20 Apr 16. Iran demonstrates ‘Epic’ combat drone. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard demonstrated a new UAV during war games earlier this month.
The exercise featured the Hamaseh (“Epic”) ISR and strike unmanned aircraft, according to Iran’s Fars News Agency.
“It was the first time for Hamaseh to be used in military exercises. The drone was unveiled in 2013 and enjoys the capability to carry out simultaneous protection, reconnaissance and attacking missions. The drone is equipped with the latest Iran-made missiles and bombs.”
Other Iranian-made drones used in the war games included the Mohajer, Ababil and Shahed. In addition, Iran displayed in February the Shaded 129, an armed UAV that Iran claims has a range of 1,300 miles and carries four missiles. The IRGC announced in February that the Shahed 129 is flying combat missions in Syria, Fars said. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
18 Apr 16. Afghan army launches first surveillance drones. Aided by American advisers, the Afghan army on Monday launched its first unmanned surveillance drones from a base in Helmand province to try to expand its ability to provide its own air support. Afghan forces are struggling to build up an independent air force as Taliban insurgents step up offensives across the country. Government troops remain heavily reliant on international aircraft to supply surveillance, intelligence, and occasionally air strikes. The first unarmed ScanEagle unmanned aircraft are based in Helmand, which has seen heavy fighting, as well as a training base in Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan. The army will receive eight “systems” from Washington, each including six aircraft, that are planned to be eventually used in all of the most contested areas in the country.
“Before this technology, they relied on human and signals intelligence,” Maj. Jason White, a U.S. Army adviser, said in a statement. “The ScanEagle systems considerably increase their intelligence collection and reconnaissance ability.”
The rudimentary drone network will remain totally reliant on foreign operators for years to come, however.
While Afghan commanders will oversee the flights, aircraft operations will be dependent on international contractors until at least 2018. Afghan soldiers are undergoing training in both the United States as well as at bases at home.
The ScanEagle is an unarmed surveillance aircraft that costs about $100,000 apiece, with a stabilised turret to carry high-definition and infrared cameras with live video feeds, says its maker Insitu, owned by aviation giant Boeing. ScanEagles use a pneumatic launcher to take off, and are recovered by a system of cables, letting them operate without an airfield. With a wingspan of about 3m (10ft), they can stay aloft up to 24 hours, at an altitude of 4,600m (15,000ft). (Source: Reuters)
18 Apr 16. China unveils 13m high-speed USV concept and targets Southeast Asian navies. Key Points:
• China has unveiled a 13m unmanned surface vessel (USV) concept in Southeast Asia for the first time
• Beijing is pushing ahead with defence exports in the region despite rising maritime tensions
A Chinese state-owned enterprise has unveiled a 13m trimaran unmanned surface vessel (USV) concept with the intention of marketing the system to navies and law enforcement agencies in the Southeast Asian region.
The system, which the company refers to as the 13m high-speed intercept boat, features a breadth of 4 m and a draught of 0.6 m.
“This is the first time that we are showing this outside China”, said Zhu Yingzi, manager of the USV programme at Poly Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of the state-owned China Poly Group Corporation – an enterprise that has been authorised by Beijing to develop and promote Chinese-made defence materiel globally. Zhu was speaking to IHS Jane’s at the DSA 2016 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur on 18 April.
“The interceptor has been developed by Poly Group Corporation in conjunction with Harbin Engineering University. A prototype of the USV i