24 Aug 06. General Atomics Aeronautical System of San Diego, Calif., was awarded August 22 a cost plus fixed-fee contract for $11,466,000 as part of an estimated $23.4 million contract to acquire four extended range multi-purpose unmanned aerial vehicles, the associated support equipment and initial spare parts. This work will be completed by Aug. 31, 2007, and will take place at four locations: San Diego, Adelanto and Palmdale, Calif.; and Salt Lake City. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity. Army Public Affairs can be reached at (703) 692-2000 (W58RGZ-06-C-0208).
01 Sep 06. Teal Group: UAV Spending To Triple Within Decade. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will continue to be the most dynamic growth sector of the world aerospace industry, according to the Teal Group, an aerospace and defense consultancy firm based in Fairfax, Va. The firm estimated Aug. 31 that UAV spending will more than triple over the next decade, from current worldwide UAV expenditures of $2.7bn annually to $8.3bn within a decade, totaling close to $55bn in the next 10 years. The group suggests that the United States will account for 77 percent of the worldwide research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) spending on UAV technology over the next decade, and about 64 percent of the procurement. U.S. expenditures represent higher shares of the aerospace market than for worldwide defense spending in general, Teal said, with the United States making up about 67 percent of total worldwide defense RDT&E spending and 37 percent of procurement spending. The group expects that sales of UAVs will follow recent patterns of arms procurement worldwide, with Europe representing the second-largest market and the second-most significant center for high-tech research, with about 20 percent of the worldwide total. Asia-Pacific should be the next principal market for UAVs, followed by the Middle East, according to the firm. Teal Group also said a civil UAV market will slowly emerge over the next decade, starting first with government organizations requiring surveillance systems similar to military UAVs such as coast guards, border patrol organizations and similar national security organizations. (Source: Aerospace Daily & Defense Report)
01 Sep 06. The Canadian Ministry of Defence has just awarded Sagem Defense Securite (SAFRAN Group) a contract to standardize Danish Army Sperwer tactical UAV systems according to Canadian specifications. This program fulfills Canada’s need to reinforce its fleet of Sperwer tactical UAV systems for its operations in Afghanistan. Deployed in the Kandahar region since March 2006, the Sperwer system has proven its operational effectiveness on a daily basis in the Canadian forces’ missions to stabilize the country under harsh engagement conditions in a theater completely lacking in infrastructure. This is the second deployment of Canadian Sperwer following a first successful mission in 2003 as part of the ISAF. As proof of Canada’s confidence in the Sperwer system, the program will consist of configuring the software and the equipment of the Danish systems (ground units and aircraft) in accordance with the Canadian ones. Transferring these Danish UAVs will allow Canada to quickly double its fleet of Sperwer tactical UAVs. Developed by Sagem Defense Securite and manufactured in its Montlucon, France, factory, the Sperwer UAV is a remote-controlled aircraft with a 4.2-meter wingspan, carrying a highly powerful, gyrostabilized optronic payload. With autonomy of six hours, they are launched by catapult and can be used both day and night.
Sep 06. AUVSI: Tadiran Spectralink debuts its new high spectrum efficiency ”StarLink Mark II” FH/TDD Digital Data Link for Mini-UAVs. One of the highlights of Tadiran Spectralink´s impressive display at the recent AUVSI 2006 Symposium and Exhibition in Orlando, Florida, was the new StarLink Mark II digital data link. More efficient use of th