FBI director says surveillance drones used in US
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DefenceTalkUnmanned drones are roaming American skies conducting surveillance on people in the United States, albeit in a “very minimal way,” the head of the FBI revealed to Congress on Wednesday. Federal Bureau of Investigation director Robert Mueller said his agency’s use of a small number of aerial drones is relatively new, and that the bureau […]https://www.defencetalk.com/fbi-director-says-surveillance-drones-used-in-us-48199/
Defence giants call for European drone program
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DefenceTalkThree top European defence firms called Sunday on governments to launch a program to manufacture drones that European countries are currently having to buy from Israel or the United States. France’s Dassault Aviation, European aerospace giant EADS and Italy’s Finmeccanica argued such a joint program would “support the capability needs of European armed forces while […]https://www.defencetalk.com/defence-giants-call-for-european-drone-program-48116/
France keen to buy 12 US Reaper drones: minister
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DefenceTalkFrance wants to buy 12 Reaper drones from the United States, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Tuesday, as ministry officials put the cost at 670 million euros ($889 million). Le Drian said he wanted two Reapers to be deployed in sub-Saharan Africa, where France is battling Islamist militants in Mali. The 10 others […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-keen-to-buy-12-us-reaper-drones-minister-48079/
Niger: New Drone Base Highlights A Shift In US-West African Relations
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DefenceTalkBy Jody Ray Bennett In January 2013, US military officials finalized a Status of Forces (SOFA) agreement with the government of Niger to increase military involvement throughout the country. While the move clearly reflected developments in neighboring Mali, it had long been an operational goal of the Pentagon to establish a drone base in the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/niger-new-drone-base-highlights-a-shift-in-us-west-african-relations-47985/
After vowing transparency, US silent on drone killing
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DefenceTalkA week after President Barack Obama cracked the lid of secrecy on his drone war, the United States refused Wednesday to confirm it had killed a top Pakistani Taliban leader in an airborne attack. Pakistani security and intelligence sources said that Waliur Rehman, deputy leader of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had perished in an American […]https://www.defencetalk.com/after-vowing-transparency-us-silent-on-drone-killing-47949/
NATO Drone Project Set to Continue
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DefenceTalkPulling the plug on Germany’s Euro Hawk project won’t have consequences for NATO’s surveillance program using “Global Hawk” models. But critics argue a joint European drone project would have been better. The canceled German Euro Hawk drone project will most likely not have consequences on a similar project by NATO. The alliance plans to use […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-drone-project-set-to-continue-47912/
Drone Use Raises Ethical Questions In Germany
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DefenceTalkUnmanned weapons systems are fast becoming an indispensable aspect of modern warfare. But their use raises ethical questions which Germany has just begun to address. The growing use of so-called remote-controlled drones for surveillance and active warfare has raised a number of ethical questions, prompting a debate between supporters and opponents of the technology in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/drone-use-raises-ethical-questions-in-germany-47863/
Drones for the German Military Stir Controversy
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DefenceTalkThe German government wants to buy unmanned drones from the United States, or Israel, but the opposition does not see a necessity for these aircraft, which can be used as bomb-toting weapons, or for reconnaissance. Minister of Defense Thomas de Maizière, of Germany’s Christian Democratic Party (CDU), is quite clear about why the German Armed […]https://www.defencetalk.com/drones-for-the-german-military-stir-controversy-47674/
Role of Drones in Afghanistan
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DefenceTalkThere was widespread coverage at the weekend of demonstrations outside RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire against the air base becoming the location for the control of the UK’s armed remotely-piloted Reaper aircraft (commonly known as drones) that operate in support of operations in Afghanistan. UK Reapers are piloted by highly trained professional military pilots who adhere […]https://www.defencetalk.com/role-of-drones-in-afghanistan-47646/
ESA-EDA Flight Demo On Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Insertion Into Civil Airspace
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DefenceTalkSan Javier Air Base (Murcia) was selected to conduct the trials and demonstrate that satellite communications are suitable to operate Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPASs) and integrate them into civil airspace. The DeSIRE project (Demonstration of Satellites enabling the Insertion of RPAS in Europe) is funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European […]https://www.defencetalk.com/esa-eda-flight-demo-on-remotely-piloted-aircraft-systems-insertion-into-civil-airspace-47620/