DefenceTalkIn extending technological leadership within the remote sensing market, Headwall announced availability of its new Nano-Hyperspec sensor for commercial UAV deployment. The low-cost hyperspectral sensor operates in the VNIR (400-1000nm) spectral range and includes onboard data processing and storage to minimize size, weight, and power constraints inherent with small, hand-launched UAVs. The Nano-Hyperspec sensor can […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nano-hyperspec-sensor-payload-for-small-hand-launched-uavs-60006/

DefenceTalkGermany’s defence minister said Tuesday she wants the armed forces to be able to use armed drones under certain conditions. A day before lawmakers debate the controversial issue, Ursula von der Leyen told Wednesday’s edition of the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper that she backed Germany having the option of drones capable of being armed if deployments […]https://www.defencetalk.com/german-defence-minister-backs-use-of-armed-drones-60004/

DefenceTalkThe US military has started flying armed drones over Baghdad to defend American troops and diplomats as Iraqi forces took their fight against Sunni insurgents to the strategic militant-held city of Tikrit. Iraq’s top Shiite cleric urged the country’s leaders to unite, after Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki conceded political measures are needed to defeat the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-drones-over-baghdad-as-iraq-battles-for-tikrit-59987/

DefenceTalkA Harfang UAS belonging to the French Air Force (FAF) controlled by a crew from the French Military Flight Test Centre (Centre d’Expérience Aérienne Militaire), the UAS Squadron “Belfort” (ED 1/33) and the UAS detachment stationed in the Sahel-Sahara region has successfully undergone testing to prove that once it has taken off from its overseas […]https://www.defencetalk.com/airbus-touts-harfang-uav-performance-59985/

DefenceTalkEUROSATORY 2014: Sagem (Safran) just tested and integrated successfully a new generation optronics multi-sensors suite on its Patroller endurance UAS. Tested in France between April and June 2014, during a campaign of 30 flights, this new optronics suite is based on a Euroflir 410 gyrostabilised turret. It is characterized by extended capabilities for long distance […]https://www.defencetalk.com/new-sensor-pack-for-sagems-patroller-uav-59915/

DefenceTalkNorthrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) and the U.S. Navy successfully flew the unmanned MQ-8B Fire Scout simultaneously with the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter for the first time. The capability demonstrates how a mix of aircraft can increase a ship commander’s intelligence-gathering capabilities aboard the Littoral Combat Ship. The flight tests took place May 12, aboard the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/fire-scout-uav-seahawk-tested-on-lcs-1-59885/

DefenceTalkThe RQ-4 Global Hawk made its first operational flight out of Misawa Air Base on June 6. The flight marked two milestones: the first time an RQ-4 mission has flown out of Japan, and the first operational mission flown out of a jointly-used civilian and military airfield. According to detachment officials, combining and coordinating civilian […]https://www.defencetalk.com/misawa-launches-first-global-hawk-59878/

DefenceTalkAn unmanned aerial surveillance platoon from the Michigan National Guard launched their 15th RQ-7B Shadow Unmanned Aircraft System into the Latvian skies here, Saturday. Latvian Armed Forces, providing aviation tower and runway support, assisted with this latest flight of Michigan Army National Guard Unmanned Aerial Surveillance platoon, B Company, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 37th Infantry […]https://www.defencetalk.com/shadow-uas-platoon-has-15th-successful-launch-in-latvia-59764/

DefenceTalkDesigned for versatility and affordability, the new Lockheed Martin Vector Hawk addresses a broad set of unique missions and operating needs within a single system. With a gross takeoff weight of only four pounds and a vertical profile of only four inches, Vector Hawk boasts best-in-class payload capacity, speed and endurance. “We are proud to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-martin-introduces-latest-addition-to-small-uav-family-59643/

DefenceTalkUnmanned aerial vehicles will monitor military build-ups as well as missile and nuclear development programs, but they are likely to be criticized by Beijing and Pyongyang for contributing to regional tensions. The US Air Force is to transfer two of its state-of-the-art Global Hawk drones to its air base at Misawa, in northern Japan, before […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-japan-prepare-to-deploy-surveillance-drones-59607/