The Stealthy Barracuda UAV Is Germany's Future Flying Force

After the end of hostilities in WWII, France and Germany have become surprisingly close. The two nations are stalwart proponents of expanded European Union integration and are regularly referred to as the EU’s “twin engine.” But on the issue of unmanned aerial platform, the two simply cannot agree. So while France and its cohorts are developing the nEUROn, Germany is building the stealth Barracuda.

Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton HALE UAS completes first flight

Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft is one step closer to serving the Navy in maritime reconnaissance and surveillance missions, having just completed its first flight at Palmdale, California. The drone spent 80 minutes in the air, reaching an altitude of 20,000 feet. 

Urban Aeronautics upgrades AirMule with new propellers

Urban Aeronautics Air Mule

Israeli manufacturer Urban Aeronautics is testing its AirMule vertical take-off and landing unmanned air system with new propellers to enhance its capabilities.

It has replaced the UAV's previous four-blade propellers with new six-blade composite versions.

The new rotors retain the diameter of the originals and operate at the same RPM, but are expected to increase the aircraft's payload by approximately 200kg (440lb).

X-47B Catapult launched From Aircraft Carrier-Creates History

The U.S. Navy launched an unmanned, autonomous aircraft the size of a fighter jet from a warship for the first time today, a development that could herald the end of Top Gun-style piloted air combat missions.

The X-47B drone is the first designed to operate an aircraft carrier, which allows it to be used around the world without needing permission to take off from airfields in other countries.

But there are concerns about the legality of what has been dubbed America's 'covert drone war'. Strikes cause widespread civilian deaths and operate with only limited oversight, critics say.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2324571/U-S-Navys-X-47B-stealth-drone-launches-aircraft-carrier-time--critics-warn-heralds-rise-killer-robots.html

Iran unveils latest home-made UAV

Iranˈs latest indigenized unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) dubbed as Hemase (Epic) was unveiled at the presence of Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi on Thursday night, IRNA reported.

The unveiling ceremony was held concurrent with the closing ceremony of the congress titled ˈthree martyred ministers, war engineering commander and 1,000 martyrs of Iranˈs defense ministry.

Northrop Grumman X-47B makes first arrested landing

The Northrop Grumman X-47B test bed has completed its first landing using an arrestor cable on 4 May, the same method used to land on an aircraft carrier, bringing the aircraft one step closer to an actual carrier landing.

The landing, conducted at the US Navy's flight test airfield at Patuxent River, Maryland, was successful. Called a 'trap' in Navy parlance, the manoeuvre is one of the most challenging tasks Navy pilots regularly conduct. In contrast, the X-47Bs' trap was conducted completely by computer guidance, with human oversight from a landing officer beside the runway.

Indian Army for new Short Range UAVs

Indian Army is considering the procurement of unspecified number of Short Range Unmanned Aerial Vehicles(SR-UAV).
       This procurement is to augment the small fleet of IAI Searcher Mk 2 Sr-UAVs which the Army has already deployed.
       It is also expected that the first lot of the indigenous Nishant UAVs, currently undergoing its final trail with the Army, will be inducted by the end of the year.