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DSEi: RAF officials see post- Afghanistan role for Reaper
DSEi: RAF officials see post-Afghanistan role for Reaper
DSEi: RAF officials see post-Afghanistan role for Reaper
UAVs and UCAVs
- Thread starter LETHALFORCE
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China has acquired a German company that makes UAV engines under the guise of civilian use... really? They can't even develop that without foreign tech. 
Defense News Mobile - Thielert Sale Might Further Delay Turkish Drone
Defense News Mobile - Thielert Sale Might Further Delay Turkish Drone
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Remote control war: Unmanned combat air vehicles in China, India, Iran, Israel, Russia and Turkey
Remote control war: Unmanned combat air vehicles in China, India, Iran, Israel, Russia and Turkey | Open Briefing
Remote control war: Unmanned combat air vehicles in China, India, Iran, Israel, Russia and Turkey | Open Briefing
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First Flight of the Orion Mega MALE Drone
Aurora Flight Sciences Orion UAS has made its first flight last month, on August 24, 2013 the Orion took off from an unnamed airfield in the western test range, on a flight that lasted three hours and thirty-one minutes. The drone reached an altitude of 8,000 feet above mean sea level on that flight.
This mission was the first step towards demonstrating a 120-hr. flight at 20,000 ft. carrying a 1,000-lb. multi-sensor payload. Such extended endurance would allow the new drone to provide continuous surveillance carrying a Predator-class payload with fewer takeoffs and landings than current medium-altitude, long-endurance UAS flying 24-hr. missions, significantly reducing the manpower burden and operating cost.
Powered by a pair of fuel-efficient Austro Engine AE300 turbo-diesels, the aircraft flew for 3.5 hr., reaching an altitude of 8,000 ft. and airspeed of around 60 kt., says Tom Clancy, vice president of Aurora's UAS business sector. Within the Defense Department, ownership of the Orion program has changed hands several times.
Aurora declined to identify its current customer, but Aviation Week understands it is the U.S. Air Force's Big Safari program office, which manages the acquisition and modification of special-mission platforms. Using the composite wing and tail of the original HALL design, the Orion was rolled out at Aurora's Golden Triangle, Miss., plant in November 2010, when it was expected to fly in August 2011.
In spite of program delays the basic objectives set at the beginning remain: a 120 hr. autonomous UAS carrying 1,000 lb. to 20,000 ft. There was no mission system on board for the Orion's first flight, but there will be a payload on the aircraft for the 120 hr. demonstration flight, expected to be conducted by mid-2014. A number of different multi-intelligence payloads are potentially part of the program.
First Flight of the Orion Mega MALE Drone - Defense Update - Military Technology & Defense News
Aurora Flight Sciences Orion UAS has made its first flight last month, on August 24, 2013 the Orion took off from an unnamed airfield in the western test range, on a flight that lasted three hours and thirty-one minutes. The drone reached an altitude of 8,000 feet above mean sea level on that flight.
This mission was the first step towards demonstrating a 120-hr. flight at 20,000 ft. carrying a 1,000-lb. multi-sensor payload. Such extended endurance would allow the new drone to provide continuous surveillance carrying a Predator-class payload with fewer takeoffs and landings than current medium-altitude, long-endurance UAS flying 24-hr. missions, significantly reducing the manpower burden and operating cost.
Powered by a pair of fuel-efficient Austro Engine AE300 turbo-diesels, the aircraft flew for 3.5 hr., reaching an altitude of 8,000 ft. and airspeed of around 60 kt., says Tom Clancy, vice president of Aurora's UAS business sector. Within the Defense Department, ownership of the Orion program has changed hands several times.
Aurora declined to identify its current customer, but Aviation Week understands it is the U.S. Air Force's Big Safari program office, which manages the acquisition and modification of special-mission platforms. Using the composite wing and tail of the original HALL design, the Orion was rolled out at Aurora's Golden Triangle, Miss., plant in November 2010, when it was expected to fly in August 2011.
In spite of program delays the basic objectives set at the beginning remain: a 120 hr. autonomous UAS carrying 1,000 lb. to 20,000 ft. There was no mission system on board for the Orion's first flight, but there will be a payload on the aircraft for the 120 hr. demonstration flight, expected to be conducted by mid-2014. A number of different multi-intelligence payloads are potentially part of the program.
