Unmanned

Cassidian boosts light UAV activity by buying SurveyCopter

Cassidian boosts light UAV activity by buying SurveyCopter

20-Oct-2011Source: Cassidian

Cassidian has acquired SurveyCopter in order to increase the synergies within its light UAV segment (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle – UAV). Created in 1996, SurveyCopter is a French defence company based in France and Switzerland. Cassidian and SurveyCopter are partners since 2003. Cassidian plans to launch a new industrial pole specifically dedicated to tactical UAVs and... Read more

Successful Unmanned Helicopter Test Flights from German Police Ship

Successful Unmanned Helicopter Test Flights from German Police Ship

17-Oct-2011Source: ESG

On 16 September ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH together with Swiss UAV AG and the Federal Police successfully conducted experimental flights with the Unmanned Mission Avionics Test Helicopter (UMAT) from a Federal Police ship in the Baltic Sea. With these flights, the companies continued their analyses and verifications on unmanned aircraft systems. The UMAT proved its... Read more

Raytheon’s Speed-of-Light Protection System can shield UAS

Raytheon’s Speed-of-Light Protection System can shield UAS

12-Oct-2011Source: Raytheon

Raytheon Company’s (NYSE: RTN) Common Infrared Counter Measures solution for U.S. Army helicopters is also ideal for protecting unmanned aircraft systems. At 15 pounds less than the Army’s requirement, Raytheon’s CIRCM system is lightweight enough for large UAS platforms. “These unmanned aircraft are widely deployed in today’s battlespace, and they are highly vulnerable to missile... Read more

Kiowa proves manned-unmanned capability at US Army test demo

Kiowa proves manned-unmanned capability at US Army test demo

11-Oct-2011Source: Bell

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT) today announced that its OH 58 Kiowa Warrior has successfully demonstrated  several ground breaking capabilities that will enable interoperability among  multiple aviation platforms, such as manned and unmanned vehicles. The exercise was conducted at the Manned Unmanned System Integration Capability (MUSIC) demonstration, sponsored by the U.S. Army... Read more

Unmanned K-Max wins award

Unmanned K-Max wins award

11-Oct-2011Source: Kaman

The Kaman Unmanned K-MAX cargo helicopter has received the Platinum Innovation Prize from the Connecticut Quality Improvement Award Partnership, Inc. The Unmanned K-MAX is an innovative helicopter that combines unique lift efficiency with the flexibility of programmable unmanned flight to handle a wide variety of military and civil missions. “Even in an uncertain economy, Kaman... Read more

Unmanned K-Max gets Afghanistan call-up

Unmanned K-Max gets Afghanistan call-up

6-Oct-2011Source: Kaman

The Marine Corps will deploy the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and Kaman [NASDAQ-GS: KAMN] unmanned K-MAX® to Afghanistan next month. The decision follows the successful completion of a five-day Quick Reaction Assessment for the U.S. Navy’s Cargo Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program. A formal report, released last week by Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force, confirmed that... Read more

Northrop Grumman awarded $18M for MQ-8B support

Northrop Grumman awarded $18M for MQ-8B support

4-Oct-2011Source: US DoD

Northrop Grumman Corp., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded an $18,650,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance services in support of the deployment of the MQ-8B vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle. Work will be performed in Afghanistan (90 percent) and Patuxent River, Maryland (10 percent), and is expected to be completed... Read more

MQ-8B Fire Scout flies on biofuel

MQ-8B Fire Scout flies on biofuel

3-Oct-2011Source: US Navy

The Navy reached a milestone in its quest to gain energy independence today, when an MQ-8B Fire Scout successfully flew the first unmanned biofueled flight at Webster Field in St. Inigoes, Md. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Directorate piloted the helicopter fueled with a combination of JP-5 aviation fuel and plant-based camelina. The biofuel blend... Read more

VTOL UAV Safety Manual launched for film ndustry

VTOL UAV Safety Manual launched for film ndustry

1-Oct-2011Source: Air Drone

Mundus Group, Inc.  subsidiary Air Drone’s Justin Chapman wrote in 2010 the FAA Manual for movie industry safety and standardization of operational regulations and compliance for UAV VTOL cinematography delivery systems. Justin Chapman has become well known in the RC Remote Controlled helicopter world — winning more than 50 RC helicopter contests. Mr. Chapman’s aerial... Read more

