UAVs

Marine Corps’ First MQ-9A Takes Flight In Arizona

The first flight of a service-owned vehicle is a key step for the Marine Corps to free itself of restrictions associated with civilian contractor operators.

Army’s IBCS Starts Operational Testing Next Month: SMDC’s Karbler

"It means that our adversaries are growing increasingly bold in their hostile acts of using ballistic missiles cruise missiles and UAS," Lt. Gen. Karbler said. "They're crucially bold in their conduct of irresponsible space activities. It means the Joint Force will demand more from the Army's Space and Missile defense capabilities and expertise going forward."

Iranian Nuke Centrifuge Plant Badly Damaged By Drones

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett appeared to hint Thursday -- the day after the attack -- that Israel may have been involved when he spoke to a graduating ceremony for Israeli Air Force pilots: "Our enemies know — not from statements, but from actions — that we are much more determined and much more clever, and that we do not hesitate to act when it is needed.”

Israel Seeks US Dough To Help Build Airborne Laser After Tests

"The ability to intercept and destroy airborne threats in the air is groundbreaking and offers a strategic change in the air defense capabilities of the State of Israel." the head of research and development in the Israeli Defense Ministry, Brig. Gen. Yaniv Rotem, told BD.

The Five Surprises In Pentagon’s 2022 Budget

Most observers had expected an increase in the Navy's shipbuilding accounts with this budget, especially after the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, said that, even as an Army general, he would support budget increases for the Navy and Air Force in light of the Chinese threat. But this budget decommissions 12 ships and buys relatively few replacements.

Israelis Fare Well In US Army Counter Drone Tests

TEL AVIV: Three Israeli companies are finalists in the U.S Army’s contest to find the most effective systems to neutralize hostile drones, with only one US company still in the mix. ELTA, teamed with Iron Drone, and XTEND recently demonstrated their systems at Yuma Proving Grounds. The demos are part of the Army’s effort to […]

Drone Refuels Manned Aircraft For First Time: Navy

The Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray prototype successfully refueled a Navy Super Hornet fighter in mid-air during a Friday test.

Paratroopers Pioneer New Army Network, Tactics

New radios offer dramatically greater range, clarity, & data — once soldiers and leaders figure out how best to use them.

Teledyne-FLIR Merger Creates Tactical Drone Powerhouse

The combined company will offer a wide range of unmanned vehicles (mostly small ones) for air, land, sea, and underwater, said exec Roger Wells.

Air Guard Shows Off New ‘Ghost Reaper’ Chops At Northern Edge

Ghost Reaper upgrades include Northrop Grumman's Freedom Pod, which houses the company's gateway radio system that can connect fourth- and fifth-generation fighters.

Army Wants To Accelerate FTUAS Drone

“I think it's unanimous from all the soldiers involved that we got this one right,” said the Army’s project manager for the Future Tactical Unmanned Aerial System. Manned aircraft, FARA and FLRAA, are also moving out sharply.

Inside Russia’s Robot Army: Rhetoric vs. Reality

Russia has big ambitions for unmanned systems, said CNA scholar Sam Bendett, but it faces the same technical hurdles as the US — and shares the same concerns about human control.

Anduril Buys Mini-Drone Maker Area-I

The new owners bring venture capital and software expertise to upgrade Area-I’s ALTIUS mini-drone, already a favorite in Army experiments with ‘Air-Launched Effects.’

Air Force Drone Plan May Rile MQ-9 Champions

"This is a new effort, as the expanded mission now goes beyond a strict MQ-9 replacement," an AFLCMC spokesperson said. "This endeavor serves to explore concepts that address capability gaps of legacy platforms against increasingly sophisticated threats in denied, contested, and highly contested environments."