UAV industry news: Computer Virus Hits U.S. Drone Fleet

A computer virus was detected in American UAV control system, “Associated Press” reported on Saturday, 8th October, quoting “Wired”.

According to the magazine, the virus, which infected computers at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, records drone operators’ keystrokes. Pilots on the base use computers to fly the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper armed UAVs on missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries around the world. The virus has not been removed yet, “Wired” reports. According to the magazine, military officials claim that the virus has not compromised confidential information. Military officials are not sure, whether the virus made its way onto the systems in a targeted attack, or if it is a piece of malware that somehow made its way onto the network by accident. Predictably, the Air Force is offering little details on the security breach.

UAV industry news: US Navy tests K-MAX UAV in Afghanistan

Built as a joint venture between “Kaman Aerospace” and “Lockheed Martin”, American cargo UAV “K-MAX” headed for Afghanistan in a test mission, reports “Flightglobal”. Two prototypes are expected to arrive in Afghanistan in November, 2011, where they will be used for resupply missions to remote forward operating bases (FOB) and combat outposts during 6 month. The location of the UAVs is kept a secret. Earlier, “K-MAX” successfully completed its mission to deliver ammunition at a training ground in Yuma (Arizona). According to USN (US naval forces), controlling the UAV development program, the aircraft successfully completed all the flight tests, while the prototypes exceeded expectations.

“K-MAX” built as a synchropter based on “Kaman K-1200”, made its first flight in 2007. Since that time the aircraft has flown nearly 400 hours. “Kaman” is developing two versions of “K-MAX” helicopters – unmanned and piloted. The UAV is capable of lifting the cargo of up to 2.7 tons and delivering it at a distance of up to 500 kilometers with a maximum speed of 185 km/h. Meanwhile, “Flightglobal” reports that another American helicopter-type drone “Norhtrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout” is being tested in Afghanistan. This UAV is used by the military for reconnaissance. Moreover, American aerospace and defence corporation “Boeing” is negotiating with the US Defence Ministry the issue оf sending “A160 Hummingbird” UAV to Afghanistan. This drone is also planned to be used for reconnaissance.

UAV industry news: Israeli military decides on the VTOL UAV application

The Israeli Ministry of Defense determined the range of tasks for VTOL UAVs, Flightglobal reported. According to the military, such drones will be used mainly to deliver food and ammunition as well as to perform medical evacuation tasks from the front line. The military department took into account Lebanese War II experience, when Israeli soldiers had difficulties in receiving supplies from helicopters. The same difficulties were experienced by medical crews when they needed to perform the urgent evacuation of casualties.

Efforts are now being made to allocate a budget for the requirement in the services' new multi-year acquisition plan and the defence ministry will participate in the funding of the proposed solution. Israeli VTOL aircraft developer Urban Aeronautics' AirMule unmanned air system is the only candidate for the missions, with the company's prototype having recently completed another series of test flights. These were focused on its automatic take-off and landing system and precision hovering feature, sources said. The drone is 1.4 ton in weight and can carry payload of up to 635 kilos. With a maximum take-off weight of 1,400kg , AirMule has a planned maximum speed of 180km/h, a 12,000ft (3,660m) service ceiling and an endurance of up to 5 hours.

UAV industry news: The U.S. Army orders kamikaze drone

“AeroVironment” received a $4.9 million contract from the U.S. Army's Close Combat Weapons Systems on June 29. Now “AeroVironment” is to supply the new “Switchblade” ultra-compact drones as soon as possible. According to press release of “AeroVironment”, “Switchblade” UAV is a light-weight compact aircraft, which is able to carry warheads and to self-destruct hitting the specified targets. The new UAV can be transported in a rucksack and be launched manually by a military man in field conditions.

According to the manufacturer, “Switchblade” allows engaging specified targets with high accuracy and can be used by service men to engage enemy targets when there is no fire support. Thanks to the quiet electromotor the UAV can engage targets effectively without warning. Besides, approaching the specified object the UAV can switch off its motor and keep on flying in a glider mode. UAV processing module allows controlling the vehicle both in autonomous and remotely-piloted mode. Target detection is performed by means of real-time visual communication. In order to improve effectiveness of the UAV, the developers foresaw the possibility to cancel the running destruction task. Such an option allows preventing the UAV from self-destruction in case an enemy moves out of sight as well as from accidental casualties among civilian population. "Just as our small unmanned aircraft systems provide game-changing reconnaissance capabilities to ground forces, Switchblade provides a revolutionary rapid strike capability to protect our troops and give them a valuable new advantage on the battlefield," said Tom Herring, “AeroVironment” senior vice president and general manager of Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

UAV industry news: Tsahal confirms its liquidating terrorists with the help of UAVs

On 1 September WikiLeaks released another series of 250 000 cables of the U.S. Department of State. Some of these documents concern Israel, to be more precise – Israeli air forces. Particularly, these cables confirmed that Israeli air forces use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) to assassinate Palestinian terrorists in Gaza (Israel has neither confirmed nor denied these publications in the foreign press).

