Military Satellite News (May & June 2009)Visit
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June 30, 2009
Raytheon Ratchets Up Airborne Antenna Advancement
During a recent flight test, Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) successfully demo'd breakthrough antenna technology that dramatically improves and delivers on the nexgen of airborne communications for wide-body aircraft.
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Lockheed Martin Voices Its Approval Of L-3 Electrodynamics Euro Hawk Add-In
L-3 Electrodynamics (L-3 EDI), a division of L-3 Communications, has supplied its SRVIVR Cockpit Voice Flight Data Recorder (CVFDR) to Northrop Grumman for integration on its Euro Hawk variant of the RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system.
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Wavestream Wows General Dynamics + BUCs Into STTs
Wavestream Corporation has received orders totaling more than $50 million from General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies, which uses Wavestream’s Ka-band SSPAs with integrated block upconverters (BUCs) on the Army’s new Satellite Transportable Terminals (STTs).
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A Moving Experience For VSD and AGS
VSD, LLC and AMERICOM Government Services, Inc. (AGS) have completed negotiations effecting transition of programmatic responsibilities for the Television Direct to Sailors (TV-DTS) Terminal Program from AGS to VSD.
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Stratos, Security, Satellites + AFIANT
Stratos Global Corporation has signed an agreement with Modern Security Solutions Ltd. to market the AFIANT Satellite Network Video Management System.
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June 29, 2009
U.S. Military UAVs Experiment Against Pirate Sea Attack Swarms
In January 2008, five Iranian military speedboats swarmed three U.S. Navy warships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. There were some tense moments, as the Iranian boats sped around and through the American formation — and the Americans braced for a potential attack.
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Scrutiny Of The Seas Scheme For Canadian Shores By MDA
MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (TSX: MDA) has signed a $25 million (CAD) contract with the Government of Canada to provide the Department of National Defence (DND) with a comprehensive broad-area maritime surveillance solution based on MDA’s RADARSAT-2.
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Iran Jams Foreign Satellite News In Bid To Isolate Public
At RFE/RL's Radio Farda, the e-mails and phone calls come in continuously from Iran.
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Creech To Now Concentrate On UAV Combat Ops, Training To Holloman
The training for the Predator UAVs has been the primary mission at Creech AFB in Nevada, but due to a need for more growth and space for training, the U.S.A.F. has decided to move the training operations to Holloman AFB, which is near Alamagordo in New Mexico.
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Potential Israeli UAV Deal With Indonesia Flies Away
From the Indonesia site ANTARA NEWS, the report is that the House of Representatives` Commission I will reject a Defense Ministry`s plan to buy an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) from Israel with funds borrowed from Leumi Plc Bank.
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Team Of Indian Students Wins Directors Award At U.S. UAV Competition
A high-tech Unmanned Aerial Vehicle developed by a team of ten undergraduates from Delhi College of Engineering has won the prestigious Unmanned Aircraft System International Competition held recently in the U.S.
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BAE Systems Australia Goes Fishing For CTD Contract + Captures It
A contract awarded to BAE Systems by the Federal Government will significantly enhance Australia’s development of enhanced surveillance technology for unmanned aircraft systems, according to a senior company representative.
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Sanswire: The Importance Of UAVs and Our Nation's Independence This July 4th
Patriotic citizens looking to the skies to enjoy Independence Day fireworks might also take a moment to reflect upon the importance of our nation's eyes in the sky, the range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that serve such an important role in America's homeland security.
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June 26, 2009
Grand Global Hawk Block 40 Coming Out Party
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and the U.S. Air Force have unveiled the nexgen of high-flying unmanned aircraft — the RQ-4 Block 40 Global Hawk — in a ceremony today at Northrop Grumman's Palmdale, California, manufacturing facility.
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Sims For U.S.A.F. Preadatoring + Reaping To Be Enhanced By SDS
SDS International (SDS) has been awarded a contract to further enhance its PC-based MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper training systems used by the USAF 711th Human Performance Integration Directorate, Brooks City-Base, Texas, to evaluate Airman Human Performance (HP) issues.
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June 25, 2009
Boeing Bye Bye — GPS IIF Going To Cape Canaveral
Boeing [NYSE: BA] has shipped a Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF satellite to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to conduct a series of key tests for the U.S. Air Force's next-generation satellite navigation system.
