Small backpack-carried UAVs with still cameras can create large-area, three-dimensional digital maps with better resolution than satellite imagery, and in far less time than traditional techniques. That is the lesson of a just-completed series of tests at a 13,000-ft.-elevation archaeological site in Peru—and researchers say the same technology could be used for crisis management and disaster relief.
The latest variant of Boeing's X-48 blended wing body (BWB) unmanned research aircraft flew for the first time from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB, Calif., on Aug. 7.
Nearly 30 years ago, then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan tasked the Pentagon with creating a unique shield to counter the growing threat of Soviet intercontinental ballistic missiles. He kicked off a massive industrial effort backed by billions of dollars under the leadership of the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization—the so-called Star Wars program. Though Reagan's vision of an impenetrable shield has never been realized, the Pentagon has navigated through a thorny political landscape to begin fielding a rudimentary framework of capabilities to protect the U.S.
Nearly $1 billion added to Raytheon's contract to build a new, larger SM-3 interceptor cooperatively with Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is expected to carry the program through to its initial flight test in preparation for deployment in 2018.
Unmanned-aircraft avionics maker Procerus Technologies was acquired by Lockheed Martin in January, launched development of a vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) UAS in March and flew the small quadcopter daily at the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International's show here.
Israeli military and defense officials are boasting that their new trainer-and-sensor aircraft agreement with Italy provides the Middle Eastern country with a high-grade capability and, just as important, opens up Italy and possibly other European markets for Israeli foreign military sales.
HOUSTON — NASA plans a two-phase strategy for the safety certification of its emerging commercial crew space transportation service providers, starting with the competitive award of up to four 15-month Certification Products Contracts (CPCs) in early 2013. The effort would lead to at least one Design Reference Mission test flight, with the goal of initiating regular, commercially flown crew transportation missions to the International Space Station (ISS) by 2017.
SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS, Brazil — Indonesia’s air force still plans to take delivery of Grob Aircraft G120TP primary trainers, contrary to rumors that the service might have canceled the deal. The rumors had been sparked among industry executives, because little has been said publicly since Grob announced in a statement last September that the Indonesian air force (IAF) had chosen to buy G120TPs. The Grob statement said deliveries would begin in 2012.
The companies that will likely face the biggest financial hurdles due to sequestration concerns are the second-level defense industry suppliers – such as those for the nation’s largest shipbuilders – says Michael Petters, CEO of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII).
The Pentagon’s estimates for fuel and transportation costs nearly doubled in the six months between the 2013 budget submission and Senate appropriators’ recent markup. The Senate Appropriations Committee (SAC) covered the tab, adding $965 million in its bill, approved Aug. 2. But since the increase was in the wartime budget, officially known as “Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO), procurement programs did not have to be cut, so the military could keep its planes and trucks moving and get soldiers and supplies from base to deployment.
The nation’s continued reliance on aircraft carrier operations is putting even more emphasis on getting the new Ford-class ships into the fleet, says Michael Petters, CEO of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII). The U.S. Navy is operating 10 carriers right now, Petters noted Aug. 8 during a conference call with financial investment analysts to discuss the company’s second-quarter earnings. The service is used to operating with 11 ships.
NEW DELHI — India is attempting to verify whether counterfeit spare parts made in China were used in defense equipment being sold by U.S. firms to India. “There have been media reports in this regard, which are being verified,” Defense Minister A.K. Antony said in parliament in response to a question by a lawmaker concerning the issue.
HEALTHY SEPARATION: The Joint Strike Fighter program achieved a milestone Aug. 8 when a short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing F-35 became the first of the developmental, stealthy fighters to release a weapon during a test over the Atlantic Ocean. The inert, 1,000-lb. Joint Direct Attack Munition also was the first airborne weapon separation from the F-35 internal weapon bay. The event kicks off a lengthy weapons testing campaign for the F-35.
