U(C)AV ontwikkelingen

[Parera]

Spain sets out European MALE RPAS procurement plan



The Spanish Air Force (Ejército del Aire Español: EdAE) has said it is to acquire 15 of the new European medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) remotely piloted air systems (RPASs) being developed by a pan-European consortium.

Planned for entry into service in the mid-2020s, the MALE RPAS is a joint project between Germany (Airbus), France (Dassault), Italy (Leonardo), and Spain (Airbus).

An EdAE spokesperson confirmed the Spanish proposals on 7 November. While no timetable has yet been drawn up, the first aircraft are expected to arrive in Spain from 2026 onwards.

To avoid a capability gap while it waits for the new European MALE RPAS, the air force is to be equipped with the General Atomics Reaper MQ-9 Predator B. The first two are due to arrive in February 2019 with a second pair set for delivery in October 2019.

[Source: Janes.com ]

[Jooop]

Turkey, Indonesia support UAV collaboration
Jon Grevatt, Bangkok - IHS Jane's Defence Industry
15 August 2018

Turkish Aircraft Industries (TAI) has expanded its engagement with Indonesian aerospace and defence companies in a bid to support collaboration on programmes including a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) project.

TAI said in a statement that it held a workshop in Jakarta on 14 August with local aerospace and defence companies "regarding possible co-operation on several upcoming bilateral opportunities such as a UAV tender for the Indonesian Ministry of Defence".

TAI confirmed that in bidding for the UAV programme it is offering its MALE Anka UAV. TAI added that it is "ready to fine-tune" the Anka system "to satisfy the requirements of the Indonesian end-user through integrating ... Indonesian suppliers into its supply chain".

However, TAI also said that collaboration opportunities will not be limited to the Anka. "It will be a sustainable, long-term, win-win relationship," it said, "in which all parties will find opportunities to advance their business goals in local and global markets in the medium [term]."

Earlier this year, Arie Wibowo, director of production at state-owned Indonesian aerospace company, PT Dirgantara (PTDI), told Jane's that PTDI and TAI were close to formalising an agreement to collaborate on developing the Anka UAV to meet the requirements of the Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Udara: TNI-AU).

Wibowo said the project would facilitate technology transfers from Turkey to Indonesia to support joint development and localised manufacturing. He added that once the terms of the collaborative partnership had been established PTDI and TAI would build fully operational prototypes within 12 months.

Wibowo added that when the programme enters mass production other Indonesian aerospace companies would enter the supply chain, although the scope of such engagement would depend on the how many Anka systems the TNI-AU required.

https://www.janes.com/article/82381/turkey-indonesia-support-uav-collaboration

[Parera]

Airbus and New Zealand to Develop UAV

New Airbus agreement to develop capability in Unmanned Aircraft & space data tech

Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods has welcomed a new agreement with Europe's largest aeronautics and space company, Airbus, committing to work together to develop capability in New Zealand's emerging Unmanned Aircraft (UA) and space data technology sectors.

The Letter of Intent, between Airbus and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), sets out a commitment to seek opportunities for Airbus to test and trial its UA technologies in New Zealand, and to work together to support the development and adoption of new and innovative space data technologies and applications.

"Airbus has committed to collaborate on innovation challenges that combine UA and space data technologies. These challenges will generate solutions for real problems, catalyse innovation and increase our R&D capabilities in UAs and space data technologies and applications," says Minister Megan Woods.

"Airbus is an international leader in innovation, with deep knowledge and great access to data and specific technical tools – all things that we can leverage to build our own R&D capabilities.

"Airbus is already building strong connections within our innovation and space ecosystems, including a recent agreement that establishes the Centre of Space Science Technology in Alexandra as the primary provider of Airbus satellite data and products in New Zealand.

"Attracting R&D investment and activity in areas like new space and advanced aviation technologies are key priorities for Innovative Partnerships as there is huge potential for New Zealand to be at the forefront of these rapidly developing sectors," says Woods.

