26 Oct 14. Dstl plans unmanned ISR payload demonstration from Stiletto. The UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is preparing to conduct a second set of maritime unmanned air system (UAS) evaluations from the US Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) high-speed vessel testbed Stilleto. Under Capability Demonstration 15-1, Dstl plans in November 2014 to evaluate intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) payloads compatible with the size, weight, and power (SWaP) characteristics of the AeroVironment PUMA AE small tactical UAS. Built by M Ship Co LLC, the M80 Stiletto is a composite-bodied M-hull prototype craft developed to test littoral warfare concepts for the DoD. The Stiletto Maritime Demonstration Program is funded by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Rapid Reaction Technology Office, and is managed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, Detachment Norfolk. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
29 Oct 14. Insitu announced ScanEagle 2, the next generation of its revolutionary ScanEagle platform. Leveraging lessons learned from more than 800,000 operational hours, ScanEagle 2 provides increased payload power and expanded payload options, a more robust navigation system, better image quality due to a fully digital video system and a state-of-the-art, purpose-built propulsion system. The aircraft’s new architecture also maximizes commonality with all Insitu systems, reducing training, hardware and life-cycle costs. (Source: Yahoo!/PRNewswire)
28 Oct 14. UMS Demonstrates Tactical UAS in Uruguay. The Swiss/Swedish based Unmanned System developer and manufacturer, UMS Group AG, recently demonstrated their tactical fixed wing UAS, the F-330 to a delegation of over 60 VIPs including the Minister of Defence, in Uruguay, making them the first ever European UAS provider to fly an Unmanned System in the country. UMS Group was working alongside their established partner, Uruguayan Aerospace and Logistics (UAL) and participated in two separate demanding flight demonstrations/trials. The first was held on the outskirts of the Santa Terresa Army base in the north of the country. The VIP list included the Minister of Defence, several high-ranking Officers from across the Military, experts from the world of agriculture and a selection of the country’s national media. The 2-hour flight showcased the tactical UAS’s ability to carry out several roles, including Convoy Support, Route Surveillance, Direct Support and several civil applications including airborne Police support and Agricultural surveillance/monitoring. The main focus was showing and proving the utility of UAS to the Uruguayan Army as a potential capability enhancement to their commitment to United Nations operations, as well as hopefully providing the country with its first military national system. The capability was put through its paces in a second airborne assessment, this time highlighting the extreme flexibility of the system by looking to test the 8 hour endurance and the operational 50km limit of the system, while launching and recovering from an unprepared rough strip by day or night. Markus Huber, central member of the UMS Group Board said, “I am extremely pleased to be able to bring one of UMS Group’s 3 systems all the way to South America and be the first to successfully show off its capabilities to potential military and civilian customers here. It highlights the extensive abilities and skills of both our company and people and aptly shows we can deploy just about anywhere that is needed.”
(Source: UAS VISION)
27 Oct 14. Textron Awaits FAA COA for Aerosonde Flight. Textron Systems expects to receive a Certificate of Authorization (COA) from the US Federal Aviation Administration in coming weeks which will allow the firm to operate its AAI Aerosonde unmanned air vehicle (UAV) in unrestricted US airspace. Under the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, the administration was mandated by Congress to ensu