Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.
Safety
UAS Safety Standdown Slated For May 1
The one-day event will cover flight ops, maintenance, and quality management.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Blue Skies To Offer Drone Parachutes
System Deploys Automatically When Anomalies Occur
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Syrian Experience Urges Russia To Introduce UCAVs
Having treated armed UAVs with caution for many years, Russia appears to have embraced the concept following operational experience in Syria
Aircraft
Brimstone Gets a Boost
A capability sustainment contract from the UK should see MBDA's Brimstone missile fielded on Apache attack helicopters and Protector RPAs
Aircraft
Skunk Works Reveals Stealthy UAV Demonstrator
The X-44A first flew in 2001 and led to developments that are still mostly classified.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Study: Half of Drone Flights To Be Autonomous by 2022
The study says fundamental transformations will disrupt the status quo and create new opportunities for industry growth.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
U.S. Air Force Ends Predator Operations
Having undertaken operational sorties for more than two decades, the Predator is handing the RPA baton over to its larger successor, the MQ-9 Reaper.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
UAS Automated Flight Approval Expanding to 500 Airports
Part of FAA's larger register, ID, deconflict strategy
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Report: UAS Industry Will Hit $30 Billion by 2036
Cargo and Passenger drones will be part of the mix
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
New Chinese Armed UAV Project Unveiled
The Star UAV Systems Star Shaodw is set for a 2019 first flight
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
UTC Wins New Customers For DB- and MS-110 Sensor
The high-end tactical reconnaissance pods will be fitted to foreign jets, and also to US Air National Guard MQ-9 Reaper UAVs
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
GA-ASI Designs a New UAV For U.S. Navy’s MQ-25 Contest
The company has named six partners in its bid, including Boeing, which has also submitted a competing proposal.
Regulations and Government
Drone/Aircraft Encounters Prompt Call for Tighter Regulations
Carriers, pilots, and controllers want FAA empowered to tighten drone restrictions
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
China's Star Displays Two Innovative UAVs
Star UAV is promoting an unmanned version of the Pacific Aerospace P750XL as a cargo-carrier, mainly to operate in outlying areas
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Chinese UAVs Appear at Singapore Show
First flight of a larger design is expected soon.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Boeing Touts New Unmanned Cargo Vehicle
Prototype unveiled last month was designed and built in less than three months, can carry up to 500 pounds.
Regulations and Government
India Drone Regs Will Help Market
India is preparing to release regulations for drones operating in its airspace.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
MBDA To Show New Munitions in Singapore
The company sees significant growth potential in the Asia-Pacific market.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
GA-ASI Expanding Trials of MQ-9B in Controlled Airspace
The company is hoping to bring a certifiable variant of the Predator family to market in the early 2020s.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
ScanEagle UAS Offers New Capabilities
System has proved its usefulness in a range of applications around the region.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Airbus VTOL UAV Completes First Flights
Concept aircraft will progress toward forward flight
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
IAI Launches New Decoy and RPA Capabilities
Towed radar decoys have been around for some years, but IAI has introduced a new system that is completely self-contained.
Aircraft
China Is Serious About Exporting UCAVs
They have already been sold to a dozen countries, and newly-capable ones continue to emerge, including a jet.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Anti-UAS Systems Closer to Deployment
Lasers, high-powered microwaves, and nets are among the UAS abatement options.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
M1, ATMRI to Work on Mobile Phone Network for Drones
Through the MRU, researchers from Nanyan Technology University of Singapore will use existing mobile phone networks to track and control drones.
ATC
AirMap UAS Authorization Approval Available To App Developers
Effort is part of FAA LAANC pilot program rolling out nationwide
Aircraft
GA-ASI Demonstrates Satcom Launch and Recovery of Its Latest UAV
An MQ-9B SkyGuardian was controlled by aircrew in a ground station hundreds of miles away.
Aircraft
Leonardo To Lead European Unmanned Maritime Surveillance Project
With thousands of illegal migrants still trying to cross the seas to Europe, the European Defence Agency is funding the work.
Regulations and Government
Number of FAA-registered Drones Tops One Million
This number includes 878,000 hobbyists and 122,000 commercial, public, and other drones.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
ASX Reveals 250-mph eVTOL Design at Detroit Auto Show
Designed to autonomously takeoff like a helicopter, fly like an airplane, and transport passengers or cargo between urban centers, suburbs, and airports.