First Flight of the Orion Mega MALE Drone - Defense Update - Military Technology & Defense News
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Lockheed Martin's ground sensor system now communicates with UAVs
A wireless ground sensor and communication system developed by Lockheed Martin can now be integrated with unmanned aerial vehicles, allowing UAV operators to lower monitoring costs and improve effectiveness, according to a Lockheed Martin media release. The monitoring system, called the self-powered ad-hoc network (SPAN), is composed of a series of small ground sensors arranged in a mesh pattern.The sensors can detect potential threats and signal a UAV to investigate, says Lockheed Martin. "This linked solution enables UAV operators to focus on identified threats instead of loitering or flying pre-set mission profiles waiting for potential threats," says Lockheed Martin's media release. "Fusing SPAN with UAVs lowers the total cost of monitoring a specific area, since the SPAN networks automatically prompt UAV sensors without the need to depend on a separate operator alerting system," Lockheed Martin says. The sensors can aid in missions such as border protection, area surveillance and monitoring of structures like bridges, pipelines and aircraft, according to Lockheed Martin's website. The sensors can be powered by solar panels.
Lockheed Martin's ground sensor system now communicates with UAVs
A wireless ground sensor and communication system developed by Lockheed Martin can now be integrated with unmanned aerial vehicles, allowing UAV operators to lower monitoring costs and improve effectiveness, according to a Lockheed Martin media release. The monitoring system, called the self-powered ad-hoc network (SPAN), is composed of a series of small ground sensors arranged in a mesh pattern.The sensors can detect potential threats and signal a UAV to investigate, says Lockheed Martin. "This linked solution enables UAV operators to focus on identified threats instead of loitering or flying pre-set mission profiles waiting for potential threats," says Lockheed Martin's media release. "Fusing SPAN with UAVs lowers the total cost of monitoring a specific area, since the SPAN networks automatically prompt UAV sensors without the need to depend on a separate operator alerting system," Lockheed Martin says. The sensors can aid in missions such as border protection, area surveillance and monitoring of structures like bridges, pipelines and aircraft, according to Lockheed Martin's website. The sensors can be powered by solar panels.
Lockheed Martin's ground sensor system now communicates with UAVs
H.A.
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"Biobot" Insect Swarms to Map and Explore Unknown Areas
What may sound like the script from a Hollywood Blockbuster is in fact a new development by a research team from North Carolina State University. They have developed insect-like cyborgs, or "biobots", which can penetrate foreign environments like collapsed buildings.
They release a swarm of biobots, such as remotely-controlled cockroaches, which are equipped with electronic sensors. These robotic insects then move about randomly and sensors are released which signal researchers via radio waves whenever biobots got close to each other. This gives first responders a good idea of the layout in a previously unmapped area.
"We focused on how to map areas where you have little or no precise information on where each biobot is, such as a collapsed building where you can't use GPS technology," says Dr. Edgar Lobaton, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at NC State.
"One characteristic of biobots is that their movement can be somewhat random," Lobaton says. "We're exploiting that random movement to work in our favor."
Because the biobots couldn't be tracked by GPS, their precise locations would be unknown. However, once the swarm has had a chance to spread out, the researchers would send a signal commanding the biobots to keep moving until they find a wall or other unbroken surface – and then continue moving along the wall. This is called "wall following."
The researchers repeat this cycle of random movement and "wall following" several times, continually collecting data from the sensors whenever the biobots are near to each other. The new software then uses an algorithm to translate the biobot sensor data into a rough map of the unknown environment.
It can alert officials to determine the location of radioactive or chemical threats. The researchers have tested the software using computer simulations and are currently testing the program with robots. They plan to work with fellow NC State researcher Dr. Alper Bozkurt to test the program with biobots.
[video=youtube_share;gmbEX7zDzog]http://youtu.be/gmbEX7zDzog[/video]
What may sound like the script from a Hollywood Blockbuster is in fact a new development by a research team from North Carolina State University. They have developed insect-like cyborgs, or "biobots", which can penetrate foreign environments like collapsed buildings.
They release a swarm of biobots, such as remotely-controlled cockroaches, which are equipped with electronic sensors. These robotic insects then move about randomly and sensors are released which signal researchers via radio waves whenever biobots got close to each other. This gives first responders a good idea of the layout in a previously unmapped area.