Northrop Grumman awarded $7.5M for MQ-8B updates

Northrop Grumman awarded $7.5M for MQ-8B updates

30-Sep-2011Source: US DoD

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Aerospace Systems Unmanned Systems, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $7,550,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-10-G-0003) for software sustainment services in support of the MQ-8B vertical take-off and landing tactical unmanned air vehicle. Services to be provided include analysis of engineering change proposals; development... Read more

BAE Systems and Cassidian support UV India 2011

BAE Systems and Cassidian support UV India 2011

22-Sep-2011Source: UV India

Shephard and the Indian Military Review invite you to the UV India 2011 exhibition and conference, to be held on 13-14 October at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi. With Shephards long history of producing UV events and IMR’s strong presence in India the event is attracting a distinguished level of speakers, exhibitors and visitors. BAE Systems and... Read more

MUSIC integrates unmanned and manned aircraft

MUSIC integrates unmanned and manned aircraft

18-Sep-2011Source: US Army

MICHAEL ARMY AIRFIELD, Utah — The Project Offices for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Apache Attack Helicopter and Armed Scout Helicopter conducted an exercise showcasing advancements made in aircraft interoperability, referred to as the Manned Unmanned System Integration Capability Exercise at Michael Army Airfield, Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, on Sept. 16. The MUSIC exercise is the largest... Read more

Newcomer Aerie offers long endurance UAV

Newcomer Aerie offers long endurance UAV

14-Sep-2011Source: Aerie

“We want to get in contact with customers that need a VTOL Long Endurance Aircraft for their purposes. Let’s talk about it.” Austrian “in foundation” company „AERIE“, announces its creation within the next weeks, as well as the release of its first VTOL Long Endurance product, the “SWIFT”. That will be followed by the “DIPTERON”,... Read more

QinetiQ and Northrop Grumman produce VTUAS solution for Royal Navy

QinetiQ and Northrop Grumman produce VTUAS solution for Royal Navy

14-Sep-2011Source: QinetiQ

Faced with lean budgets and an increasingly complex and dangerous defence and security environment, the UK urgently needs to be able to continue to produce clever, robust solutions for less money. One such area where an innovative, affordable solution may one day unseat more expensive technology programmes falls within the Royal Navy’s ability to provide... Read more

RCMP testing Draganflyer X6 drone

RCMP testing Draganflyer X6 drone

13-Sep-2011Source: BC Local News

RCMP are testing an aerial drone that can hover over crash sites and crime scenes to take photos or beam video back to officers on the ground.  (see full story)... Read more

UAS China 2011 is postponed

UAS China 2011 is postponed

12-Sep-2011Source: China Aviation Publishing & Media

China Aviation Publishing & Media Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC), and the organizer of the UAS China 2011 conference has informed UVS International, that due to an overload of work caused by various aviation related events in China, the decision has been taken to not hold the international UAS China... Read more

K-Max completes US Navy unmanned cargo assessment

K-Max completes US Navy unmanned cargo assessment

7-Sep-2011Source: Lockheed Martin

The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]-led unmanned K-MAX® team successfully completed a five-day Quick Reaction Assessment (QRA) for the U.S. Navy’s Cargo Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program. “The autonomous flying K-MAX is designed to resupply Marines on the battlefield and in remote locations,” said Roger Il Grande, director of Airborne Systems at Lockheed Martin Mission Systems... Read more

AeroVironment introduces Shrike VTOL UAV

AeroVironment introduces Shrike VTOL UAV

31-Aug-2011Source: AeroVironment

AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) today introduced its lightweight and man-portable Shrike VTOLâ„¢ unmanned aircraft system. In August 2008 AeroVironment announced the receipt of a contract from DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) to develop a portable, stealthy, persistent perch and stare (SP2S) unmanned aircraft system. Shrike VTOL represents the conclusion of this development effort. “With... Read more