One of the telegrams from the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv describes the conversation of the then ambassador James Cunningham with Avichai Mandelblit, Chief Military Advocate General of Israel, in 2010. During the conversation Mandelblit confirmed that IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) have used a drone at least for one time during a counter-terrorist operation “Cast Lead” in Gaza in 2008-2009. At that time a UAV managed to assassinate 16 terrorists. Mandelblit explained to the Ambassador that the drone had detected 2 fighters in front of the mosque and then shot them. They were killed as well as the other 14 terrorists hiding inside the mosque due to an open door. Drones can stay in the air for hours at a low height moving at a relatively low speed without producing any noise. Missiles these drones are armed with are very accurate. The main point is that application of drones allows saving pilots’ lives. Israeli defence industry sells drones to many countries.

UAV industry news: Denel develops an improved version of “Seeker” UAV

South African “Denel Dynamics” has finished assembly of “Seeker 400”, which is a prototype model of an improved version of an UAV “Seeker”, Flightglobal reports. The first flight of the UAV is expected to be conducted in the first quarter of 2012, while its series production could be launched from late next year. According to Denel, three countries are interested in “Seeker 400”, their names are still unknown. “Seeker 400” UAV is different from its previous versions “Seeker I” and “Seeker II” as it has double payload capacity, flight duration of 16 hours, as well as radius of action increased to 750 km. The improvement of the latter parameter can be gained by means of UAV control system via satellite channel.

Earlier, Denel presented another perspective striking UAV “Bateleur”, which is being developed on the basis of “Seeker”. Apart from reconnaissance equipment and communication system this aircraft can be equipped with 2 antitank missiles “Mokopa”. At the moment works on this project are in frozen state. They will be continued after the tests are finished and “Seeker 400” UAV series production is started.

UAV industry news: A swarm of drones proved its combat advantage

Modern air force is going through hard times: aircraft is becoming more expensive and complicated while air defense systems are developing, which makes it difficult to gain air superiority and to strike defended targets. Apart from using stealth aircraft, the Pentagon is going to solve the US Air Force development problems by means of autonomous network of UAVs, thousands of which will be able to defeat any defense. Last month a new active testing phase of this concept began: two Scan Eagle UAVs developed by the Boeing Company and a UAV developed by Procerus Unicorn carried out a flight communicating data necessary for the mission fulfillment to each other. This is key capability, which will allow a group of robots to attack the enemy in the most effective way possible, multiplying fighting potential of each other.

Dissimilar UAVs successfully communicated using a Mobile Ad Hoc Network and swarm technology developed by JHU/APL (The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory). The UAVs fulfilled all the flight test tasks over the rugged terrain of eastern Oregon. Swarm technology is similar to how insects communicate and perform tasks as an intelligent group.

The UAVs worked together to search the test area through self-generating waypoints and terrain mapping, while simultaneously sending information to teams on the ground. A broader demonstration of a new technology is planned for the end of September. In case of success this will be a milestone in UAV flight. The test team proved that these unmanned aircraft can collect and use data while communicating with each other to support a unified mission. This swarm technology may one day be used for search-and-rescue missions or identifying enemy threats ahead of ground patrols. It is rather difficult to counteract a swarm of UAVs as in comparison to piloted fighters as they can effectively use the kamikaze tactics sending one member of a swarm through the enemy’s line of defense revealing location of the air defense systems. The attack process doesn’t depend on control quality as UAVs destroy the enemy independently according to the unified operation algorithms. Autonomous coordination of the group allows the robots to take risk during especially hard first hours or days of an armed conflict.