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U.S.A.F. SMC's Scintillating SBIRS Satellite Substantiation Starts
The U.S. Air Force has announced the secondSpace Based Infrared System ?Highly Elliptical Orbit payload and associated ground system has entered trial period operations in preparation for use by the warfighter — this is a major program milestone for the SBIRS team.
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UAVs Underwhelm Israeli F-16 Fighting Falcon
The Israeli Air Force is carrying on a series of exercises to develop its capability to shoot down unmanned air vehicles (UAV) that might be launched in the Jewish country's airspace by guerrilla organizations, such as Hamas or Hezbollah, or by hostile nations, such as Iran.
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Four Weeks Of TacSat-3 Success
The Tactical Satellite-3 has exceeded expectations and is performing well a month after being launched, according to the program manager of the experimental spacecraft.
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June 24, 2009
Agilent To Bring Data Conversion Technologies To Warfighter Programs
Agilent Technologies will deliver unique data-conversion capabilities and associated intellectual property to key U.S. and allied armed forces programs.
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U.S. Navy Laser Versus UAVs... Laser Wins...
Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), with support from Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren, for the first time successfully tracked, engaged, and destroyed a threat representative unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) while in flight at Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, California, on June 7th.
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Another Iranian "Believe It Not" UAV Story...
From CRIENGLISH.COM, we read that Iran's Air Force commander Brigadier General Hassan Shahsafi announced last Wednesday that Iran has successfully tested a home-made radar-evading unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with bombing capabilities, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
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June 23, 2009
Orbit Technology Group Takes Their Sounds to Asia's Air Force
Orbit Technology Group';s audio communication systems made for a wide variety of platforms and applications, announces the implementation of its unique, Audio Management Solution over IP (AMSIP) systems on the airborne platforms of a major Asian country’s Air Force.
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Boeing Big Chopper Controls Boeing Little Chopper For U.S. Army UAV Demo
Boeing [NYSE: BA]has announced that the AH-64D Apache Block III prototype helicopter successfully demonstrated Level IV unmanned aircraft system (UAS) connectivity on June 8th during a flight test over the Arizona desert.
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June 22, 2009
Ain't Gonna Happen — No Advanced Israeli UAVs To Go To Russia
Israel does not plan to sell Russia its most advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), defense officials said Monday, after a top Russian official said that the 12 UAVs Moscow recently purchased from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) would be used for study, to build similar models domestically (can you say "reverse engineering?").
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Global Coalition Warrior Military + Emergency Response Demos Get Hughes' SPACEWAY 3
Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) is providing rapid deployment of satellite-based broadband capabilities for disaster and emergency response during the Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration (CWID) which occurs from June 15th through the 26th, 2009.
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Launch Prep Can Now Start For U.S.A.F. STSS Demo Sats
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has delivered the first of two Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) demonstration satellites to the U.S. Air Force's Cape Canaveral Air Station for launch preparation.
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Hardware + Software Testing, Op Sims, All Completed By Boeing For SBSS System
Boeing has successfully completed integration and testing of the space segment, as well as initial testing of the ground segments, of the Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) system under development for the U.S. Air Force.
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June 21, 2009
Paris + Puma In The Spring... AeroVironment Spotlights Hand Launched UAV
Officials from AeroVironment showcased their Puma AE (all environment) miniature unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at the Paris Air Show — the hand-launched UAV uses custom electro-optics to track targets.
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Saab And The European MidCAS Project For UAVs
Saab is now the coordinator for a major European project, which will develop a system for unmanned aircraft systems to fly securely among regular, manned aircraft in so called "non-segregated airspace."
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Northrop Grumman Shows Off Next Global Hawk Iteration In Paris
Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) RQ-4 Global Hawk's versatility in adapting its attributes to multiple national security missions were a key display at the International Paris Air Show last week.
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June 18, 2009
Getting All MMISTy With Rockwell Collins To Demo A SnowGoose
Mist Mobility Integrated Systems Technology (MMIST) has selected Rockwell Collins to provide its Athena 411 flight control and navigation system for the CQ-10A SnowGoose Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), with flight tests planned for late summer.