AeroVironment looks to expand into VTOL

AeroVironment looks to expand into VTOL

26-Aug-2011Source: Flightglobal

Building upon its work on a DARPA program, AeroVironment said that it intends to release an unmanned vertical takeoff and landing system in the next three or four years (Full story)... Read more

Unmanned Systems companies AAI and AME form alliance

Unmanned Systems companies AAI and AME form alliance

22-Aug-2011Source: AAI

AME Unmanned Systems, a Chandler/May, Inc. company, and AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that the two companies have entered into a strategic alliance agreement regarding unmanned systems development. “AAI and Chandler/May have enjoyed a long, successful working relationship for several years,”... Read more

Aerovel’s Flexrotor UAV demonstrates transition between hover and wing-borne cruise

Aerovel’s Flexrotor UAV demonstrates transition between hover and wing-borne cruise

22-Aug-2011Source: Aerovel

On Friday Aerovel’s Flexrotor demonstrated transition between hover and wing-borne cruise, capabilities which allow it to combine VTOL with range of more than 3000 km and endurance exceeding a day and a half.  Aerovel’s president, Tad McGeer, explains that “transition requires a climb, pitch-over, dive, and zoom, so we entered the new regime with a... Read more

Lockheed Martin awarded up to $47M to develop Unmanned Autonomous Technologies

Lockheed Martin awarded up to $47M to develop Unmanned Autonomous Technologies

22-Aug-2011Source: Lockheed Martin

The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) a $47 million contract to develop, demonstrate and deliver autonomous technologies for unmanned air systems in support of in-theater unmanned cargo resupply missions. Under the contract, Lockheed Martin and Kaman Aerospace (NASDAQ GS: KAMN) will demonstrate intelligent autonomous technologies for unmanned aerial systems using the K-MAX helicopter platform. The Army’s... Read more

Northrop Grumman Fire Scout completes successful at-sea deployment

Northrop Grumman Fire Scout completes successful at-sea deployment

21-Aug-2011Source: Northrop Grumman

The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)-built MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff Unmanned Aerial Vehicle was credited with providing critical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) support to special operations forces and U.S. Navy anti-piracy actions during the system’s second at-sea deployment. Two Fire Scout air vehicles were deployed aboard the USS Halyburton (FFG 40) at the beginning of... Read more

Teal Group forecasts World UAV systems market to nearly double by 2020

Teal Group forecasts World UAV systems market to nearly double by 2020

21-Aug-2011Source: Teal Group

Teal Group Director, Corporate Analysis Philip Finnegan, will present this and other Teal Group UAV market findings, during the panel discussion on “Emerging Market Trends According to the Experts” taking place Friday morning, 10:30 AM to 12 Noon, 19 August, at the Walter Washington Convention Center. Other experts joining Mr. Finnegan on the “Emerging Market... Read more

Boeing demonstrates ‘swarm’ reconnaissance with UAVs

Boeing demonstrates ‘swarm’ reconnaissance with UAVs

21-Aug-2011Source: Boeing

Boeing announced the successful autonomous communications and operation of dissimilar unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in flight tests over the rugged terrain of eastern Oregon. The July 7-10 mission used two ScanEagles manufactured by Boeing subsidiary Insitu and one Procerus Unicorn from The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL). The UAVs communicated using a Mobile... Read more

Insitu introduces Inceptor UAV

Insitu introduces Inceptor UAV

19-Aug-2011Source: Insitu

Insitu Inc. announced that it has introduced the Inceptor small unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which will provide the public safety market with real-time video and stable, The short-range tactical rotorcraft system can be available when first responders need it. Inceptor’s compact size fits in the trunk of a car and is easy to launch and... Read more

Idaho Sheriff to use UAV helicopter to spot marijuana crops

Idaho Sheriff to use UAV helicopter to spot marijuana crops

12-Aug-2011Source: Times-News

Local resident Mike Shetler has volunteered the use of his radio-controlled helicopter, Twin Falls County Sheriff Tom Carter said.  Shetler said the battery-powered helicopter weighs about 7 pounds, can reach 130 mph, has a range of more than a mile and has a camera that can stream a live picture.  Shetler said volunteering the use... Read more

