UAV

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Nov. 18, 2009 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] in May demonstrated the ability of mobile laser weapon systems to perform a unique mission: track and destroy small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

During the U.S. Air Force-sponsored tests at the Naval Air Warfare Center in China Lake, Calif., the Mobile Active Targeting Resource for Integrated eXperiments (MATRIX), which was developed by Boeing under contract to the Air Force Research Laboratory, used a single, high-brightness laser beam to shoot down five UAVs at various ranges. Laser Avenger, a Boeing-funded initiative, also shot down a UAV. Representatives of the Air Force and Army observed the tests.    » read more »

Bill includes provision to ensure UAVs have access to airspace

October 23, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) --- A bill that earned final approval in Congress late Thursday will help ensure training programs at UND and other unmanned aerial vehicle programs will be able to access airspace in North Dakota, U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad and Congressman Earl Pomeroy announced today.

Senator Dorgan drafted the provision, Section 935, of the fiscal year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act that requires the Pentagon and the Department of Transportation to jointly write a plan that would ensure UAVs have access to the national airspace. The Department of Homeland Security, the lead agency for the Customs and Border Protection, will also contribute to the effort.    » read more »

MESA, Ariz., June 23, 2009 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that the AH-64D Apache Block III prototype helicopter successfully demonstrated Level IV unmanned aircraft system (UAS) connectivity on June 8 during a flight test over the Arizona desert.    » read more »

5/6/2008 - CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFPN) -- Lt. Gen. Norman Seip, the 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) commander, congratulated Airmen at Creech Air Force Base May 6 as the 432nd Wing marked its first year as the Air Force's only MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle wing.

MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle

"The 432nd Wing has grown exponentially over the last year, in manpower, demand, flying hours, sorties, technology, reach, support for the warfighter and in battlefield capability," said General Seip. "From day one, the 432nd Wing Airmen have been 'all in' in the support of ongoing operations; particularly in operations Iraqi (Freedom) and Enduring Freedom."    » read more »

8/9/2007 - BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- When terrorists tried shooting mortar rounds at Balad Air Base in July, they didn't count on the tireless, unblinking eye of an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle overhead, transmitting their every move to Airmen on the ground here.

Airmen assigned to the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron here kept the Predator overhead July 24 watching the men while they confirmed what they were seeing with a joint terminal attack controller on the ground.    » read more »

4/25/2007 - WASHINGTON (AFNEWS) -- Recent discussion in hearings on Capital Hill, and elsewhere on an executive agency proposal to achieve greater efficiency in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) procurement is being confused with joint operational employment of those UAVs.

"These are two related, but distinctly separate issues," said Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance. The discussion has also illuminated a fundamental misunderstanding of Service roles and missions.    » read more »

4/20/2007 - WASHINGTON (AFNEWS) -- The deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance explained why Air Force leaders support the idea of creating an executive agency for unmanned aerial vehicles before the House Armed Services air and land forces subcommittee April 19 here.

Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula joined other Department of Defense representatives in providing testimony to the HASC.    » read more »