Boeing pushes away new capabilities for MQ-25A to focus on basics
By keeping its eye on two goals - refuelling fighters and operating from a carrier - the MQ-25A Stingray development team expects its unmanned air vehicle (UAV) to achieve initial operational capability (IOC) by 2024; other functions can come later
Northrop turns to Canberra to shore up Triton production
Northrop Grumman says Australia should consider advancing its acquisition of the US Navy’s MQ-4C Triton UAV following the Trump administration’s proposal to pause production for the programme in FY2021 and FY2022.
AeroVironment starts flight testing larger Switchblade with greater range
A larger Switchblade could possibly carry tank-piercing munitions and be cheaper than Javelin anti-tank missiles, which cost roughly $250,000 each.
UMS Skeldar launches lightweight V-150 UAV
UMS Skeldar has unveiled a lightweight addition to its range of vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicles, with the V-150 to be available for delivery from later this year.
General Atomics shows off Defender UAV concept to protect refuelling tankers
Protecting tankers and ISR aircraft with UAVs could free manned fighters, such as Lockheed Martin F-35As, to launch strikes deep into enemy territory.
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US Air Force wants to use private in-flight refuelling tankers in two years
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US State Department approves sale of eight Boeing KC-46A tankers to Israel
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Why attritable UAVs have aerospace manufacturers rethinking lucrative MRO and upgrades
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F-35 v Valkyrie: range, payload, cost and survivability
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Why the US Air Force might use ‘deception’ and UAVs hidden in shipping containers to fight China
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The Pentagon’s five principles for stopping artificial intelligence from running amok
5 technologies needed to make attritable UAVs work
Aircraft developers believe these five pieces of technology need to be improved to make attritable aircraft work.
Why attritable UAVs have aerospace manufacturers rethinking lucrative MRO and upgrades
Because attritable aircraft are designed to be limited-use, and cheap enough to be lost in combat or thrown-away when obsolete, the traditional model of capturing long-term business government via vendor lock – selling proprietary aircraft to the US Department of Defense and then making profits on MRO and upgrades – could be disrupted.
F-35 v Valkyrie: range, payload, cost and survivability
Relatively inexpensive unmanned systems have advantages which may put them on the front line when the USA squares up against China in the western Pacific
Why the US Air Force might use ‘deception’ and UAVs hidden in shipping containers to fight China
The US Air Force is rethinking the way it plans for war in the Pacific Ocean. It is eyeing a new class of unmanned air vehicle that could be hidden inside shipping containers and spread across small islands in the western Pacific. Should war ever come, the UAVs could be rocket launched within a matter of hours in massive volleys from dozens or even thousands of secret sites.
Safran works to correct Patroller UAV after December crash
Safran believes it now understands the reasons behind the crash of a Patroller unmanned air vehicle (UAV) last December – an incident that took place shortly before the initial example was due to be delivered to the French army.