DefenceTalkPakistan will not allow the death of Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone strike to derail proposed peace talks, the information minister said Saturday. Pervez Rasheed told reporters the government wanted to press ahead with its plan to negotiate with Mehsud’s Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). “We can say that this time drone struck the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pakistan-will-not-let-death-of-ttp-leader-derail-talks-minister-49546/

DefenceTalkIran’s army unveiled a highly mobile propellant-powered reconnaissance drone on Saturday, according to local media. The drone, named “Yasseer,” can fly for eight hours with a range of 200 kilometers (124 miles) and reach an altitude of 4,500 meters (15,000 feet), the reports said. It resembles the American ScanEagle, an unmanned short-range aerial surveillance vehicle […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iran-unveils-short-range-reconnaissance-drone-49234/

DefenceTalkThe Pentagon is shifting its drone operations from a US base in Djibouti to a more remote airfield after local officials voiced concern about possible collisions with commercial aircraft, officials said Wednesday. “There was a concern over what would happen if a MQ-1 (Predator drone) obstructed a runway, and that it would have a significant […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-relocates-drones-airfield-after-djibouti-crashes-49208/

DefenceTalkReconnaissance gadgets and robotic warfare devices are getting smaller by the year, with James Bond like technology being offered to a wide range of buyers, from police forces to special military units. The market place for such technology has become Defence Security and Equipment International (DSEi) exhibition held at ExCel London. The international exhibition has […]https://www.defencetalk.com/future-war-arms-industry-shows-off-next-gen-drones-in-london-49061/

DefenceTalkThe British military fired nearly seven times as many missiles from unmanned drones in Afghanistan last year as it did five years earlier, according to official data released on Friday. In 2012 British drones flew 892 missions over Afghanistan — firing missiles on 92 occasions — more than 10 percent of all sorties, junior defence […]https://www.defencetalk.com/sharp-rise-in-british-drone-use-in-afghanistan-48980/

DefenceTalkThe US Air Force is unable to keep up with a growing demand for pilots capable of operating drones, partly due to a shortage of volunteers, according to a new study. Despite the importance placed on the burgeoning robotic fleet, drone operators face a lack of opportunities for promotion to higher ranks and the military […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-air-force-lacks-volunteers-to-operate-drones-48831/

DefenceTalkAn odd underwater ballet has been unfolding in the Mediterranean port of Toulon these past few days. Under the scrutiny of their masters, whose eyes are glued to computer screens, the world’s first fleet of “marine drones” is being put through its paces. Five European countries — France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal — have […]https://www.defencetalk.com/time-to-train-for-worlds-first-fleet-of-marine-drones-48630/

DefenceTalkLess than three months after the last F-4 phantom II departed from the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group for drone conversion, maintainers here are already turning the wrenches on Air Combat Command’s fourth generation of aerial targets, the F-16 Fighting Falcon. With AMARG’s entire F-16 regeneration team gathered to document the event on July […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-16s-being-regenerated-into-drones-48504/

DefenceTalkPlans to sell US Reaper drones to France advanced Monday as Congress raised no objections to the contract, Pentagon officials said. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which oversees foreign military sales, had notified Congress on June 27 of the proposed contract, and lawmakers voiced no opposition during a 15-day review period. “Congress did not propose […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-readies-sale-of-reaper-drones-to-france-48479/

DefenceTalkPakistan reached an understanding with the United States on drone strikes targeting Islamist militants and the attacks can be useful, according leaked remarks from a former intelligence chief. Pakistan publicly condemns US missile attacks on Taliban and Al-Qaeda operatives as a violation of its sovereignty, but the new revelations are the latest sign of double-dealing […]https://www.defencetalk.com/report-reveals-pakistan-us-understanding-on-drones-48334/