18 Feb 15. Air Force to Divest U-2, Global Hawk Block 40 Should Sequestration Return. The Air Force wants to keep both its U-2 spy planes and Global Hawk Block 40 unmanned aerial vehicles, but if sequestration returns in fiscal year 2016, it will not be able to afford either aircraft, the service’s deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance said. “Under [the Budget Control Act], we’re going to divest the U-2 in fiscal year 16. We’re going to divest the Global Hawk Block 40 in fiscal 16, and that’s going to leave big gaps in coverage,” Lt. Gen. Robert Otto said Feb. 18 at an Air Force Association breakfast. (Source: glstrade.com/NDIA)
16 Feb 15. Indian and US firms inaugurate joint UAV development facility. Indian company Dynamatic Technologies and AeroVironment, a US developer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), officially inaugurated on 17 February a facility to support the Indian-US Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI). The facility – at Dynamatic’s aeronautic manufacturing facilities in Bangalore – will be the base for the two companies’ joint development and production of the AeroVironment-designed UAV system identified by India and the United States as a ‘pathfinder’ project under the DTTI. The two governments agreed four DTTI pathfinder projects in January 2015. They comprise the AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven hand-launched UAV; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems for the Indian Air Force’s Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 transports; mobile electric hybrid power systems; and protective clothing. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
16 Feb 15. DDTC Announces New Requirements for Export of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The U.S. Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) has announced on its website that in support of the U.S. policy on the export of military unmanned aerial systems (UAS), it now requires certain assurances of proper use from the foreign end users before export. In addition to the required DSP-83, Non Transfer and Use Certificate, DDTC now requires an addendum to paragraph five (5) of the DSP-83 to address this requirement. The DSP-83 with the required addendum, signed by the foreign end user and U.S. applicant, must be submitted at the time of initial application for a permanent export license. The temporary export of UASs (i.e., for marketing) will not require assurance at the time of export, but any sale and subsequent permanent export must comply with this requirement. (Source: glstrade.com)
16 Feb 15. FAA Proposes Rules for Small UAS in U.S. Aviation System. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) yesterday released a proposed framework of regulations to allow routine use of certain small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in today’s aviation system. The FAA proposal offers safety rules for small UAS (under 55 pounds) conducting non-recreational operations. The rule would limit flights to daylight and visual-line-of-sight operations. It also addresses height restrictions, operator certification, optional use of a visual observer, aircraft registration and marking, and operational limits. The proposed rule also includes extensive discussion of the possibility of an additional, more flexible framework for “micro” UAS under 4.4 pounds. The FAA is asking the public to comment on this possible classification to determine whether it should include this option as part of a final rule. The FAA is also asking for comment about how the agency can further leverage the UAS test site program and an upcoming UAS Center of Excellence to further spur innovation at “innovation zones.” The public will be able to comment on the proposed regulation for 60 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register. (Source: glstrade.com)
18 Feb 15. The United States Marine Corps has a new set of balls. To stay one step ahead of the enemy, the Marines are deploying very special, high-tech, spherical drones – amphibious surveill