Defense Systems

Navy's tiny Cicada drone designed to avoid enemy detection

The Navy's tiny Cicada unmanned aerial vehicle is designed to glide undetected through hostile territory as it collects data.

Defense Systems

Marines push forward with unmanned helo testing in Afghanistan

A team comprised of 16 Kaman technicians and eight Marines are conducting a six-month evaluation of two of the company’s K-Max unmanned cargo helicopters at Camp Dwyer in Helmand Province.

Defense Systems

Air Force, Raytheon team on UAS electro-optical sensor work

Raytheon will improve the resolution of a key electro-optical sensor payload used for unmanned aircraft systems, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft under a new Air Force contract.

Defense Systems

A glimpse into future UAS warfare

The Pentagon and the defense industry are working quietly on future strategies for how to best deploy unmanned aircraft systems in a way that minimizes the risk of losing the valuable assets to enemy fire or malfunction.

Defense Systems

Navy's 5th Fleet begins testing long-range UAV

The Navy has begun testing a prototype of its high-altitude, long-range unmanned aerial vehicle with its 5th Fleet.

Defense Systems

Coast Guard's Deepwater program 'officially dead,' admiral says

The Coast Guard's $27 billion "Deepwater" acquisition program has completely ended, both as a concept and as a procurement program, a senior official has declared.

Defense Systems

Increasing number of civilians work in the UAS kill chain

Some senior military officials are questioning whether direct contractor support of unmanned aircraft systems is appropriate.

Defense Systems

Air Force makes tiny course corrections to save big satellite

Small thrusters and many pizzas helped save the AEHF-1.

Defense Systems

Companies seek to build new military radio system

The Army has released a draft solicitation for the system, known as the Multi-Tier Networking Vehicular Radio program.

Defense Systems

Army to test Hummingbird unmanned helos in Afghanistan

The Army plans to send three of Boeing’s A160 Hummingbird unmanned helicopters to Afghanistan this spring to boost the service’s reconnaissance capabilities.

Defense Systems

Navy's X-47B enters next phase of testing at Pax River

The Navy X-47B unmanned aerial vehicle has arrived at Patuxent Naval Air Station, Md., where it will undergo testing for carrier-based operations that will include the use of catapult and arresting gear.

Defense Systems

Navy readies Switchblade UAV for submarine missions

The Navy plans to launch AreoVironment's small, expendable Switchblade unmanned aerial vehicle from a submerged submarine during a naval exercise next year in the Pacific Ocean.

Defense Systems

Bigger, badder Predator may be in the works

The Advanced Predator C Avenger could end up being the template for future unmanned aerial vehicles.

Defense Systems

Lawmakers urge Army to review requirements process

The restructuring of several of the Army’s major acquisition and research programs hasn't escaped the watchful eye of Congress; lawmakers have advised the secretary of the Army to consider a review of the requirements process.

Defense Systems

Navy's X-47B on truck trailer mistaken for UFO

Some Kansas residents mistook the fuselage of a Navy X-47B unmanned aircraft being shipped across country by truck for a flying saucer that had been found by public officials.

Defense Systems

DOD workforce cuts buys short reprieve from sequestration

A Republican House member has proposed a new plan that aims to slash 10 percent of the federal workforce to avoid the first year of sequestration cuts to the Defense Department.

Defense Systems

Air Force UAV operators face long hours, erratic schedules: survey

About half of the operators of Air Force unmanned aerial vehicles have high levels of job-related stress mostly tied to the long and erratic hours they work.

Defense Systems

Global Hawk sale to South Korea put off for further study

The sale of up to four Northrop Grumman Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles to South Korea to boost that nation’s reconnaissance capability has been postponed by the U.S. Congress for further study.

Defense Systems

Military prepares MUOS satellite for February launch

Lockheed Martin delivered the Navy’s first Mobile Uses Objective System satellite to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., in preparation for launch in February 2012 aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle.

Defense Systems

Marines’ unmanned cargo copter on duty in Afghanistan

The Marine Corps flew its first combat supply mission with an unmanned helicopter on Dec. 17 in Afghanistan.