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.


Development on the EADS Barracuda fully-autonomous, medium-altitude, long-range UAV began in 2003, and is backed by both Germany and Spain. France, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Greece, alternately, have funded the Dassault nEUROn, while the UK has independently forged ahead with the BAE Taranis. Despite crashing during a 2006 test flight, which grounded the project for nearly two years, the Barracuda has since successfully completed more than a dozen test flights.

Though details on the vehicle itself remain classified, we do know that the Barracuda is built from a mix of off the shelf components and custom hardware systems. Its entire fuselage-save for a pair of reinforcing wing spars-is composed of the same carbon fiber composite that covers the Eurofighter Typhoon. What’s more, the 26-foot long, three-ton demonstrator does almost entirely away with hydraulics-aside from the landing gear, the UAV operates entirely on electronic actuators. And while it isn’t as quick as the Taranis, the Barracuda reportedly packs a 14 kN Pratt & Whitney jet turbine capable of achieving mach .85 with a 20,000 foot service ceiling and an estimated 124 mile operational radius.

For the foreseeable future, the Barracuda will remain a developmental test bed for future Cassian UAV technologies with hopes of eventually developing a system that can operate in unsegregated airspace alongside manned and civilian aircraft. And with both the nEUROn and Taranis gunning for deployment by the end of the decade, the skies over Europe are going to get crowded.

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.

Development on the EADS Barracuda fully-autonomous, medium-altitude, long-range UAV began in 2003, and is backed by both Germany and Spain. France, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Greece, alternately, have funded the Dassault nEUROn, while the UK has independently forged ahead with the BAE Taranis. Despite crashing during a 2006 test flight, which grounded the project for nearly two years, the Barracuda has since successfully completed more than a dozen test flights.

Though details on the vehicle itself remain classified, we do know that the Barracuda is built from a mix of off the shelf components and custom hardware systems. Its entire fuselage-save for a pair of reinforcing wing spars-is composed of the same carbon fiber composite that covers the Eurofighter Typhoon. What’s more, the 26-foot long, three-ton demonstrator does almost entirely away with hydraulics-aside from the landing gear, the UAV operates entirely on electronic actuators. And while it isn’t as quick as the Taranis, the Barracuda reportedly packs a 14 kN Pratt & Whitney jet turbine capable of achieving mach .85 with a 20,000 foot service ceiling and an estimated 124 mile operational radius.

For the foreseeable future, the Barracuda will remain a developmental test bed for future Cassian UAV technologies with hopes of eventually developing a system that can operate in unsegregated airspace alongside manned and civilian aircraft. And with both the nEUROn and Taranis gunning for deployment by the end of the decade, the skies over Europe are going to get crowded.

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. 

The MQ-4C Triton, the airborne element of the U.S. Navy's Broad Area Maritime 

Surveillance (BAMS) system which also include the Boeing P-8A Poseidon MMA aircraft .

The aircraft can soar at up to 60,000 feet and stay airborne for as long as 30 hours. By 2015, the Triton will undergo operational testing and evaluation, and the Navy hopes to add additional aircraft to its existing fleet (currently just two strong). 

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. 

The MQ-4C Triton, the airborne element of the U.S. Navy's Broad Area Maritime 

Surveillance (BAMS) system which also include the Boeing P-8A Poseidon MMA aircraft .

The aircraft can soar at up to 60,000 feet and stay airborne for as long as 30 hours. By 2015, the Triton will undergo operational testing and evaluation, and the Navy hopes to add additional aircraft to its existing fleet (currently just two strong). 

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).

In a parallel effort, Urban Aeronautics is accelerating the assembly of a second AirMule prototype in preparation for a series of demonstration flights requested by potential customers.

The second prototype is intended primarily as a reserve aircraft to ensure uninterrupted flight testing once customer demonstrations, planned for mid-2014, are underway.

Read more at: http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/urban-aeronautics-upgrades-airmule-with-new-propellers-385918/

Urban Aeronautics upgrades AirMule with new propellers

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

Urban Aeronautics Air Mule

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).

In a parallel effort, Urban Aeronautics is accelerating the assembly of a second AirMule prototype in preparation for a series of demonstration flights requested by potential customers.

The second prototype is intended primarily as a reserve aircraft to ensure uninterrupted flight testing once customer demonstrations, planned for mid-2014, are underway.

Read more at: http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/urban-aeronautics-upgrades-airmule-with-new-propellers-385918/

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

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.

The Iranian UAV has been made by Aviation Industries Organization of the Defense Ministry. The home-made UAV is reconnaissance-offensive and its important feature is its flight duration.

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.

The Iranian UAV has been made by Aviation Industries Organization of the Defense Ministry.

The home-made UAV is reconnaissance-offensive and its important feature is its flight duration.

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.

"It moves us a critical step closer to proving that unmanned systems can be integrated seamlessly into Navy carrier operations," says Capt Jaime Engdahl, the Navy's programme manager. "The entire system has performed very well across a large set of shore-based testing events including aircraft performance, flying qualities, navigation performance, catapult launches, and precision landings designed to stress system operation."

Source: Flightglobal

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.

"It moves us a critical step closer to proving that unmanned systems can be integrated seamlessly into Navy carrier operations," says Capt Jaime Engdahl, the Navy's programme manager. "The entire system has performed very well across a large set of shore-based testing events including aircraft performance, flying qualities, navigation performance, catapult launches, and precision landings designed to stress system operation."

Source: Flightglobal

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.