USS Charleston damaged after MQ-8B crashes after take off

USS Charleston was struck by a MQ-8B after the unmanned helicopter crashed into its side after taking off from the ship around 3:40 p.m., Apr. 26.

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 27, 2021) Chief Boatswain’s Mate Jesse Watson from Boynton Beach, Fla., stands as the flight deck officer for the flight operations of an MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle aboard Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18), March 27. Charleston is currently operating in U.S. Third Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam Butler)

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USV vector in swarm drone to attack surface target during UxS IBP 21

The U.S. Navy has demonstrated that it can use a swarm drone to destroy a surface target during the recently concluded Unmanned Systems Integrated Battle Problem (UxS IBP) 21 conducted off the coast of California.

210421-N-FC670-1008 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 21, 2021) A Seahawk medium displacement unmanned surface vessel participates in U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Unmanned Systems Integrated Battle Problem (UxS IBP) 21, April 21. UxS IBP 21 integrates manned and unmanned capabilities into challenging operational scenarios to generate warfighting advantages. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shannon Renfroe)

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Australia cleared to buy 12 MQ-9Bs

The U.S. government has cleared the sale of 12 MQ-9B unmanned air vehicles to Australia for an estimated cost of $1.651 billion.

An MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle comes in for a landing at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Nov. 20. Reapers are remotely piloted and can linger over battlefields, providing persistent strike capabilities to ground force commanders. This Reaper is deployed to the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance and Attack Squadron from Creech Air Force Base, Nev.

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