UAV industry news: Belarusian military-industrial enterprises will participate in “MAKS-2011”

Belarusian military-industrial enterprises will exhibit their products at the International Air Show “MAKS-2011” held in August, 2011 near Moscow, Russia on Zhukovskiy LII air field, RIA Novosti quoted official representative of the State Military Industrial Committee Vladimir Lavrenyuk as saying. Lavrenyuk told the agency that Belarusian special exporter The BelTechExport Company is going to be the collective organizer of the Belarusian enterprises’ exposition (OJSC “AGAT – Control Systems”, DD “Display” and Orsha aircraft repair and overhaul plant). More than 40 samples of videomonitors maintained on flat panels, panel PCs and tablet computers, dummies of command vehicles, combat control vehicles and intelligent monitoring and defense systems will be displayed at the Belarusian booth. Information about digital microwave radio stations “Potok” and “Linia” and about services offered by the enterprises-exhibitors will be also presented via power-point presentations, videos, posters, advertising brochures and other media.

JSC "558 Aircraft Repair Plant" together with DD INDELA will set up another booth. DD INDELA will be displaying a range of UAVs for the first time: robotic low-sized unmanned helicopter "Indela- I.N.SKY" with the weight of 140kg and rotor diameter of 3.2m, with gyro-stabilized optoelectronic system with an infrared camera; robotic airborne target "BERKUT" with the wing span of 2.8m, two turbojet engines, parachute rescue system, speed of up to 400 km/h, designed for imitation of airborne threat of RPV type, cruise missiles with stealth technology-based glider and subsonic airplanes of tactic aviation.

The third aircraft is a helicopter-like airborne reconnaissance complex "Indela-6M" with the wing span of 6.0m, parachute rescue system, gyro-stabilized optoelectronic system with an infrared camera and flight duration of up to 5 hours. JSC "558 Aircraft Repair Plant" will also display a tactical UAV glider “Grif-1” with flight duration of up to 100 km developed by DD INDELA, which received recognition of experts during the International Exhibition of Arms and Military Machinery "MILEX-2011" held in Minsk.

Ground tests of «INDELA I.N.SKY» in the nighttime together with the gyro-stabilized platform

The first stage of the nighttime tests aimed at the target detection malfunction verification has been successfully finished. Next stage of the nighttime flight tests is to be carried out within the next few months. It’s considered to be one of the key stages on the way to the «INDELA I.N.SKY»’s readiness to utilization.

In order to unify the systems currently applied the «INDELA» design department is developing a ground control station which will be able to communicate with any UAV designed by «INDELA».

The development work is expected to be completed in August, 2011. The station can be maintained on a truck or vessel platform.

UAV industry news: China is developing a rival to american UAV Global Hawk

China is developing a high-altitude long-duration UAV, which can rival American RQ-4 Global Hawk. The photos made at the test runway of the company Chengdu, also developing a fighter J-20, have been exposed by the China Defense Mashup web portal. New aerial vehicle will presumably be called Xianlong. It was previously reported that China just intended to begin the project of the UAV, which model was exhibited at the air show in Zhuhai in Novermber, 2010.

According to the photos the Chinese UAV has a jet engine. It also has classic arrow-type wings. Tail plane is sweptforward, a bit shorter than the wings and is connected to them by wingtips. There is only one fin on the aircraft. You can get acquainted with the construction of the UAV in this photo. Technical characteristics of Xianlong are still unknown.

High-altitude reconnaissance UAV RQ-4 can speed up to 800 km/h and can cover a range up to 24,900 kilometers. The aircraft can stay in the air for up to 36 hours at a time. Global Hawk airborne equipment includes high definition sensors, electronic warfare, signal retransmission and radio-electronic reconnaissance systems.

UAV industry news: CIA Building Secret Air Base in Persian Gulf Region

CIA is building a secret air base in the Persian Gulf region for UAVs, reports The Associated Press on Wednesday, June 15 quoting high-ranking representatives of the American intelligence service. The UAVs that will be located at the new secret air base will be used in operations against the fighters of Al-Qaeda in Yemen and if necessary in other countries of the region, the Associated Press has learned. Location of the airbase is kept in secret for security reasons.

It was decided to build a special air base for UAVs in case anti-American forces take over Yemen. Present government in Yemen under President Ali Abdullah Saleh collaborates with the USA on counterterrorism strategies. In 2009 Yemen permitted the USA to use UAVs for striking blows to targets located in the country's territory connected with Al-Qaeda. However at the beginning of January, 2011 mass anti-government actions broke out in Yemen, its participants demanded resignation of President Saleh, who governed in Yemen for more than 30 years.

In May there started armed confrontations in Yemen between the supporters of the President and anti-government protestors, who’s side was taken by some military units, too. On 3rd July Saleh got wounded during an attack at his residential palace, which is situated in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen. The following day the President was taken to Saudi Arabia to undergo medical treatment. For the first time the USA started to use UAVs extensively to fight terrorists in Pakistan, reports Lenta.ru. UAVs destroyed about 1400 gunmen, including key persons of Al-Qaeda in Pakistan.

