DefenceTalkThe United Arab Emirates is ploughing money into drones, robots and other unmanned weaponry as autonomous warfare becomes more and more widespread — including in attacks on the Gulf country by Yemeni rebels. Large, black drones with the orange logo of EDGE, the UAE’s arms consortium, were on display at this week’s Unmanned Systems Exhibition […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uae-invests-in-drones-robots-as-unmanned-warfare-takes-off-78036/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkDefeating a swarm of small unmanned aircraft systems may one day require faster decision making than what a single human being can provide, and may mean the use of artificial intelligence to make those decisions. Right now, though, rules of engagement still require a human in the loop. “Right now we don’t have the authority […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-dod-official-discusses-unmanned-aircraft-systems-human-decision-making-ai-76747/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkWRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio: The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Center for Rapid Innovation (CRI) and DZYNE Technologies Incorporated resumed flight testing of the ROBOpilot unmanned air platform and completed a successful fourth flight test September 24 at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, during which ROBOpilot flew for approximately 2.2 hours, completing all test objectives. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/robopilot-unmanned-air-platform-returns-to-flight-76404/

On the underbelly of a Twin Otter research aircraft, a laser communication device stares out into the open skies over Cleveland. It’s not a camera taking images, but rather has eyes only for particular optical communication frequencies forming the foundation to a quantum key distribution (QKD) system being tested at NASA Glenn Research Center for […]

DefenceTalkThe U.S. military’s investments in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have proven invaluable for missions from intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) to tactical strike. Most of the current systems, however, require constant control by a dedicated pilot and sensor operator as well as a large number of analysts, all via telemetry. These requirements severely limit the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/establishing-the-code-for-unmanned-aircraft-to-fly-as-collaborative-teams-62217/

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/

DefenceTalkNorthrop Grumman Corporation has integrated and employed an internal miniature electronic attack payload on the Bat unmanned aircraft, marking the first time that such a system was used in operation on a Group III (small, tactical) unmanned aircraft system. The demonstration involved the jamming of radars during the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One […]https://www.defencetalk.com/northrop-demos-electronic-attack-capability-for-the-first-time-on-unmanned-aircraft-49659/

DefenceTalkRussian designers are proceeding with development of an unmanned “sixth-generation” fighter jet, former Air Force chief Pyotr Deinekin said Monday. “The sixth generation of aircraft will most likely be pilotless. Naturally, we are actively working on this,” Deinekin said in an interview with RIA Novosti. Russia will probably not be able to skip a generation […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-developing-unmanned-next-generation-fighter-48880/

DefenceTalkHelicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35 became the first composite expeditionary helicopter squadron to include both the world’s most technologically advanced helicopter; the MH-60R Seahawk and the MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Take-off and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV); during an establishment ceremony today on Naval Air Station North Island. As the Navy’s first operational […]https://www.defencetalk.com/navys-first-squadron-to-operate-manned-and-unmanned-aircraft-47696/