IAI to unveil Ghost UAV at AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems event

IAI to unveil Ghost UAV at AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems event

10-Aug-2011Source: IAI

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will present the GHOST, an innovative, small hovering unmanned platform at AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems North America , August 16-19, in Washington, DC. GHOST weighs approximately 4 kg (9 lbs), and provides real-time intelligence to ground forces operating in urban areas. GHOST is equipped with an automatic vertical takeoff & landing system... Read more

Cargo UAS tests to begin at Pax River

Cargo UAS tests to begin at Pax River

8-Jul-2011Source: US Navy

The Navy and Marine Corps’ plans to field a cargo unmanned aircraft system are moving forward as the first of two potential UAS helicopters landed at Pax River, July 1. The Navy and Marine Corps Multi-Mission Tactical Unmanned Air Systems program office (PMA-266) coordinated the arrival of Lockheed Martin’s KMAX helicopter, one of the systems... Read more

Schiebel makes inroads into Russian civil unmanned market

Schiebel makes inroads into Russian civil unmanned market

30-Jun-2011Source: Scheibel

OAO Gorizont (Russia) and Schiebel (Austria) have joined forces to deliver an Unmanned Air System (UAS) in Russia based on the famous and proven S-100 unmanned helicopter. One UAS will be soon in operational use for a government customer. The focus for the collaboration is the civil UAS market in Russia and the opportunities for... Read more

Sikorsky exploring unmanned role for Black Hawk

Sikorsky exploring unmanned role for Black Hawk

30-Jun-2011Source: Flightglobal

Sikorsky hopes to demonstrate an optionally piloted resupply mission using a fly-by-wire-equipped UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopter by the end of this year. (Full article)... Read more

Schiebel targets civil UV market with powerline demo

Schiebel targets civil UV market with powerline demo

28-Jun-2011Source: Schiebel

Schiebel understands that the unique capabilities of the CAMCOPTER® S-100 UAS provide a wide range of civil applications. The company expects to see the S-100 used in a variety of situations and for tasks previously unimaginable. The drone s outstanding performance in recent high-voltage power line inspections in Austria again demonstrated the S-100 s versatility.... Read more

UK CAA approves new segregated airspace for unmanned aircraft

UK CAA approves new segregated airspace for unmanned aircraft

27-Jun-2011Source: CAA

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has approved a request from the Welsh Government to establish additional segregated airspace in the vicinity of West Wales Airport and the area to the east of the airport. The new segregated airspace will be for the sole use of unmanned aircraft conducting flying operations from the West Wales... Read more

Indian Army close to releasing unmanned helicopter RFI

Indian Army close to releasing unmanned helicopter RFI

27-Jun-2011Source: Indian Army

The Army is moving closer to a decision on whether to invest in a new unmanned helicopter. The service expects to issue a “request for information” next week for a vertical-takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft, Army officials said during a June 23 conference call with reporters. As an interim step before it decides to... Read more

TAI launches an armed unmanned helicopter

TAI launches an armed unmanned helicopter

27-Jun-2011

Turkish Aerospace Industries has launched a small, armed, unmanned helicopter which it says could prove attractive to Middle Eastern countries as an attractive alternative to the products being produced in Israel.  Read More... Read more

Geocopter delivers its first GC-201 Rotorcraft UAV to NLR

Geocopter delivers its first GC-201 Rotorcraft UAV to NLR

27-Jun-2011Source: NLR

The Dutch Rotorcraft Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (R-UAV) manufacturer GEOCOPTER from the Netherlands officially delivered its first Light Unmanned Rotorcraft System, designated GC-201, to its launching customer and development partner: the National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR). The GC-201 is a versatile unmanned system, designed and built like a normal helicopter. It has received official CS-LURS Class 1... Read more

Camcopter S-100 integrates with new class of offshore patrol vessel

Camcopter S-100 integrates with new class of offshore patrol vessel

20-Jun-2011Source: Schiebel

Schiebel is extremely pleased to announce that it has partnered with French shipbuilder DCNS for the purpose of deploying its unrivalled and in-production CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS) onboard their new Gowind class of OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel), L ADROIT which was launched in May. The Gowind Class L’ADROIT, previously known as Hermes, has... Read more

