Unmanned Systems report

Defense Update Unmanned Systems Channel - June 2011

AMSTAF – Autonomous, Robotic Security Vehicle
Missile or UAV? UVision Introduces the WASP
Globe-i Zooming in to a “Window of Interest”
ChandlerMay, AME Unveil the Fury 1500 UAV at the Paris Air Show
Aeronautics Unveils Orbiter 3 at the Paris Airshow
Air Mules FanCrafts Could Be Operational in Four Years
U.S. Government Sends the Guardian Predator B to Paris
Phantom-Eye Prepares for First Flight by this Summer
Skylark 1LE + Dominator Offer New Benefits for Special Ops
Indian Police Seeking More Mini-UAVs
Innocon to sell 50 Micro-Falcon Man Portable UAS in Asia
Hermes 900 UAV Wins First Export Sale
General Atomics Joins CAE to Offer Predator B UAS to Canada

Photo above: Netra can be operated at distances of up to 1.5 km, flying at an altitude of 200 meters above ground sending live video streaming to the ground station. The growing interest in unmanned systems for use by Indian police and law enforcement agencies is bringing the Home Ministry to evaluate some of the technologies available for paramilitary use. Indian police forces are expressing interest in deploying mini and micro UAVs for years, and some have embarked on experimental evaluation programs, but only recently the interest was translated into action, with the procurement of the first two system by the Chandigarh Police. (Read More...)

AMSTAF – Autonomous, Robotic Security Vehicle

Automotive Robotic Industry is displaying here the AMSTAF robot, an unmanned patrol vehicle developed for security, border patrol, load carrying and casualty evacuation missions. The vehicle has already been selected for operation with the 5th Army of the Republic of Korea Defense Force, patrolling the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) with North Korea. (Read More...)

Missile or UAV? UVision Introduces the WASP

A new face at the Paris Air Show 2011 is UVision, a small company from Israel, specializing in special purpose UAVs. The highlights of the company’s display is the WASP personal, mini UAV that has performance characteristics of a missile, with the versatility, user control and reusability of a UAV.
UVision has built the WASP as a back-packable, canister-launched system, weighing about three kilograms, including the UAV, payload and launch tube. (Read More...)

Globe-i Zooming in to a “Window of Interest”

BlueBird Aero Systems is displaying its latest electrically-powered mini-UAVs, including the sub-kilogram MicroB, the combat proven Skylite mini-UAV and the flying-wing shaped Boomerang small-UAV, which has demonstrated mission endurance of 10 hours, powered by fuel cells, a record unmatched by other small-UAS of its class. (Read More...)

ChandlerMay, AME Unveil the Fury 1500 UAV at the Paris Air Show

AME Unmanned Air Systems (AME UAS) is displaying the Fury 1500 Small Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (STUAS) for the first time at the Paris Air Show 2011. The UAV has recently demonstrated flying powered by a heavy fuel engine. The use of JP8 significantly increases the capability of the system, decreasing the logistical footprint of the system while increasing its endurance substantially. (Read More...)

Air Mules FanCrafts Could Be Operational in Four Years

After nine years of development, Rafi Yoeli, founder and CEO of Urban Aeronautics says he is confident the Air Mule can achieve operational level within four years. The new design is gaining much interest and support within Israel Defense Forces (IDF), bringing Yoeli closer to achieve its goal. “If funding for the Air Mule is secured, we could have Air Mule ready for fielding by 2015”. Yoeli tells Defense-Update. (Read More...)

Aeronautics Unveils Orbiter 3 at the Paris Airshow

Aeronautics ltd., one of Israel’s leading unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) providers is unveiling its newest platform – Orbiter 3 Small UAS at the Paris Airshow. The UAS is already operational, with first system formally delivered three weeks ago to an undisclosed customer. “The Orbiter 3 STUAS brings to the unmanned systems market capabilities that did not exist previously” said Ran Carmeli, Head of the Aerial Division at Aeronautics. “A field deployed, 25 kg electric powered UAS, can now deliver the same Intelligence, Surveillance Targeting and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) output achieved up to now only by much larger tactical UAS of a 100 kg and more.” (Read More...)

U.S. Government Sends the Guardian Predator B to Paris

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is displaying the Guardian, its maritime variant MQ-9 Predator B Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), at the Paris Air Show 2011. The Guardian is flown from its home base at Cape Canaveral, Fla., to Le Bourget, France, onboard a U.S. Air Force C-17. CBP procured the remotely-piloted aircraft to enhance the agency’s long-range maritime surveillance, detection and targeting capabilities in the source and transit zones of the Eastern Pacific, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, as well as support anti-terror efforts along maritime smuggling routes. (Read More...)

Phantom-Eye Prepares for First Flight by this Summer

The Boeing Company Phantom Eye High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE)unmanned airborne system completed 12 days of ground vibration and structural mode interaction tests this month at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The aircraft is being prepared for its first flight, scheduled for later this summer.
Phantom Eye’s two hydrogen fuel tanks also were successfully filled with nitrogen to test fueling procedures and the aircraft’s full-fuel weight configuration. (Read More...)

Skylark 1LE + Dominator Offer New Benefits for Special Ops

Elbit Systems demonstrated how the Skylark 1LE, a small, silent, tactical mini-unmanned aircraft systems (Mini-UAS) can be operated with standard ‘Dominator’ wearable command and control, significantly reducing the warfighter carried load, relieving forward units from the need to deploy, control and retrieve UAS and empower special operations teams with persistent, ‘semi-organic’ ISR support. (Read More...)

Indian Police Seeking More Mini-UAVs

The growing interest in unmanned systems for use by Indian police and law enforcement agencies is bringing the Home Ministry to evaluate some of the technologies available for paramilitary use. Indian police forces are expressing interest in deploying mini and micro UAVs for years, and some have embarked on experimental evaluation programs, but only recently the interest was translated into action, with the procurement of the first two system by the Chandigarh Police. (Read More...)

Innocon to sell 50 Micro-Falcon Man Portable UAS in Asia

Innocon announced today the signature of a contract for the supply of 50 MicroFalcon Systems to an unnamed customer in Asia. All 50 systems will be delivered through 2012. The MicroFalcon is designed for close range low altitude surveillance missions. Innocon has already sold the MicroFalcon in Peru, the first system is due for delivery in August 2011. (Read More...)

Hermes 900 UAV Wins First Export Sale

Elbit Systems reported today the first export sale of its Hermes 900 UAV to a customer in Latin America (although the identity of the country has not been confirmed, the country is believed to be Chile). The UAV system selected by Chile also includes DCoMPASS payload systems and an unidentified radar systems. (Read More...)

General Atomics Joins CAE to Offer Predator B UAS to Canada

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) specialist General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA‑ASI) announced yesterday a teaming agreement with one of Canada’s leading defense companies CAE, to offer the Predator B UAS to Canada. GA-ASI and CAE will jointly compete for this program, with GA-ASI serving as the prime contractor supporting a U.S. Foreign Military Sale (FMS) procurement. (Read More...)