DefenceTalkNorthrop Grumman will build five additional U.S. Navy MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopters, which allow ship commanders to extend their intelligence-gathering capabilities far beyond the horizon. Final assembly of the aircraft will take place at the company’s Unmanned Systems Center in Moss Point, Miss. The MQ-8C is based on a larger helicopter airframe that provides […]https://www.defencetalk.com/northrop-to-build-five-more-mq-8c-fire-scouts-for-the-us-navy-59265/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS) has completed a series of ground and air demonstrations at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., expanding the adaptability of the Global Hawk system to use an additional Satellite Communications (SATCOM) link to improve the transfer of mission data. At the request of the U.S. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/global-hawk-expands-satellite-communications-capability-59240/

DefenceTalkThales has today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Qatar Armed Forces to assist in the development of an Optionally Piloted Vehicle – Aircraft (OPV-A), a high performance Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) system, and the delivery of a full end-to-end training solution. The OPV-A airframe, to be selected by the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/thales-and-the-qatar-to-develop-an-optionally-piloted-vehicle-59169/

DefenceTalkThe Hermes 900 UAV, manufactured by the Israeli company Elbit Systems, received its official Hebrew name in the Israel Air Force (IAF): “Kochav” (star in Hebrew). The Kochav UAV strengthens the UAV arm of the IAF and is designed for HALE (High Altitude Long Endurance) reconnaissance missions The UAV arm of the IAF continues to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/israel-air-force-christens-hermes-900-uav-59088/

DefenceTalk“We’re on the tipping point of unmanned aerial systems’ ability to deliver capability to the Soldier,” said Col. Thomas von Eschenbach. The unmanned aerial/aircraft system, or UAS, is no longer seen by Soldiers as a new system and as the months and years pass, it will “not just be used by a few, but will […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-army-at-tipping-point-of-unmanned-aircraft-system-capabilities-59068/

DefenceTalkAir Strato, electrical powered unmanned aerial vehicle performed the first take-off from rough ground. The aircraft performed a short flight at 25 m altitude and then landed. Air Strato was powered by four electrical engines. Two supplementary engines were added in order to shorten the take-off distance. Other additions ware suspensions installed on main and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/air-strato-first-take-off-and-landing-58924/

DefenceTalkDutch scientists have developed the world’s smallest autonomous flapping drone, a dragonfly-like beast with 3-D vision that could revolutionize our experience of everything from pop concerts to farming. “This is the DelFly Explorer, the world’s smallest drone with flapping wings that’s able to fly around by itself and avoid obstacles,” its proud developer Guido de […]https://www.defencetalk.com/dutch-scientists-flap-to-the-future-with-insect-drone-58844/

DefenceTalkThe US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, better known as DAPRA, presented concept images of its scheme to pair up the US military with modular drones named Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System (ARES for short), capable of transforming to comply with the needs of different missions. The ARES drone will be utilized as an unmanned vehicle […]https://www.defencetalk.com/meet-ares-darpas-newest-transformer-style-drones-under-development-58805/

DefenceTalkGermany’s Euro Hawk drone scandal showed no sign of ending on Wednesday, with alternatives for the failed programme running €200 million over budget. It means the military may turn back to the discarded, original plan. The Chief of Staff of the Bundeswehr, Volker Wieker, told a defence committee on Wednesday that the tests on four […]https://www.defencetalk.com/eurohawk-replacements-all-too-costly-bundeswehr-58774/

DefenceTalkAn unmanned drone said to be the most technologically advanced aircraft ever built in Britain has made its first successful test flights, military chiefs announced on Wednesday. The 185 million ($302 million, 223 million euros) top-secret Taranis craft, named after the Celtic god of thunder, conducted the tests at an unnamed location, believed to be […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uks-most-advanced-aircraft-makes-succesful-test-flights-50262/