On September 25th General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) completed the first flight of the Protector RG Mk1 Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS), the fourth MQ-9B SkyGuardian air vehicle (the first three MQ-9B air vehicles are company-owned assets supporting the certification qualification). Continue reading
Tag Archives: uav
Australia Releases 2019 Airbus Zephyr Crash Report
In 2019 an Airbus Zephyr high-altitude UAV broke up in-flight after encountering unstable atmospheric conditions which resulted in a series of un-commanded rolls and an uncontrolled spiral descent over remote northern Western Australia, according to a new Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) report. Continue reading
Northrop Grumman Gets $9M US Navy Triton Retrofit Contract
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, is awarded a $9,018,804 firm-fixed-price modification (P00023) to previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-successive-target contract N00019-17-C-0018. Continue reading
Schiebel and Nordic Unmanned Monitor Sulphur Emissions in World’s Busiest Shipping Lane
Schiebel, together with partners Nordic Unmanned and the NORCE Research Institute AS, is operating the CAMCOPTER S-100 to monitor sulphur emission in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes in the strait of Pas-de-Calais, for the French Maritime Authorities. The operation started on 23 September and will run for three months. Continue reading
JARUS: Where are you? – The Silence is Deafening
The Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems (JARUS), an international working group bringing together the representatives of 61 national aviation authorities (NAAs) & EASA, has done a lot of good work and supplied the international drone community with a significant number of highly valued guidance documents.
However, since its last Plenary Meeting in Chengdu, China in October 2019, nothing has been heard from JARUS.
AMPERe Hydrogen Engine to Power SCAPHA UAV
Advanced Materials & Propulsion Engineering & Research Inc. (“AMPERe”), a private Canadian technology company focused on bringing to market disruptive technologies announced its planned launch of the futuristic SCAPHA, Autonomous Flying Vehicle. Continue reading
GA-ASI Conducts Sparrowhawk SUAS Flight Tests
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) conducted captive carry Sparrowhawk Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) flight demonstrations on September 16-17, 2020. The Sparrowhawk aircraft is designed as an airborne launch and recovery demonstrator aircraft tailored to fit GA-ASI platforms, and is focused on Advanced Battle Management System’s attritableONE technologies. Continue reading
USAF Global Hawks Get New Sensors
Northrop Grumman Corporation has delivered a pair of sensors to enhance the capability of its Global Hawk high-altitude long-endurance autonomous aircraft system. Enhancements include the deployment of the MS-177 multi-spectral camera system to provide additional high resolution imaging capability for operational users. Continue reading