"We focused on how to map areas where you have little or no precise information on where each biobot is, such as a collapsed building where you can't use GPS technology," says Dr. Edgar Lobaton, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at NC State.
"One characteristic of biobots is that their movement can be somewhat random," Lobaton says. "We're exploiting that random movement to work in our favor."
Because the biobots couldn't be tracked by GPS, their precise locations would be unknown. However, once the swarm has had a chance to spread out, the researchers would send a signal commanding the biobots to keep moving until they find a wall or other unbroken surface – and then continue moving along the wall. This is called "wall following."
The researchers repeat this cycle of random movement and "wall following" several times, continually collecting data from the sensors whenever the biobots are near to each other. The new software then uses an algorithm to translate the biobot sensor data into a rough map of the unknown environment.
It can alert officials to determine the location of radioactive or chemical threats. The researchers have tested the software using computer simulations and are currently testing the program with robots. They plan to work with fellow NC State researcher Dr. Alper Bozkurt to test the program with biobots.
[video=youtube_share;gmbEX7zDzog]http://youtu.be/gmbEX7zDzog[/video]
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Unmanned Taranis has flown, MoD reveals
Breaking a long silence about the status of its BAE Systems-led Taranis unmanned combat air system technology demonstrator, the UK Ministry of Defence has revealed that initial flight tests have already taken place. "Taranis ground tests commenced in 2010 and flight trials took place in 2013," the MoD confirms, in written evidence to the UK parliament's defence select committee. Published on 25 October, its submission was to support an inquiry into the current and future use of remotely piloted air systems by the nation's armed forces and other agencies.
BAE Systems
The debut is believed to have occurred at the Woomera test range in South Australia. BAE has used the site during previous unmanned flight test campaigns, including with its Mantis, Herti, Corax and Raven systems. In a 1 August trading statement, the company said the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour-powered Taranis was due to fly "in the second half of the year". "The programme continues with Taranis and its initial trials programme, but it's inappropriate to comment further until the trails have completed," the MoD says in response to a query from Flightglobal. The MoD's written submission also includes a detailed split of its currently 577-strong UAV inventory, which is predominantly used to support operations in Afghanistan. The total comprises five General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Reapers, eight leased Elbit Systems Hermes 450s, 222 Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk IIIs, 324 Prox Dynamics Black Hornets and 18 Honeywell T-Hawks.
Unmanned Taranis has flown, MoD reveals
Breaking a long silence about the status of its BAE Systems-led Taranis unmanned combat air system technology demonstrator, the UK Ministry of Defence has revealed that initial flight tests have already taken place. "Taranis ground tests commenced in 2010 and flight trials took place in 2013," the MoD confirms, in written evidence to the UK parliament's defence select committee. Published on 25 October, its submission was to support an inquiry into the current and future use of remotely piloted air systems by the nation's armed forces and other agencies.
BAE Systems
The debut is believed to have occurred at the Woomera test range in South Australia. BAE has used the site during previous unmanned flight test campaigns, including with its Mantis, Herti, Corax and Raven systems. In a 1 August trading statement, the company said the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour-powered Taranis was due to fly "in the second half of the year". "The programme continues with Taranis and its initial trials programme, but it's inappropriate to comment further until the trails have completed," the MoD says in response to a query from Flightglobal. The MoD's written submission also includes a detailed split of its currently 577-strong UAV inventory, which is predominantly used to support operations in Afghanistan. The total comprises five General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Reapers, eight leased Elbit Systems Hermes 450s, 222 Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk IIIs, 324 Prox Dynamics Black Hornets and 18 Honeywell T-Hawks.
Unmanned Taranis has flown, MoD reveals
LETHALFORCE
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Unmanned aircraft to get cues from unattended ground sensors
Unmanned aircraft to get cues from unattended ground sensors
Unmanned aircraft to get cues from unattended ground sensors
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ALANTIC OCEAN (Nov. 9, 2013) The experimental X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator
(UCAS-D) conducts an arrested landing aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Theodore Roosevelt is the third carrier to test the tailless, unmanned autonomous air craft's
ability to integrate with carrier environment.
gadeshi
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And H-Res photos from the X-47B carier-born trials:
sandrermakoff: Внезапный Ñкат.
sandrermakoff: Внезапный Ñкат.