UAV industry news: Iranians showed American UAS Shot Down to Russians

Revolutionary Guards aerospace commander Brigadier General Amir Ali Hadjizadeh announced that Russian experts got access to American UAVs shot down by his people in the air space of Iran, reports television channel Al Arabiya. According to it, Russians asked to see the pieces of unmanned US aircraft and Iranians agreed. Besides, Tehran showed to Moscow their own UAVs made with the help of American technology, obtained from the shot down aircraft.

Previously, Iran officially announced about 2 UAVs destroyed in its air space belonging to the USN. It wasn’t mentioned exactly what kind of aircraft had been shot. Tehran stated that the USA had lost the most modern US navy drones that have a long-range capability. The USA having its 5th fleet in neighbouring Bahrain has never commented the information about the drones lost.

At the same time Washington expressed concern over Iran pushing forward its own UACV program. Russian side hasn’t commented yet the information about the access to the US UAVs’ fragments.

UAV industry news: Iran shot down two “western” UAVs in the Persian Gulf

Iran has previously shot down a number of American spy planes, the Fars news agency quoted Revolutionary Guards aerospace commander Brigadier General Amir Ali Hadjizadeh. According to General Hadjizadeh, 2 UAVs were shot over the Persian Gulf. Hajizadeh did not elaborate on the number or type of unmanned US aircraft it had shot down, or when or where it had done so. According to General, the country has reversed engineered the drones it has shot down.

He said previous incidents have not been disclosed to the media, "and this is the first time that we reveal this news," according to Fars. In January, 2007 parliamentary deputy of Iran declared that armed forces of a country had shot American UAV. Also, according to the agency, in May, 2010, Commander of the Iranian Army Major General Ataollah Salehi said that Iran's air-defense units shooed away a US military reconnaissance plane seeking to approach the Iranian Army's wargame zone in the Strait of Hormuz and Northern Indian Ocean. "Yesterday a US reconnaissance plane sought to approach our region but it left the area after receiving a prompt warning from the Army's air-defense unit," Ataollah Salehi told reporters on May 11. The most urgent issue in the relations between the USA and Iran is Iran’s nuclear program.

The US representatives suspect that in the guise of peaceful nuclear program Tehran is elaborating a nuclear bomb. Washington and Israel do not rule out the possibility of striking a blow to Iran in order to prevent it from receiving nuclear weapon. In response to these actions Tehran promises to close the Strait of Hormuz, which is used for the transportation of a significant part of the world’s oil. The USA often uses UAVs to blow strikes to targets in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In 2005 Chief of intelligence ministry of Iran Ali Younesi stated that Washington was using UAVs to monitor nuclear sites in Iran.

UAV industry news: MILEX 2011. UAV

At the present moment there is a “multifunctional unmanned airborne systems and their production technology” state scientific and technical program running in Belarus. Its objective is “development and launching in the Republic of Belarus the production of multifunctional unmanned systems for law enforcement agencies and for the national economy, in order to increase country’s export potential by means of basic production techniques of the modern aircraft.”

Under the auspices of the State military-industrial committee of Belarus there is a group of Belarusian enterprises of different profile developing a complex with multifunctional special-purpose unmanned aircraft. There are OJSC “AGAT – Control Systems” (basic elements of the complex, integration), JSC "558 Aircraft Repair Plant" (production) and DD “INDELA” (design of UAV) among them. Within the scope of the project two UAVs are created – tactical and operational tactical, ground control system, command-data radio line, various target loads, ground facilities. There was a UAV “Grif-1”, exhibited at the exhibition being offered under this program. Its flight endurance makes up to 100 km and provides land or water area monitoring, carrying out prospecting works, detection, recognition, object’s position data determination, radio-electronic means suppression, topographic reconnaissance.

Private company DD “INDELA” specializes in development of airplane-like and helicopter-like UAVs. The company exhibited three UAVs. Robotic low-sized unmanned helicopter with the weight of 140kg, rotor diameter of 3.2m, gyro-stabilized optoelectronic system with an infrared camera. «BERKUT» – robotic airborne target with the wing span of 2.8m, two turbojet engines, parachute rescue system, speed of up to 400 km/h.

The third one was «INDELA-6M» – airborne reconnaissance complex with the wing span of 6.0m, parachute rescue system, gyro-stabilized optoelectronic system with an infrared camera and flight duration of up to 5 hours. Source - http://www.missiles.ru/milex-2011_uav_foto.htm

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