UAS and Robotics


X-47B moves closer to carrier demo in 2013

Navy technicians will perform arrested landings and catapult launches of the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland this year in preparation for a carrier demonstration in 2013.

Marines extend use of cargo UAV in Afghanistan

The Marines have extended for two more months their use of a pair of Lockheed Martin's K-MAX unmanned cargo helicopters in Afghanistan in what might be a positive sign that there is a clear need for such equipment on the battlefield.

DOD experiments with image services contracts to plug ISR gaps

Some parts of the Defense Department are now purchasing "pixels by the hour" from contractors operating unmanned aerial systems as a way to fill gaps in their intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

Australia deploys Shadow 200 UAS to Afghanistan

Australia has begun using the AAI Shadow 200 tactical unmanned aircraft system in Afghanistan.

UAV strike kills al Qaeda member who aided USS Cole bombing

An airstrike allegedly carried out by a U.S. armed unmanned aircraft killed an al Qaeda terrorist who had escaped from prison seven years ago following his conviction for participation in the 2002 bombing of the USS Cole.

Air Force ISR success rides on common architecture, says deputy chief

A common architecture for ISR must be established that allows data to be moved from all domains and across dissimilar platforms rapidly and efficiently, says a top Air Force official.

Army braces for aerial intel surge in Afghanistan

The Army must figure out new and efficient ways to process data gathered from unmanned aerial vehicle sensors and cameras as it begins operations in Afghanistan with its first medium-altitude, long endurance MQ-1C Gray Eagle and also its first full-spectrum combat aviation brigade with manned and unmanned aircraft.

Air Force ground control stations get secure info-sharing boost

Boeing has delivered a tactical cross-domain solution designed to boost secure information sharing to General Atomics for integration into the ground control stations used for Predator and Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles.

Military airship programs plagued by wide range of problems

The Defense Department has invested more than $1 billion in at least nine airship programs across the military services in an effort to provide persistent surveillance to ground troops, but so far has almost nothing to show in operational airships.

House tries to breathe life into Global Hawk Block 30 program

The House Armed Services Committee has designated $260 million in its mark-up of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2013 for the Air Force to continue operating its Block 30 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles.

Flexrotor UAV scheduled for flight control upgrade

The Office of Naval Research has awarded Aerovel a contract to develop the flight controls component for the Flexrotor vertical take-off-and-landing unmanned aerial vehicle.

Airborne ISR still years away from futuristic swarm concept

The Defense Department's strategy for employing airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensors and platforms against adversaries is threatened on a number of fronts, and the best solution to address the existing challenges is years away.

Webcast

  • Improving Performance Management and Project Control to Meet Cost/Schedule Milestones in DoD Procurement

    It can be nearly impossible to build annual budgets that consider forecasted project and program work plans along with detailed cost data, particularly when attempting to reconcile actual and projected program costs with actual schedule performance. In this webcast, a defense IT program manager will share best practices and hard-won lessons aligning critical data on project performance, cost systems and schedules for truly big picture program management insight. Read more