Army takes a fresh look at unmanned recon choppers

Army officials say they are preparing to field their own unmanned spy helicopters by mid-decade, reports Defense Tech.

The service intends within the next 12 months to conduct tests in Afghanistan with Boeing’s A160 Hummingbird unmanned helicopter outfitted with electro-optical/infrared and signals intelligence sensors, officials said.

Having canceled one effort more than a year ago to develop an unmanned reconnaissance helicopter, the Army might be showing renewed interest in the concept as a way to ease the burden on its battle-weary manned aviation fleet that has been in constant wartime service for a decade.