries as an attractive alternative to the products being produced in Israel.
Pakistan Develops Civilian UAS
In Pakistan’s commercial hub, a Pakistani is developing his own UAS despite security challenges arising from the current political climate and the public anger over the US use of the unmanned aircraft. Located in a narrow industrial lane in Karachi is the 90,000 square-foot research facility called Integrated Dynamics.