The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) celebrated a significant milestone on Feb. 28, with the successful maiden flight of the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) at Gray Butte Field Airport, California. This event marks the first flight of an aircraft developed under the Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Platform Sharing (LCAAPS) program, a groundbreaking initiative aiming to revolutionize unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) development.
Category: UAV
GA-ASI demonstrates launch of A2LE platform from MQ-20 Avenger UAS
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) successfully demonstrated the in-flight release of its Advanced Air-Launched Effects (A2LE) platform from an MQ-20 Avenger Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) on Nov. 28, 2023. This milestone marks a significant achievement in developing low-cost, modular small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS) for military applications.
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U.S. State Department approves $3.99 Billion MQ-9B sale to India
In a move solidifying the U.S.-India strategic partnership and bolstering its maritime surveillance capabilities, India has secured a potential $3.99 billion deal for 31 MQ-9B Sky Guardian armed drones and a comprehensive support package. The State Department officially approved the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) on Feb. 1st, paving the way for negotiations with prime contractor General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
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Aerosonde takes flight from LCS, bolstering U.S. Navy’s ISR reach
In a significant milestone for both Textron Systems and the U.S. Navy, the Aerosonde Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) completed its first operational flight from a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) on Jan. 29. Launching from the USS Savannah, the inaugural mission marks the start of Aerosonde’s operational deployment onboard the LCS platform, bolstering the Navy’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and expanding its reach across diverse maritime missions.
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POTION software makes UAVs fly farther, save fuel
A groundbreaking test in the harsh Arctic Circle has successfully demonstrated the potential of a revolutionary new software called POTION to significantly increase the efficiency and range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This achievement, the fruit of a nine-year collaboration between the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), marks a major milestone in advancing UAV technology for military and commercial applications.
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