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Harris' ISR Tactical Video Breakthru For Warfighters
Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS) has debuted their ISR Video Receiver, a breakthrough portable product that delivers high-resolution, full-motion tactical video to individual warfighters for real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
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IoGlobal + KT Telecom Garner SES AMERICOM-NEW SKIES Transponder Time
SES AMERICOM-NEW SKIES, a division of SES S.A. (Paris:SESG)(LUxX:SESG), has announced at the CommunicAsia conference that IoGlobal has signed a multiyear agreement to create a new DVB IP platform on the NSS-11 satellite to keep NATO troops in Afghanistan connected with friends and family back home.
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U.S.A.F. Delves Into GPS IIR-20(M) Distortions
The U.S. Air Force is investigating the cause and effects of signal distortions observed from the GPS IIR-20(M) spacecraft that was launched on March 24, 2009.
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June 17, 2009
Teal Group Tackles UAV Market With Major Analysis
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles represent a prime area of acquisition interest for major aerospace contractors, report Teal analysts in their latest integrated market analysis.
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Cobham Counts U.S. Government Customer + Airbus Among Antenna Clients
Cobham has received Inmarsat Type Approval for dual channel SwiftBroadband (SBB), expanding the range of Cobham SBB options available to the market from the previously Type Approved single channel class 6 (with HGA antenna) system.
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WGS-2 Gets Boeing Handoff To U.S.A.F
On June 15th, Boeing successfully transferred control of the second Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellite to the U.S. Air Force, which will monitor and control the new satellite from Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado.
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French DGA Signs On To DCNS + Thales Rotary Wing UAV Demo
The French defence procurement agency (DGA) has awarded DCNS and Thales the second phase of the D2AD study to design and demonstrate an automatic takeoff, landing, and deck landing system for rotary-wing UAVs.
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June 16, 2009
Unmanned Cargo Transport From Flying Robots To EASA For Certification
Flying Robots, an unmanned air vehicle manufacturer, has made a certification request to the European Aviation Safety Agency for its FR102-UAV cargo transporter.
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Ultra Electronics To Empower UAVs With Dual Power Plant
Ultra Electronics has announced the Company's Precision Air Systems business has signed an agreement encompassing a worldwide marketing, development, and manufacturing licence with RCV Engines Limited for a 4-stroke, lightweight, dual fuel, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Engine.
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Pentagon Purchasing Power Packs Punch For UAVs
Since 2001, U.S. spending on unmanned systems has steadily increased — in the next budget request, the Department of Defense (DoD) is seeking an increase of almost $870 million, more than 18.4 percent over the $4.53 billion spent so far this year.
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Elbit Enhances Hermes UAV
Elbit Systems’ Hermes(r) 450 UAV has been a major player in counter terrorism operations for years.
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HFE Propulsion Pumped Up For KillerBee UAS
Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), with its teammate XRDi, completed testing of its KillerBee unmanned aircraft system heavy fuel engine.
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Viva la France — Lighter UAV Wings Assist with Altitude and Autonomy
The new version of the SDTI intermediate UAV has been displayed on the Paris Air show Defence platform ST - A 026.
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June 15, 2009
Damage Assessment Of The Rapid Kind For UAVs
The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is a science-based laboratory dedicated to support the U.S. Department of Energy on nuclear and energy research, science, and national defense matters.
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Boeing Flies Full Force Into UAS Development
Boeing [NYSE: BA] has announced the formation of an Unmanned Airborne Systems (UAS) division within its defense and space business unit.
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BlueBird Bringing Thunderbird To UAV Market
Israeli unmanned air vehicle manufacturer BlueBird Aero Systems will demo its new fuel cell powered Thunderbird UAV by next year.
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Estimable Exploit For NGS + U.S.A.F. With DSP-14
The United States Air Force's Defense Support Program Flight 14, built by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), is celebrating its 20th year of on-orbit operations — DSP Flight 14 was launched on June 14, 1989, on a Titan IV launch vehicle.
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June 14, 2009
Rafael Releases ISR Integration Opportunities For UAVs
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. will release the Recce-U, persistent, unmanned, surveillance and reconnaissance system at the Paris Air Show next week.
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Lockheed Martin Is Perfect To A Fault With SBIRS
Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]has delivered the final block of a new flight software architecture that will provide highly reliable spacecraft command and control operations for the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous orbit (GEO) satellite constellation.