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Photo Release -- Northrop
Grumman Demonstrates
Electronic Attack Capability
for the First Time on a Group
III Unmanned Aircraft
CHINA LAKE, Calif. – Nov. 14, 2013 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has integrated and employed an internal miniature electronic attack payload on the Bat unmanned aircraft, marking the first time that such a system was used in operation on a Group III (small, tactical) unmanned aircraft system. A photo accompanying this release is available at
Northrop Grumman Corporation
The demonstration involved the jamming of radars during the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) event at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif., in October. "Bat continues to demonstrate capabilities that can normally only be achieved by larger, more expensive unmanned aircraft," said George Vardoulakis, Northrop Grumman's vice president of Medium Range Tactical Systems. "Our customers now have a more mobile and affordable option for electronic warfare missions." The Pandora electronic attack payload is a low-cost derivative of Northrop Grumman's family of upgraded digital APR-39 systems. The lightweight, multifunction payload provides electronic attack, support and protection. Pandora was integrated on Bat in less than two months. During the WTI event, the Bat completed multiple flights in collaboration with fixed wing and other unmanned platforms. Bat is a tactical, runway independent unmanned aircraft that can be launched from land or sea. Its flexible design allows for quick installation of a variety of payloads and enables rapid, expeditionary deployment.
Photo Release -- Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Electronic Attack Capability for the First Time on a Group III Unmanned Aircraft (NYSE:NOC)
Grumman Demonstrates
Electronic Attack Capability
for the First Time on a Group
III Unmanned Aircraft
CHINA LAKE, Calif. – Nov. 14, 2013 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has integrated and employed an internal miniature electronic attack payload on the Bat unmanned aircraft, marking the first time that such a system was used in operation on a Group III (small, tactical) unmanned aircraft system. A photo accompanying this release is available at
Northrop Grumman Corporation
The demonstration involved the jamming of radars during the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) event at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif., in October. "Bat continues to demonstrate capabilities that can normally only be achieved by larger, more expensive unmanned aircraft," said George Vardoulakis, Northrop Grumman's vice president of Medium Range Tactical Systems. "Our customers now have a more mobile and affordable option for electronic warfare missions." The Pandora electronic attack payload is a low-cost derivative of Northrop Grumman's family of upgraded digital APR-39 systems. The lightweight, multifunction payload provides electronic attack, support and protection. Pandora was integrated on Bat in less than two months. During the WTI event, the Bat completed multiple flights in collaboration with fixed wing and other unmanned platforms. Bat is a tactical, runway independent unmanned aircraft that can be launched from land or sea. Its flexible design allows for quick installation of a variety of payloads and enables rapid, expeditionary deployment.
Photo Release -- Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Electronic Attack Capability for the First Time on a Group III Unmanned Aircraft (NYSE:NOC)
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No Human Occupant: The Growing Challenges of UAS Pilot Training
No Human Occupant: The Growing Challenges of UAS Pilot Training » Indian Defence Review
No Human Occupant: The Growing Challenges of UAS Pilot Training » Indian Defence Review
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UAVs: Dilemmas in
the application of air power
UAVs: Dilemmas in the application of air power » Indian Defence Review
the application of air power
UAVs: Dilemmas in the application of air power » Indian Defence Review
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Navy Plans to Arm UCLASS with JDAMs
http://defensetech.org/2013/11/21/navy-plans-to-arm-uclass-with-jdams/#more-21858
http://defensetech.org/2013/11/21/navy-plans-to-arm-uclass-with-jdams/#more-21858
Last edited:
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EXCLUSIVE: Secret New UAS Shows Stealth, Efficiency Advances
Secret New UAS Shows Stealth, Efficiency Advances
Secret New UAS Shows Stealth, Efficiency Advances
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Sikorsky, Aurora Flight
Sciences to Develop VTOL X-
Planes for DARPA
Sikorsky, Aurora Flight Sciences to Develop VTOL X-Planes for DARPA - Defense Update - Military Technology & Defense News
Sciences to Develop VTOL X-
Planes for DARPA
Sikorsky, Aurora Flight Sciences to Develop VTOL X-Planes for DARPA - Defense Update - Military Technology & Defense News
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AirMule successfully
completes series of
automated test flights
AirMule successfully completes series of automated test flights
completes series of
automated test flights
AirMule successfully completes series of automated test flights
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