Indra’s Pelican rotary wing UAS has received the Special Airworthiness Certificate (CAEE) by the Spanish State Aviation Safety Agency, a body within the Ministry of Public Works, to perform integration, test and demo flights.
US Navy Gives Boeing $12 M Contract Extension
Boeing was awarded on April 8 a $12,355,455 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract for additional Mid-Wave Infrared UAS intelligence reconnaissance surveillance services in for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Work is expected to be completed in May 2011. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity.
Source: United States Department of Defense (DoD)
MIT : Mini-UAS to Navigate Dense Urban and Natural Environments
A multidisciplinary university research initiative (MURI) led by MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory Associate Professor, Russ Tedrake, will bring together a diverse group of researchers to develop a bird-sized UAS, thanks to an Office of Naval Research Grant. The vehicle will be capable of navigating both urban and forest environments using vision-based control.
US Navy Orders ScanEagle Upgrade Kits from Insitu
The Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division, China Lake, CA has ordered 4 Dual Bay, Block D ScanEagle Upgrade kits from Insitu, Inc., which it identifies as “the only vendor able to produce and distribute these parts which have been extensively tested to ensure the structural and aerodynamic integrity during launch, recovery, and flight operations of the UAS.
Source: FedBizOpps.Gov
Elbit Sues Republic of Georgia for $100 M
Elbit Systems Ltd. announced yesterday, that it has filed a lawsuit in the High Court of Justice of the United Kingdom against the Government of Georgia for an amount of approximately $100 million.
RAF Reapers Reach Landmark 20,000 Flight Hours over Afghanistan
Photo: Cpl Steve Follows RAF. Cown Copyright/MOD 2011
The RAF’s Reapers have reached a landmark after clocking up 20,000 operational flying hours over Afghanistan.
NASA – Next Generation Aircraft Design Using Revolutionary Materials
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has just published a fascinating presentation by Dr. Charles E. Harris, P.E., Director of the Research Directorate at the NASA Langley Research Center, on the possibilities for future aircraft design unleashed by the use of revolutionary new materials.
India Wants UAS to Study Cyclones and Tropical Storms
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has planned to introduce UAS for research of tropical storm and cyclone genesis, reports The Times of India. These UAS would be able to enter inside the cyclonic circulation to study them, which is not possible at present.