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CDR Concentration Called For By Lockheed + Partners For GPS III
The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] team developing the U.S. Air Force's Global Positioning System (GPS) III program has entered the Critical Design Review (CDR) stage on-schedule, an extensive phase that precedes production of the next-generation satellite system.
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Patroller's Paris Pop-Out
Sagem has teamed with German glider producer Stemme AG to introduce the Patroller, a long endurance UAV based on a powered glider.
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June 11, 2009
Lockheed Martin Gets GEO-2 To The Bus
The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]-led team developing the U.S. Air Force's Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) has successfully mated the spacecraft bus with the infrared sensor payload for the second geosynchronous SBIRS spacecraft (GEO-2).
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June 10, 2009
It's A SNAP For Citrix + TCS To Assist Ongoing MilOps
Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS) has announced that the company’s Government Systems team has partnered with TeleCommunication Systems (TCS) (NASDAQ:TSYS) on its Secure Internet Protocol Router (SIPR) Non-secure Internet Protocol Router (NIPR) Access Point (SNAP) program for the U.S. Army.
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Boeing's WNW Scalability Demo Successful
The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] announced the Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW) successfully demonstrated its scalability in a realistic urban field environment at the Space and Naval Warfare Center, Charleston, S.C.
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June 9, 2009
Lighter Weight For UAV Engines, Driven By Plextek
Plextek has launched an advanced Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV engine that weighs up to 30 percent less than current solutions in its class.
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U.S.M.C. Iraqi Ops Benefit From Expand's WAN Technologies For MILSATCOM
Expand Networks has announced Multi-National Forces – West, the highest level of command for the U.S. Marines Corps Marine Ai-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) in Iraq, has deployed Expand Networks WAN optimization technology to improve the performance of critical applications over satellite links used in its operations in Iraq.
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CapRock's Satellite Leadership Earns Them ISCe Award
CapRock Government Solutions has received the Satellite Industry Leadership Award from the 2009 International Satellite and Communications exchange (ISCe) conference in San Diego, California.
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A Tactical Move By Harris With U.S.A.F.
Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS) has been awarded a $13.5 million order to provide the U.S. Air Force with both vehicular radios and the new Harris digital tactical intercom system.
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U.S.A.F. Terminates TSAT Dependencies
The U.S. Air Force is terminating for convenience the Transformational Satellite Communications System Mission Operations System contracts...
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Iridium Nets Phase Two Of Warfighter TacCom Contract
Iridium Satellite LLC (Iridium) announces the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center has awarded an Iridium subsidiary a $21,688,808 indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity cost-type contract to support development and delivery of the Distributed Tactical Communications System (DTCS).
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June 8, 2009
U.S. Forces' Military Humvee Manufacturing Remains States-Based
Just in case you were curious, the military's High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, also known as a "HMMWV" or a "Humvee," will continue to be made in the United States, by an American-owned company.
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A WIN-T For General Dynamics And Their SSTs
General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies has received a $119 million modification to an existing delivery order to provide additional satellite communications earth terminals and support services for Increment One of the U.S. Army’s Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) program.
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Iridium Now Implicated In Phase II Of MILSATCOM System For USMC
Iridium Government Services has received a $21.7 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity cost type contract to provide Phase II of the Netted Iridium satellite communication system to the U.S. Marine Corps.
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For Raytheon, It's All About The Image
Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has received confirmation from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory that its hyperspectral imaging sensor known as ARTEMIS has been activated aboard the TacSat-3 spacecraft and is fully functional.
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Euros Of Stupendous Size Needed For UAV Development
A 15-month risk reduction study on the Advanced UAV project has allowed EADS to pin a production price tag of about 90 million to 100 million euros ($125.8 million to $139.7 million) per system, confirming the total 2.8 billion euro budget for 15 systems for France, Germany, and Spain, said Nicolas Chamussy, senior vice president for mission air systems.
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Acquiring Minds Want To Know: BAE Systems + Advanced Ceramics Research (UAVs)
BAE Systems has completed its acquisition of Advanced Ceramics Research, Inc., a Tucson, Arizona-based producer of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and advanced materials following receipt of regulatory approval.
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June 4, 2009
Third Global Observer UAS Joins JCTD Program
AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ: AVAV) has announced that U.S. government agencies funding the Global Observer Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) program have exercised an option for the assembly of a third Global Observer aircraft and additional items.
