DefenceTalkTo increase expeditionary capabilities in its long endurance Group 3 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), Lockheed Martin recently fielded its newest Expeditionary Ground Control Station, or “xGCS”, for use with the Fury UAS. Following its development and manufacturing in Huntsville, Ala., xGCS shipped and was integrated with Fury in San Luis Obispo, Calif. The first xGCS […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-integrates-latest-ground-control-station-technology-with-fury-uas-59590/

DefenceTalkThis report analyzes the operational effectiveness of three RPA design concepts, plus the MQ-9 Reaper as a baseline, on a “hunter-killer” mission: to find and destroy a specific moving vehicle. The findings are based on the modeling results for a permissive scenario involving a relatively small search area, a short time frame, and restrictive rules […]https://www.defencetalk.com/effectiveness-remotely-piloted-aircraft-scenario-59549/

DefenceTalkApache helicopters, teamed with Gray Eagle and Shadow unmanned aerial vehicles, are a winning combo, according to Col. Thomas von Eschenbach. Apache AH-64E models, teamed with unmanned aerial vehicles, known as UAVs, are now increasingly performing the armed aerial scout missions, once performed by Kiowa helicopters, and, Eschenbach said, they’re doing a fantastic job. Eschenbach, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-army-sees-uavs-as-kiowa-replacement-59547/

DefenceTalkThe Department of the Navy’s new, versatile small unmanned aircraft system made its first operational deployment overseas at the end of April with a Marine UAS squadron. Marines from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron (VMU) 2, located at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina, will use its small UAS, RQ-21A Blackjack, for intelligence, surveillance, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/marines-deploy-with-first-unmanned-rq-21a-blackjack-system-59525/

DefenceTalkRotary Bat incorporates latest autonomous control, intelligence gathering technologies Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., have agreed to work together to develop and market an innovative small, unmanned autonomous helicopter system. Called the Rotary Bat (R-Bat), the new system merges a proven airframe produced by Yamaha, with the latest autonomous control […]https://www.defencetalk.com/northrop-yamaha-motor-collaborate-on-unmanned-helicopter-system-59515/

DefenceTalkThe X-47B unmanned combat air system is gearing up for shore-based flight test activities in preparation for the next round of sea trials this summer. The program’s test team will conduct various test events with the X-47B over the next few months in an effort to mature air traffic control and ground support standard operating […]https://www.defencetalk.com/navys-x-47b-program-ramps-up-flight-test-59477/

DefenceTalkHANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE: The Air Force successfully completed the first Maritime Modes program risk reduction flight last week as the Service moves toward providing a new air-sea battle surveillance capability. The test flight, which took place in the airspace above the Navy’s Point Mugu sea range in California, consisted of an 11-and-a-half-hour sortie on […]https://www.defencetalk.com/airpower-above-water-air-force-tests-new-surveillance-capability-59439/

DefenceTalkLockheed Martin’s Group 1 family of unmanned aircraft systems is migrating to enhanced automation capabilities using its Kestrel “Fly Light” flight control systems and industry-leading mobile Ground Control Station (mGCS) software. The increased automation allows operators to focus on executing the mission, rather than flying various aircraft. Earlier this year, Lockheed Martin’s Desert Hawk III […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-demos-enhanced-ground-control-system-and-software-for-small-unmanned-aircraft-59395/

DefenceTalkThe wars in Iraq and Afghanistan sent unmanned aerial vehicle production to record heights, but with the last U.S. military troops in Afghanistan slated to depart the country this year, the Pentagon’s demand for unmanned air vehicles is slackening. However, while fewer UAVs are expected to roll off the production lines from 2014 to 2023, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uav-market-to-rise-strongly-through-the-next-decade-unmanned-land-sea-systems-also-growing-59337/

DefenceTalkMissions in remote, forward operating locations often suffer from a lack of connectivity to tactical operation centers and access to valuable intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data. The assets needed for long-range, high-bandwidth communications capabilities are often unavailable to lower echelons due to theater-wide mission priorities. DARPA’s Mobile Hotspots program aims to help overcome this […]https://www.defencetalk.com/remote-troops-closer-to-having-high-speed-wireless-networks-mounted-on-uavs-59267/