Fire Scout supports operations in Afghanistan

Fire Scout supports operations in Afghanistan

17-Jun-2011Source: US Navy

The Navy’s Fire Scout is proving its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability during its first land-based deployment in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The Fire Scout, managed by Navy and Marine Corps Multi-Mission Tactical Unmanned Air Systems program office (PMA-266), deployed in late April to CENTCOM in response to a DoD ISR... Read more

Australian Farmfest event features unmanned agricultural helicopters

Australian Farmfest event features unmanned agricultural helicopters

16-Jun-2011Source: Stock & Land

Yamaha’s Liam Quigley  believes there is “a strong role” for the Rmax to be used anywhere for work that is “dull, dirty or dangerous” using a small spray boom to treat 7.7m wide swaths on each pass across a paddock.  See article... Read more

US DoD to spend $41.7 Billion on Unmanned Aerial Systems through 2016

US DoD to spend $41.7 Billion on Unmanned Aerial Systems through 2016

15-Jun-2011Source: G2 Solutions

A new research note from G2 Solutions (www.g2globalsolutions.com), “DoD UAS Forecasts, Programs and Initiatives,” is available. Report AB093 is a detailed 7-year U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) procurement and research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) analysis of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) spending. “We wanted to take a fresh look at DoD UAS spending, and the... Read more

Aragon pioneers Spain’s use of unmanned helicopters for firefighting

Aragon pioneers Spain’s use of unmanned helicopters for firefighting

14-Jun-2011Source: HeliHub.com

With helicopters widely used in Spain for firefighting, the autonomous community Aragon is the first to use unmanned helicopters to help fight fires.  Consisting of three provinces – Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel – Aragon is located in north eastern Spain and borders France to the north. Using two UAVs from local company INDA, Aragon has... Read more

Northrop Grumman to show MQ-8B Fire Scout at Paris Air Show

Northrop Grumman to show MQ-8B Fire Scout at Paris Air Show

3-Jun-2011Source: Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) will highlight its industry-leading global security capabilities at the Paris International Air Show, including unmanned aircraft systems, defence electronics and performance-based logistics. The 49th Paris International Air Show will take place at Le Bourget, Paris, from 20-26 June 2011. Northrop Grumman will participate in a series of media briefings during the... Read more

Milan transport police use unmanned helicopter to track copper thieves

Milan transport police use unmanned helicopter to track copper thieves

1-Jun-2011Source: Repubblica

In the home city of helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland, the police responsible for the local transport system “Green Line” are tracking copper thieves using a small unmanned helicopter... Read more

Boeing starts layoffs at A160T Hummingbird plant

Boeing starts layoffs at A160T Hummingbird plant

29-May-2011Source: HeliHub.com

Boeing has sent 60-day layoff notices to 21 workers at its plant in Irvine, a spokesman confirmed last Thursday.  These are the first of up to 160 jobs moving to Mesa, Arizona this year as the facilty closes in Irvine.  The company announced in August 2010 that they would be making this move due to... Read more

Selex Galileo acquires UTRI and reinforces its UAS capability

Selex Galileo acquires UTRI and reinforces its UAS capability

13-May-2011Source: Selex Galileo

SELEX Galileo, a Finmeccanica company and leader in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), is pleased to announce the acquisition of Italian technology firm UTRI (Unmanned Technologies Research Institute). UTRI provides innovative mini-micro UAS for defence and homeland security purposes. UTRI has been recognised at a European level for its excellence in unmanned technology. SELEX Galileo is... Read more

Largest Chinese unmanned helicopter makes first flight

Largest Chinese unmanned helicopter makes first flight

9-May-2011Source: HeliHub.com

On Saturday, the largest unmanned helicopter built in China to date made its first flight in Weifang City of east China’s Shandong Province.  With a max take-off weight of 757kg, it flew from the flight-test center of Weifang Tianxiang Aerospace Industry Co.Ltd, hovering for ten minutes, before performing a few manoeuvres before concluding with a... Read more

