According to a new study by Washington's Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), the fleet of high-flying, long-endurance unmanned aircraft operated by the United States and its allies could be a vital hedge against efforts by Russia and China to expand their borders and influence.
The report, "Deterrence by Detection: A Key Role for Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Great Power Detection," says Russia and China can conduct rapid strikes on neighboring countries on their peripheries, often before the United States or its allies could react.
ISR
ISR
USMC conducts first operational flight of MQ-9A Reaper UAS in the Middle East
U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) pilots and sensor operators from Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 (VMU-1) conducted their first operational flight of GA-ASI's MQ-9A Reaper UAS in the Middle East on March 20.
The VMU-1 “Watchdog” crews took control of a Company Owned/Company Operated (COCO) MQ-9A supporting forward deployed Marines, while the GA-ASI team provided oversight.
This achievement by the USMC comes shortly after 7,000 hours of COCO flight operations since Sept. 2018 was surpassed.
“This achievement represents a unique milestone and example of the Marine Corps’ legacy of innovation,” says David R. Alexander, president, GA-ASI.
AeroVironment to provide Raven small UAS and training to allied nation
AeroVironment has announced that on March 3, it received a $2,424,595 firm-fixed-price contract to provide an allied nation with its Raven small UAS and training.
Delivery is anticipated by August of this year.
“With its rugged design, small footprint and high resolution sensor capabilities, the combat-proven Raven offers allied forces the actionable intelligence they need at a moment’s notice in the most extreme environments,” says Rick Pedigo, vice president of sales and business development for AeroVironment.
Elbit Systems awarded contracts to upgrade capabilities of its Hermes 900 UAS
Elbit Systems Ltd. has been awarded two contracts valued at a total of approximately $20 million to upgrade the capabilities of its Hermes 900 UAS.
GA-ASI, L3Harris Technologies successfully equip MQ-9 RPAS with EO/IR system
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) and L3Harris Technologies have successfully completed equipping a GA-ASI MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) with the WESCAM MX-20 Electro-optical/Infrared (EO/IR) system, resulting in an advanced targeting platform.
Beginning Feb. 18, a series of test flights were conducted to demonstrate the MQ-9’s ability to locate and track targets at long stand-off ranges thanks to the integration of the MX-20.
“The GA-ASI and L3Harris teams have worked closely over the past year to ensure the successful integration of this sophisticated system,” says Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI.
UAVOS to demonstrate unmanned helicopter for search and rescue maritime missions
During UMEX 2020, UAVOS and its partner ISR Unmanned Technology will conduct search and rescue maritime missions using their joint ISR350-5 unmanned helicopter.
Designed for civilian and security missions, the ISR350-5 UAS will perform rescue tasks, including dropping a life jacket into the water. In preparation for these exercises, UAVOS has modified the lifejacket by fitting it with a water anchor.
The demonstration flights will seek to prove the advantages of using an unmanned helicopter for maritime patrolling, especially when the aircraft is equipped with multiple sensors.
Silent Falcon UAS E1 surpasses 500 hours of successful flight testing and operations
Silent Falcon UAS Technologies (SFUAS) has announced that the Silent Falcon E1 UAS has completed 500 hours of successful flight testing and operations.
The solar electric, fixed wing UAS is considered an ideal platform to use to collect data in both harsh and peaceful environments, thanks in large part to its payload capacity of 20 pounds and its ceiling of 20,000 feet above ground level (AGL). The UAS is also noise and emission free, and it provides long range, low cost intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability.
FLIR Systems announces acquisition of Aeryon Labs
On Monday, Jan. 28, FLIR Systems Inc. announced its acquisition of Aeryon Labs Inc., which is known for developing high-performance UAS for the global military, public safety, and critical infrastructure markets. FLIR acquired Aeryon for $200 million.
Founded in 2007, Aeryon is based in Waterloo, Canada, with offices in Denver, Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah. The company designs and manufactures mission-focused Group 1 UAS technology built around aircraft that weigh less than 20 pounds.
20 militaries in more than 30 countries across the globe deploy Aeryon’s family of UAS, including the United States Department of Defense.
Leonardo's Falco EVO Remotely-Piloted Air System being tested as part of Frontex surveillance research program
As part of the Frontex surveillance research program, Leonardo’s Falco EVO Remotely-Piloted Air System (RPAS), in a maritime patrol configuration, has been deployed from Lampedusa airport (Lampedusa Island) to test its ability to monitor the external borders of the European Union.
Frontex is looking into the surveillance capability of medium-altitude, long-endurance RPAS, while also evaluating the cost efficiency and endurance of these systems.
The European agency selected Leonardo under a “service contract tender for drone operations” for maritime surveillance across the Italian and Maltese civil airspace. While the current agreement provides for 300 flight hours, it may be extended into a longer-term agreement.
Lockheed Martin's unmanned MQ-25 tanker designed with the Navy's needs in mind
During a media briefing at Sea-Air-Space 2018 in National Harbor, Maryland, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works’ leaders described the company’s MQ-25 unmanned tanker concept as a “tremendous, high performing tanker/airplane” for the Navy.
The “purpose-built” tanker’s configuration has a “clean sheet design,” the company says. According to Rob Weiss, vice president and general manager for Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, the aircraft’s configuration is a result of the Skunk Works’ team listening to its customer.