The Letter of Intent is another success for Innovative Partnerships. Earlier this year, both Zephyr Airworks and LeoLabs credited the programme as part of the reason they are undertaking R&D in New Zealand.

[Source https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-airbus-agreement-develop-capability-unmanned-aircraft-space-data-tech ]

[Parera]

Via twitter.com @GarethJennings3

Luftwaffe speaker at @SMi_Group #AirborneISR conference in London referring to @northropgrumman MQ-4C #Triton UAS as the #Pegasus. Stands for PErsistent German Airborne SUrveillance System. I've not heard that name before, but standing by to be told it's old news...

Kan de KM / KLU hier nog bij aansluiten aub? Alvast als opstart naar een nieuwe generatie MPA's voor Nederland 

[Sparkplug]

[Sparkplug]

Reaper UAV scores first air-to-air kill during USAF trial

https://www.janes.com/article/83187/reaper-uav-scores-first-air-to-air-kill-during-usaf-trial

[Sparkplug]

MBDA unveils Spectre combat UAV concept

https://www.janes.com/article/83133/mbda-unveils-spectre-combat-uav-concept

[Parera]

USAF auto-lands MQ-9 Block 5 Reaper for first time

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-auto-lands-mq-9-block-5-reaper-for-first-time-452008/

Mooi, de KLU krijgt ook block 5's.

[Sparkplug]

USAF auto-lands MQ-9 Block 5 Reaper for first time

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-auto-lands-mq-9-block-5-reaper-for-first-time-452008/

[Harald]

[Harald]

US Navy awards Boeing $805 million MQ-25A Stingray contract

The US Navy has awarded Boeing Defense an $805.3 million contract to develop four MQ-25A Stingray carrier-based unmanned refueling aircraft.

The fixed-price, incentive-firm target contract provides for the design, development, fabrication, test, delivery and support of the MQ-25A unmanned air vehicles, including integration into the carrier air wing for an initial operational capability by 2024.

By winning the UAV tanker contract, Boeing beat out proposals from Lockheed Martin and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. Both of those companies chose to not build a prototype before the award was announced, while Boeing manufactured a full-scale and functional aircraft, which demonstrated carrier deck taxiing but has not yet make its initial flight test.

A carrier-based UAV tanker would allow the USN to extend the range of its manned aircraft, including the F-35 Lightning II, F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler. The service has become anxious about the range of its fighters because adversaries such as China and Russia have developed anti-ship cruise and ballistic missiles which could force carriers to keep their distance from the battlespace.

Boeing plans to perform the MQ-25 work in St. Louis, where it manufactures the F/A-18, EA-18G, and F-15.

The MQ-25 is an accelerated acquisition programme intended to speed along decisions with less overhead, says the USN. Ultimately, by focusing key aircraft performance parameters to mission tanking and carrier suitability the service believes it will reduce development time from contract award to initial operational capability by five to six years.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-navy-awards-boeing-805-million-mq-25a-stingray-c-451553/

[Sparkplug]

Protector to make transatlantic debut

http://www.janes.com/article/81331/protector-to-make-transatlantic-debut

[Parera]

Insitu heeft de ScanEagle 3 gelanceerd, een verbeterde versie van de vorige ScanEagle. Nu voornamelijk op de commerciele markt gericht maar natuurlijk ook inzetbaar voor (semi)militair gebruik.

De andere (al oudere ) ontwikkeling is de drone voor het lanceren / opvangen van een UAV ''FLARES - Flying Launch and Recovery System''

[Jooop]

Het lijkt erop dat de Turken de Euromale voor willen zijn, en nog bewapend ook. De eerste beeld van twitter geplukt.

[Parera]

Een mock-up van de EUROMALE te zien bij ILA berlijn. Inschatting is 1/3 groter dan de MQ-9.
De eerste vlucht is gepland voor 2023, een mooie aanvulling op de reapers die we gaan ontvangen zodra het toestel klaar is.



via https://twitter.com/Rotorfocus