Oregon nurseries explore unmanned drone technology to monitor fields

Oregon nurseries explore unmanned drone technology to monitor fields

6-May-2011Source: Oregon State University

ORVALLIS, Ore. – It fits in the back of a pickup and looks like a hobby helicopter, but the aerial remote sensing system under investigation in the Willamette Valley soars high above traditional inventory methods of nurseries and Christmas tree farms. Starting this year, a team of researchers from Oregon State University, the University of... Read more

Boeing names new President/CEO for unmanned specialists Insitu

Boeing names new President/CEO for unmanned specialists Insitu

2-May-2011Source: Boeing

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and subsidiary Insitu Inc. today named Steve Morrow Insitu president and CEO, effective immediately. Morrow succeeds CEO Steve Sliwa, who retired April 1. “Insitu is the industry leader in the design, development and manufacture of high-performance, low-cost unmanned airborne systems and has a bright future, with many opportunities for growth,”... Read more

Fire Scout prepares for CENTCOM deployment

Fire Scout prepares for CENTCOM deployment

21-Apr-2011Source: US Navy

The Navy’s Fire Scout Unmanned Air Vehicle system is about to begin its first land-based deployment to U.S. Central Command this month. The Fire Scout effort is led by the Navy and Marine Corps Multi-Mission Tactical Unmanned Air System program office, PMA-266, at Patuxent River, Md. In response to an urgent needs requirement from DoD’s... Read more

LAAD 2011: Tekplus unveils new rotary-wing UAV

LAAD 2011: Tekplus unveils new rotary-wing UAV

15-Apr-2011Source: RP Defense

Spanish company Tekplus Aerospace used the LAAD 2011 exhibition in Rio de Janeiro to unveil a new VTOL UAV. (see full story)... Read more

Northrop Grumman Fire Scout hits new single-day endurance record

Northrop Grumman Fire Scout hits new single-day endurance record

15-Apr-2011Source: Northrop Grumman

The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)-built MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle marked a new single-day flight record of 18 hours. U.S. Navy operators achieved the record using a single aircraft in a series of endurance flights Feb. 25 from the USS Halyburton (FFG 40). Fire Scout is providing intelligence, surveillance and... Read more

L-3 awarded $8M towards two “optionally unmanned” OH-58D Kiowas

L-3 awarded $8M towards two “optionally unmanned” OH-58D Kiowas

15-Apr-2011Source: US DoD

L-3 Communications Corp., Salt Lake City, Utah, was awarded on April 8 a $8,454,744 firm-fixed-price and cost plus fixed-fee contract for interim contractor support for level two manned-unmanned capability for the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter fleet.  Work will be performed at Salt Lake City with an estimated completion date of March, 31, 2014.  One bid... Read more

Owner of TGR Helicorp and wife jailed

Owner of TGR Helicorp and wife jailed

7-Apr-2011

Trevor Rogers and his wife Glenda have been sentenced to a month in jail over their continuing refusal to obey a court order.  Rogers was developing an unmanned helicopter called the Snark but his company TGR Helicorp was forced into receivership by creditors in 2008.... Read more

Richland County Sheriff adds unmanned helicopter

Richland County Sheriff adds unmanned helicopter

23-Mar-2011Source: Richland County Sheriff

During a news conference this week, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott unveiled the newest addition to the Department’s efforts in making our communities safer – A.I.R. Aerial Intelligence and Response. Intelligence gathering, surveillance, search and rescue or special responses to critical incidents are now made easier through the use of radio controlled (RC) technology. Sheriff Lott... Read more

Frontier Systems awarded $14M contract to upgrade two YMQ-18A Hummingbirds

Frontier Systems awarded $14M contract to upgrade two YMQ-18A Hummingbirds

4-Mar-2011Source: US DoD

Frontier Systems, Irvine, Calif., was awarded on Feb. 25 a $13,999,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract.  The award will provide for the upgrade of two YMQ-18A unmanned helicopters to modified Block II configuration.  Work will be performed in Irvine, Calif., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2011.  One bid was solicited with one bid received.  The... Read more

