The US Air Force Research Laboratory successfully flew the first of a second-generation of Autonomous Collaborative Platforms known as the XQ-67A demonstrator, built and flown in the Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) program Feb. 28, 2024. Continue reading
Category Archives: Applications & Testing & Experience
Three Spanish Firms Join Forces to Develop New C-UAS System
Indra, Escribano and TRC have signed a partnership agreement to present a solution for counteracting drones (C-UAS) to meet the needs and requirements of the Spanish Armed Forces in the area of operations. The agreement provides for the formalization of a joint venture between Escribano and Indra, with TRC partnering the latter. Continue reading
China’s HH-100 Commercial Unmanned Transport System Demonstrator Completes Maiden Flight
A demonstrator of China’s HH-100 aerial commercial unmanned transportation system on Wednesday completed a successful maiden flight, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) announced. Continue reading
Sikorsky Flight-Tests Scalable ‘Rotor Blown Wing’ UAS For DARPA Project
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, is conducting flight tests to mature the control laws and aerodynamics of a novel vertical takeoff and landing uncrewed aerial system (VTOL / UAS). The flight tests are intended to prove the efficiency and scalability of a twin proprotor ‘rotor blown wing’ configuration that sits on its tail to take-off and land like a helicopter, and transitions easily to horizontal forward flight for long-endurance missions, such as intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting. Continue reading
Allen Control Systems to Conduct First Demo of Counter-Drone Robotic Gun System at T-REX 24
Allen Control Systems (ACS), a defense technology company developing counter-drone robotic gun systems, announced that it has been invited to participate in the U.S. Defense Department’s Technology Readiness Experimentation 2024 (T-REX 24-2), the premier event for assessing and fast-tracking new technologies that the DoD considers critical for warfighting efforts. Continue reading
Aurora’s Latest X-Plane Design Speeds Ahead
Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing company, recently completed conceptual design review for a game-changing, high-speed, vertical lift X-plane and has been selected to continue development of a preliminary design review. The aircraft is being developed for a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program called Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT), which “aims to design, build, and fly an X-plane to demonstrate the key technologies and integrated concepts that enable a transformational combination of aircraft speed and runway independence.” Continue reading
Teledyne FLIR’s ‘New’ Rogue 1 Loitering Munition has been under SOCOM Contract for Two Years
When Teledyne FLIR unveiled its “new” Rogue 1 loitering munition system (LMS) on May 7, it was the first glimpse the public got of the design. But quietly, US Special Operations Command has been testing the vertical take-off/landing capability system for over two years. Continue reading
Airbus Achieves Eurodrone’s Preliminary Design Review
The Eurodrone programme has successfully performed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR). Led by Airbus Defence and Space as prime contractor, this major programme milestone has been completed with OCCAR and representatives of the four customer nations (France, Germany, Italy and Spain) in the presence of the three Major Sub-Contractors (MSC), Airbus Defence and Space Spain, Dassault Aviation and Leonardo. Continue reading