Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Europe Outlines Action Plan For UAV Policymaking

The EC’s Matthew Baldwin has a broad aviation/transport remit, but now deems Unmanned Aerial Systems as important as any other area, and in need of c
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Navy Advances UClass Software as RFP Delayed

The Navy is still seeking sources for an "organic, sea-based unmanned aerial system."
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

General Atomics Readies for 'Detect and Avoid' Demo

Trials on the NASA Ikhana Predator B are slated to begin in November.
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Puma UAS Succeeds in Landing on Coast Guard Icebreaker

An AeroVironment Puma AE launched from the flight deck of the Coast Guard cutter Healy, under way in the Arctic Ocean.
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Boeing's 'Phantom Swift' Advances in Darpa Program

During the project's second phase, Darpa plans to select two proposals to advance to detailed design, fabrication and assembly.
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Aircraft

Interest Grows in Aurora’s Optionally Piloted Centaur

The U.S. company is now promoting the aircraft in Europe for low-cost airborne sensing.
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Predator XP Makes Maiden Flight

The XP is fitted with GA-ASI’s Lynx multi-mode radar, high-definition electro-optical video and automatic identification system.
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Latest Generation 'Gorgon Stare' Operates in Afghanistan

The latest version of the system provides a four-fold increase in area coverage with a two-fold improvement in resolution compared to its predecessor.
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

France Keeps Harfang UAS Despite Reaper Buy

Harfang UAS will fly with the French Air Force at least through 2017.
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

UAV Flights Begin at Fourth National Test Site

Granted authorization last week by the FAA, Texas A&M flies its first UAV mission along the Gulf Coast.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

MQ-8B Fire Scout Flies with New Surveillance Radar

The multi-mode radar will increase situational awareness and threat warning in a high-traffic littoral environment, according to the company.
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Swiss Select Hermes 900 as New UAS

The Hermes 900 will replace the modified IAI Ranger UAVs, which are reaching the end of their life cycle.
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

U.S. Marines Deploy Blackjack UAS to Afghanistan

The initial operational test and evaluation period is expected to be complete this year.
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Pirker Case Casts Shadow over Unmanned Systems Conference

UAS industry industry growing increasingly impatient with the FAA’s regulatory and policy containment of unmanned aircraft systems.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

No Clear Plan for Triton 'Due Regard' Radar, Navy Says

Due-regard rader will make the Triton capable of detecting aircraft not equipped with a transponder or not using it to avoid detection.
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Cost Overrun Brings Scrutiny to MQ-8 Fire Scout

Unit cost increases triggered “critical” breaches of the Nunn-McCurdy amendment, requiring that Congress be notified.
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

U.S. Navy Releases Draft RFP for UClass Vehicle

Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing and General Atomics received the draft proposal document.
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

U.S. Navy Advances Triton Without 'Sense-and-Avoid' Settled

The U.S. Navy is taking a “layered approach” to meeting the see-and-avoid requirement until it finds a technology solution.
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Elbit To Supply Hermes 900 UAS to Brazil's Air Force

The service will operate the aircraft in tandem with smaller Hermes 450s it already uses.
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Testers Prove Integration of Brimstone, Unmanned Reaper

The U.S. Air Force should consider buying the British-made Brimstone for its Reapers, said a British official.
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