IAI unveils new ‘Ghost’ tandem-rotor UAV

IAI unveils new ‘Ghost’ tandem-rotor UAV

25-Feb-2011Source: Jerusalem Post

The Ghost weighs just 4 kilograms and is intended for reconnaissance missions in urban settings. It has a quiet propulsion system, a range of about 4 kilometers and the ability to fly at speeds up to 35 knots.... Read more

MQ-8B Fire Scout completes first unmanned test flights on Littoral Combat Ship

MQ-8B Fire Scout completes first unmanned test flights on Littoral Combat Ship

24-Feb-2011Source: Northrop Grumman

The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) -built MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (VTUAV) achieved a significant development milestone in November when it flew its first test flights from the U.S. Navy’s littoral combat ship, USS Freedom (LCS-1). The Navy conducted the activity, known as dynamic interface (DI) testing, off the coast... Read more

Unmanned K-MAX achieves numerous “Firsts” during recent demo flights

Unmanned K-MAX achieves numerous “Firsts” during recent demo flights

24-Feb-2011Source: Lockheed Martin

Kaman Aerospace Corporation, a subsidiary of Kaman Corporation [NASDAQ GS: KAMN], and the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) recently made aviation history with the Unmanned K-MAX helicopter by successfully completing multiple guided airdrops via sling load at 10,000 ft above sea level. In four separate flights conducted January 24-25, 2011,... Read more

Schiebel delivers two Camcopter S-100 UAVs to Jordan

Schiebel delivers two Camcopter S-100 UAVs to Jordan

21-Feb-2011Source: Schiebel

Vienna, 20 February 2011 Following contract award in July 2010, Schiebel ispleased to announce delivery of two CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) to the King Abdullah Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) of Jordan. The UAS will form a key part of the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) Reconnaissance  Squadron, as KADDB is an independent Governmental... Read more

Wescam MX-10 EO/IR payload flying on Camcopter S-100 UAV

Wescam MX-10 EO/IR payload flying on Camcopter S-100 UAV

21-Jan-2011Source: Schiebel

Schiebel Aircraft GmbH and Wescam L-3 Communications are delighted to announce the first flight of a CAMCOPTER® S-100 UAV with the Wescam MX-10 EO/IR payload installed. This adds another sensor capability to the successful and proven CAMCOPTER® S-100 UAS (Unmanned Air System). After just a few days of installation and integration activities of a joint... Read more

Tomorrow’s Apache pilots to have “command and control” of drones

Tomorrow’s Apache pilots to have “command and control” of drones

16-Jan-2011Source: Wired

Tomorrow’s Apache operators “will add command and control” over the Grey Eagles, said Tim Owings, the civilian deputy head of the Army’s drone-development program, on a conference call... Read more

Spain’s Iberdrola trials unmanned helicopters to check power lines

Spain’s Iberdrola trials unmanned helicopters to check power lines

11-Jan-2011Source: Aeroespacial

Iberdrola has been working with Spanish UAV company Alpha Unmanned Systems.  Images are received in real time in a centre where they also control the flight plan of the mini helicopters.... Read more

IAI to help India develop unmanned Dhruv

IAI to help India develop unmanned Dhruv

7-Jan-2011Source: Flightglobal

Israel Aerospace Industries and Hindustan Aeronautics are co-operating to enable the transition of the Indian-developed Dhruv advanced light helicopter into an unmanned maritime rotorcraft... Read more

Northrop Grumman and US Navy prove Fire Scout ready for unrestricted flights

Northrop Grumman and US Navy prove Fire Scout ready for unrestricted flights

15-Dec-2010Source: Northrop Grumman

In preparation for deployment early next year, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and the U.S. Navy have verified that the MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical unmanned aircraft system is functionally compatible with communications systems on board the USS Halyburton (FFG-40). This process, known as integration verification, cleared the way for Fire Scout to conduct bluewater – unrestricted... Read more