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June 3, 2009
Moving On Up... At UAV Aerial Wing @ Creech AFB, Nevada
The commander of the Air Force’s first unmanned aerial vehicle wing said goodbye Monday to members of the 432nd Wing and 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing in a ceremony at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada.
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UAS Given OK To Autonomously Fly Demo @ Paris Air Show — A First!
Schiebel's Camcopter S-100 will be the first-ever Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) to fly as part of the official flight displays at this year’s 100 year anniversary of “Salon du Le Bourget” from June 15 to 19. June.
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Acquiring Minds Want To Know... Mundus Group + AirStar Int'l (UAV)
Mundus Group, Inc. (Pink Sheets: MNDP), a VTOL UAV technology provider, is acquiring AirStar International, a leader in remote controlled VTOL UAV camera copters for surveillance, aerial photography, and aerial delivery systems for environmental compliance, and UAV drones as a ducted fan UAV (Unmanned Air Vehicle).
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Hydrogen Has Lofty Plans For Global Observer UAS
Aerovironment Inc.'s tradition of military successes and aerial innovation are about to fuse, as the Company receives a major Advanced Concept/Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (ACTD/JCTD) contract for a UAV that runs on hydrogen fuel cells and can cruise at 55,000-65,000 feet for as long as seven days at a time, while carrying a 1,000 pound payload.
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June 2, 2009
Going Its Own Way Is NGC's MQ-8B
The Northrop Grumman Corporation-developed (NYSE:NOC) MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV) successfully completed the latest set of fully autonomous flight operations onboard the USS McInerney (FFG-8) in support of dynamic interface testing, a critical step for the U.S. Navy MQ-8B Fire Scout toward Operational Evaluation (OpEval), scheduled for later this summer.
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ISCe 2009 Offers General Humor
Called a "John Wayne dude" by the then-major of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, Lieutenant General Russel Honore, U.S. Army (Ret.) and the former commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, wowed a packed house during his luncheon presentation at ISCe 2009 on Tuesday. Thanks to his swift action, this native of Lakeland, Louisiana, jumped into New Orleans during the Katrina disaster and took immediate charge. He brought this fine city back under control and initiated the process of piecing New Orleans back together again.
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Ahhhh, Sensor Mating For SBIRS Successful
The Air Force’s second geosynchronous Space Based Infrared Systems satellite successfully completed payload sensor mating operations at the Lockheed Martin Space Systems facility in Sunnyvale, California, May 28th, achieving a key integration milestone.
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Protonex Proffered Power For UAVs
Protonex Technology Corporation (LSE: AIM: PTX and PTXU) has received an additional $500,000 contract award from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) for advanced development of high power fuel cell systems for small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
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MicroBat'ing Success With Micro Falcon UAV
Bental Industries, Ltd. will integrate its proven MicroBat-275 on Innocon's Micro Falcon UAVs.
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Elbit UAV Entries @ Paris Airshow
A broad spectrum of Elbit Systems innovative solutions designed for the changing requirements of the defense industry will be on display at the 48th Paris Airshow – 2009 at the Elbit Systems Chalet A332. The exhibition, which will take place in Le Bourget from June 15th to 21st, will showcase an array of advanced systems demonstrating Elbit Systems’ leadership in its core business areas.
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A Hummingbird With Plenty Of Muscle
The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] on June 1st submitted a proposal offering its A160T Hummingbird for the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory's Immediate Cargo Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Demonstration Program.
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June 1, 2009
Technology Fanned By Mundus + AirStar, With Terminator VTOL In The Non-Wings
Mundus Group, Inc. (Pink Sheets: MNDP) and AirStar have announced the new-ducted fan technology will replace the current AirStar in service with government agencies worldwide.
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SpaceX Windows Are Open with Launch of Falcon 1 Flight 5
Great news from Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) and Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn Bhd (ATSB) of Malaysia announce a new launch window has been set for Falcon 1 Flight 5, carrying the RazakSAT satellite to orbit.
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Urban UAV Uncovered
helping save lives in emergency situations or preventing terrorist attacks in urban areas.
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Israel To Pack The Chalet With UAVs
Israel will be making its 24th appearance at the Paris Air Show — Le Bourget— opening on June 15th, with 18 Israeli companies and organizations participating, 12 of them at the Israel Chalet organized by the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute and six companies with their own stands.
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