24 Apr 13. Hydroid to deliver another REMUS 100 unmanned vehicle for US Navy. Kongsberg Maritime’s subsidiary Hydroid has been selected to deliver an additional Remote Environmental Measuring Unit S (REMUS) 100 unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) for the US Navy Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC). A formal request for quote (RFQ) will be issued by NUWC officials to Hydroid on 1 May. NUWC researchers will deploy the REMUS 100 platform to support ongoing development and testing, while complementing the existing REMUS systems, which were procured to support a variety of programme efforts, NUWC officials said. Powered by a direct-drive DC brushless motor and an open three-bladed propeller, the REMUS 100 UUV uses Doppler-assisted dead reckoning, inertial navigation system and GPS to cruise at a top speed of 4.5k. Weighing 85lb, the 5ft-long vehicle can operate and conduct missions at depths of 328ft for eight to ten hours. The man-portable REMUS 100 can support missions such as mine countermeasures, harbour security, debris field mapping, search and salvage operations, hydrographic surveys, environmental monitoring, and fishery operations, as well as scientific sampling and mapping. Capable of operating with laptop computer-based software for programming, training, post-mission analysis, documentation, maintenance, and troubleshooting, the UUV features software to enable users to simultaneously control about four REMUS 100 UUVs. In addition to performing intricate sonar and oceanographic surveys over large areas, the unmanned platform can be used for marine research, defence, hydrographic and offshore energy applications. The REMUS 100 UUVs may also be deployed in exercises, which require a vehicle that cruises at a speed of 4k for up to ten hours. NUWC is the US Navy’s primary research and engineering centre for underwater and submarine warfare. (Source: naval-technology.com)

22 Apr 13. Israel’s air force is on track to developing drones that within four to five decades would carry out nearly every battlefield operation executed today by piloted aircraft, a high-ranking Israeli officer says. The officer, who works in the field of unmanned aerial vehicle intelligence, said Israel is speeding up research and development of such unmanned technologies for air, ground and naval forces. Israel is a world leader in drone technology. The officer claimed the country is second only to the United States in the range of unmanned aerial systems its produces. He said he was “aware” that American drones are capable of firing missiles, but refused to say whether Israeli drones could do the same, despite dozens of witness accounts from the Gaza Strip who attest to seeing the small craft shoot missiles. The officer cited one technology recently unveiled: the unmanned Hermes 900 aircraft, developed by the Israeli military manufacturer Elbit Systems Ltd. and recently rolled out for Israeli military use. (Source: Google)

24 Apr 13. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. successfully demonstrated its Advanced Cockpit Ground Control Station’s (GCS’) capability to fly Predator C Avenger®. The flight occurred November 15, 2012 at the company’s Gray Butte Flight Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif. The goal of this Congressionally-directed, U.S. Air Force (USAF)-supported demonstration was to show that the Advanced Cockpit’s open systems software architecture adapts rapidly for other RPA operations. More than two years ago, the system successfully flew the MQ-1 Predator over a three-month period. In April 2012, the Advanced Cockpit flew the SARC-1 UAS under a jointly funded company effort with Strategic Simulation Solutions. This effort demonstrated the system’s ability to control third party RPA. This summer, the Advanced Cockpit is scheduled to fly Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper. GA-ASI’s Advanced Cockpit GCS is being designed in accordance with the U.S. Air Force’s Unmanned Aircraft System Command and Control Initiative to enable interoperabilit