Unmanned Bell 407 “Fire-X” demonstrator first flight

Unmanned Bell 407 “Fire-X” demonstrator first flight

15-Dec-2010Source: Bell

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT) and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) announce the successful test of Fire-X, a new vertical unmanned system. Development and demonstration of Fire-X is funded by Northrop Grumman and Bell Helicopter. Both companies began work on this program in early 2010 and completed its first fully autonomous flight... Read more

V750 – Chinese Unmanned helicopter to be produced for civilian use

V750 – Chinese Unmanned helicopter to be produced for civilian use

13-Dec-2010Source: Peoples Daily

The V750 unmanned helicopter, built with an engine that is the intellectual property of a Chinese company, will achieve mass production in Shandong. The prototype was shown in public at the previous Zhuhai International Air Show.... Read more

US Navy Awards $45.8M to ready unmanned K-MAX for deployment

US Navy Awards $45.8M to ready unmanned K-MAX for deployment

11-Dec-2010Source: Lockheed Martin

Washington, December 10th, 2010 — The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and Kaman Aerospace [NASDAQ GS: KAMN] a $45.8 million contract for K-MAX® unmanned aircraft systems for a U.S. Marine Corps evaluation of unmanned cargo resupply in an operational forward deployed environment. “The K-MAX UAS was specifically designed for the... Read more

Miami-Dade Police ready to add UAVs

Miami-Dade Police ready to add UAVs

10-Dec-2010Source: Miami New Times

The Miami-Dade Police Department is poised to become the first large metro force to regularly use drones in its aerial missions. The department has a deal in place to buy a T-Hawk from defense firm Honeywell... Read more

Boeing to provide two A160T Hummingbirds for USMC testing

Boeing to provide two A160T Hummingbirds for USMC testing

6-Dec-2010

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 3, 2010 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has awarded the company a $29.9 million contract for Cargo Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Services to support the U.S. Marine Corps. Boeing will provide two A160T Hummingbird unmanned vehicles, three ground control stations, spares, training and support.... Read more

Fire Scout operates in four US states on the same day

Fire Scout operates in four US states on the same day

2-Dec-2010Source: US Navy

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — Across the United States, the Navy’s Fire Scout Vertical Take-Off and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle took the skies, operating in four different locations ashore and afloat, Nov.18. Over the course of one day, teams from the Navy and industry partner Northrop Grumman tested the aircraft at... Read more

Sikorsky invests in UAV solutions company Adaptive Flight

Sikorsky invests in UAV solutions company Adaptive Flight

30-Nov-2010Source: Sikorsky

STRATFORD, Conn., — Sikorsky Innovations, the technology development organization of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., today announced it has made an equity investment in Adaptive Flight, Inc., a Georgia-based manufacturer of avionics system solutions for small and medium-sized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The investment, in part, will be directed toward developing technologies that allow piloted and unpiloted... Read more

Schiebel making good inroads to US market with Camcopter

Schiebel making good inroads to US market with Camcopter

24-Nov-2010Source: defpro.com

defpro.com carried out a wide-ranging interview with Hans Georg Schiebel, Chairman of the Schiebel Group of Companies... Read more

Saxony Police buys SensoCopter drone

Saxony Police buys SensoCopter drone

24-Nov-2010Source: Bild.de

The SensoCopter drone is to be used in monitoring of events and traffic, search activities and observations, as well as crime scene photographs.... Read more

Picador unmanned rotorcraft makes first flight

Picador unmanned rotorcraft makes first flight

18-Nov-2010Source: Flightglobal

Israel’s Aeronautics Defense Systems has performed the first flight of its Picador unmanned rotorcraft.... Read more

Unmanned MQ-8B Fire Scout passes 1,000 flight hours milestone

Unmanned MQ-8B Fire Scout passes 1,000 flight hours milestone

28-Oct-2010Source: Northrop Grumman

The Northrop Grumman Corporation-built (NYSE:NOC) MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical unmanned aerial system (VUAS) has passed the 1,000 flight test hours milestone, attesting to its steady maturation as a key intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance asset for military forces. Northrop Grumman is the Navy’s Fire Scout prime contractor. To reach this milestone, the VUAS completed a number... Read more

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