Defense Systems
Mobile apps could lead to better UAV sensors
DARPA is looking for smartphone application developers to help the military speed the development of sensors for unmanned aerial vehicles.
Defense Systems
Air Force, Lockheed partner on reusable launch system
Lockheed Martin has won an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract potentially worth $250 million over five years to furnish technical support for the Air Force’s Reusable Booster System.
Defense Systems
Navy accelerates unmanned aircraft tests
Although the Navy may be late coming to the world of unmanned aircraft systems, it is now pushing the limits of UAS technology from the standpoints of capability and autonomy, Graham Warwick reports in Aviation Week.
Defense Systems
RQ-170 crash might put US sensor technology at risk
U.S. officials have confirmed that an RQ-170 Sentinel unmanned aerial vehicle on a secret mission for the CIA did crash in Iran on Dec. 1.
Defense Systems
Iran claims to have downed US RQ-170 unmanned aircraft
Iran said Dec. 4 that it shot down a U.S. high-altitude, RQ-170 stealth unmanned aerial vehicle on its eastern border. However, U.S. officials disputed the claim, stating that the lost craft instead might be an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft that went off course and crashed in the area last week.
Defense Systems
Tactical UAVs may soon carry small missiles
Raytheon’s Small Tactical Munition would give battalion-sized Marine Corps units the ability to use unmanned aerial vehicle for strikes.
Defense Systems
BAE, AVX to chase Navy unmanned rotorcraft deal
BAE has teamed with small helicopter manufacturer AVX to bid for the U.S. Navy’s Medium-Range Maritime Unmanned Aircraft System scheduled for fielding in 2019.
Defense Systems
Navy to activate first vertical UAV unit in 2013
The Navy plans to activate its first operational vertical take-off unmanned air vehicle unit in 2013.
Defense Systems
French Navy first to test mini UAV on small ship
The French Navy has beaten the U.S. Navy to the punch by deploying unmanned aerial vehicles on small vessels.
Defense Systems
11 foreign UAVs you should know
U.S. allies and adversaries are developing and using their own unmanned aerial vehicles.
Defense Systems
Bluefin to build underwater robot for Navy's LCS
Bluefin Robotics has been awarded a subcontract from General Dynamics to design and build an unmanned underwater vehicle that will help crews of the Navy's Littoral Combat Ships to detect and identify enemy-laid surface mines.
Defense Systems
Navy completes UAS common controls demo
The Navy has successfully demonstrated its Common Control System for current and future unmanned aircraft systems in simulated missions at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division in China Lake, Calif.
Defense Systems
Air Force to launch two more AEHF satellites in 2012
The Air Force has activated its Advanced Extremely High Frequency military communications satellite after a 14-month struggle to get it into the correct orbit.
Defense Systems
Will US loosen export restrictions on UAV sales?
The Pacific Rim might see a significant increase in nations flying U.S.-built UAVs as a result of efforts by manufacturers to redesign their aircraft to fall under less restrictive export controls and a possible willingness by the Obama administration to allow sales to select nations in that region.
Defense Systems
Airborne radar sensor passes initial test
Sierra Nevada has successfully demonstrated the prototype of an airborne x-band radar sense-and-avoid sensor for unmanned aircraft vehicles.
Defense Systems
DOD looks to unconventional methods in fight against IEDs
The U.S. military's counter-IED agency is focusing on intelligence and robotics in the continuing fight against a critical threat to soldiers' lives.
Defense Systems
Army forces in Afghanistan to receive aerostats
The Army has awarded a $383 million contract to Lockheed Martin to furnish and maintain aerostats that will provide real-time aerial reconnaissance and surveillance of large swaths of terrain in Afghanistan.
Defense Systems
Army tests 3G network to boost squad-level awareness
The Army has tested a 3G wireless network that would link smart phones, tablets and radio systems to a large number of sensors and unmanned ground and air vehicles to push information down to the squad and fire team leaders.
Defense Systems
Navy group to evaluate unmanned surface patrol craft
The Navy has sent three unmanned surface vessels to its Riverine Group One to evaluate how well the vessels perform the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for which they were designed.
Defense Systems