DefenceTalkThe US Air Force is preparing to launch its super-secretive space drone into orbit again, and this time NASA will use the flight to see how 100 or so “materials of interest” hold up in space’s harsh zero-gravity environment. No details were released about the nature of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle’s three previous orbital […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagons-mysterious-x-37b-space-drone-heads-back-into-orbit-64264/

DefenceTalkBrussels: A European project to build a military drone by 2025 took wing on Monday as Germany, France and Italy signed a deal to start technical work and end their reliance on US- and Israeli-made models. The scheme for a pilotless aircraft built by the three EU powers could be worth up to a billion […]https://www.defencetalk.com/euro-drone-project-gets-lift-off-to-challenge-us-64247/

DefenceTalkUS military scientists have invented a miniature drone that fits in the palm of a hand, ready to be dropped from the sky like a mobile phone with wings. The “micro air vehicle” is named after the insect that inspired its invention, the Cicada, which spends years underground before appearing in great swarms, reproducing and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/cicadas-us-militarys-new-swarm-of-mini-drones-64239/

DefenceTalkUnmanned aircraft is one of the fastest growing sectors in civilian and military aviation. From close air support, to surveillance, to climate data gathering, unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, are now a staple within Army aviation units. This growing demand is rapidly requiring units to train more personnel to operate drones. Training is especially paramount […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-army-combat-aviation-soldiers-master-control-of-drones-during-test-flights-64222/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk high altitude, long endurance autonomous unmanned aircraft system (UAS) successfully completed Milestone C approval from the Defense Acquisition Executive. For the Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC)-built Global Hawk program, Milestone C is a key incremental step in the Department of Defense’s acquisition process that enables the program to move […]https://www.defencetalk.com/rq-4-global-hawk-achieves-milestone-c-64117/

DefenceTalkExelis has launched its first airspace situational awareness tool designed specifically for unmanned aerial system (UAS), drone operations in the US. Symphony® RangeVue™ puts real-time Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) surveillance data, flexible background maps and weather information in the hands of UAS operators and test range personnel. The system provides significant improvements to the safety […]https://www.defencetalk.com/exelis-launches-airspace-surveillance-and-sense-and-avoid-tool-for-uavs-63971/

DefenceTalkThe X-47B test UAV has completed the first-ever autonomous aerial refueling. Developed by Northrop Grumman, the drone received over 4,000 pounds of fuel from a tanker jet just off the coast of Virginia. “What we accomplished today demonstrates a significant, groundbreaking step forward for the Navy,” Captain Beau Duarte, program manager for the Navy’s unmanned […]https://www.defencetalk.com/for-the-first-time-ever-us-navy-drone-refueled-mid-flight-63926/

DefenceTalkNAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER: The Navy’s MQ-4C Triton UAS equipped with a new search radar completed its inaugural flight April 18 over Patuxent River air space. The radar, known as the Multi-Function Active Sensor (MFAS), is expected to greatly enhance maritime domain awareness by providing the MQ-4C with a 360-degree view of a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/triton-uas-conducts-first-flight-with-search-radar-63912/

DefenceTalkThe Navy’s Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons (PEO (U&W)) hosted an industry day April 16 to help companies learn about the service’s future technology needs. PEO (U&W) leaders, representatives from NAVAIR’s small business office and Navy and Marine Corps requirements officers gave presentations throughout the day to more than 230 attendees, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/navy-unmanned-weapons-leaders-solicit-industry-for-new-innovative-ideas-63914/

DefenceTalkThe Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office has completed equipping the 1/501st Aviation Battalion, 1st Armored Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade, from Fort Bliss, Texas, with the RQ-7Bv2 (Tactical Common Data Link) Shadow Unmanned Aircraft System, or UAS. The unit is the first to receive the Shadow v2 and have it organically assigned to the battalion. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-army-equips-first-shadow-uas-v2-unit-63832/