Data Links & Communications

Alion Awarded $5.4M Air Force Spectrum Management Office Contract to Analyze Feasibility of Relocating Weapons Platforms to Alternative RF Bands

Alion Science and Technology, an employee-owned technology solutions company, has won a $5.4 million award from the Air Force Spectrum Management Office (AFSMO) to analyze the feasibility of relocation to alternative RF bands. As the federal government plans to reallocate radio frequency (RF) spectrum to the commercial sector, the

Control Stations & Remote Video Terminals

Advances in the Field of Nano UAS

The PD-100 Black Hornet PRS is designed as a soldier’s tool, this necessitates that ease of use always be kept in mind throughout the development. For the PD-100 ease of use is multi faceted and includes technical solutions and operational issues, but most importantly it is linked to training

Data Links & Communications

ASC Signal Gets $4M Antenna Contract from L-3 Communications for BAMS

ASC Signal Corporation has been awarded a $3.8 million sub-contract by L-3 Communications Systems-West to build a dual-band antenna system to support global data collection and dissemination worldwide for the U.S. Navy MQ-4C Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System (BAMS UAS) programme.The advanced antenna terminals will

Data Links & Communications

Northrop Grumman Gets $91M MQ-5B Hunter Upgrade Contract from US Army

The U.S. Army has awarded Northrop Grumman‘s technical services business a $91,218,878 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract.The company will reset MQ-5B Hunter unmanned aircraft systems with tactical common data links and interoperability engineering. Work will be performed in Sierra Vista, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of December

Control Stations & Remote Video Terminals

AAI UAS Universal Ground Control Station Orchestrated MUSIC

Textron Systems announced that the company’s operating unit, AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems has completed the US Army’s 2011 Manned Unmanned System Integration Capability (MUSIC) exercise. Providing command and control of AAI’s Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (TUAS), as well as General Atomics’ Gray Eagle and Northrop Grumman’

Data Links & Communications

Cobham Introduces Mini HD Video Transmitter for Unmanned Aircraft

Cobham has introduced a new high definition (HD), dual stream video transmitter, called M2TE (Messenger 2 Transmitter Enhanced), for use on unmanned aircraft. “The M2TE transmitter provides a bird’s eye view in real time for ground forces,” said Steve Schaefer, Vice President of Cobham Tactical Communications and Surveillance. “It

Control Stations & Remote Video Terminals

Information Overload

UAS already beam thousands of hours of video to intelligence analysts manning multiple screens and send information directly to soldiers in the field. This dramatic growth is leading to information overload. It won't stop there: the military wants individual soldiers not only to drive tanks, watch for enemies

Applications & Testing & Experience

Progress Report at UK ASTRAEA National Conference

The aerospace industry’s Autonomous Systems Technology Related Airborne Evaluation & Assessment (ASTRAEA) programme is about to test wireless communication system designed to allow a UAS to securely send video footage and other information to its ground-based operator at the highest possible speed, even when it is out of direct

Data Links & Communications

Northrop-Grumman’s Unmanned Combat Air System Incorporates 1394 Fire Wire Standard

The FireWire has been established as an aircraft vehicle management (VMS) network in the X-47B developed by Northrop-Grumman Group. Northrop-Grumman Group has developed the X-47B as part of the J-UCAS program of the DARPA. The combat aircraft is now part of the UCAS-D programme of the U.S Navy. Northrop

Control Stations & Remote Video Terminals

Northrop Grumman Launches HART in Europe

Northrop Grumman has introduced an unmanned aircraft data management system to the European market, to allow troops on the ground to "eliminate the tunnel-vision of the battlefield". The HART (Heterogeneous Airborne Reconnaissance Team) allows soldiers at small unit level without their own UAS to benefit from the plethora

Aircraft Propulsion & Energy

Skylark 1LE Adapted for US Military

UAS Dynamics - a joint venture between Elbit Systems and General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products - has enhanced the performance, mission capabilities and operability of the Skylark 1LE mini UAS. Assessing U.S. requirements made it clear that the needs of the U.S. forces and Special Operations community

Data Links & Communications

RAFAEL Develops UAS Mission Enhancement Package

Focusing on a range of systems complementing unmanned aircraft systems, RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems is introducing a range of hardware and software systems, supporting UAS missions. Among such systems are the Reccelite and Recce-U reconnaissance pods, optimized for Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) missions, and a new version of the