Showing posts with label MQ-9. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MQ-9. Show all posts

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Pentagon confirms first UAV strike in Libya

Amid a day of heavy fighting between rebels and pro-Gaddafi force in the western city of Misrata, the Pentagon confirmed that the first drone strike on Libya has occurred. However the US military spokesman says that "per common practice we are not providing any details."

Sunday, April 3, 2011

USAF MQ-9 Reaper crashes at Holloman

An unmanned MQ-9 Reaper has crashed on landing at Holloman Air Force Base. The UAV was assigned to the 29th Attack Squadron, and USAF officials say nobody on the ground was injured and no private property was damaged.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Gorgon Stare not ready for operational use: Evaluators

Despite the highly publicised introduction a few weeks ago, USAF evaluators have deemed that the Gorgon Stare UAV-mounted surveillance system is "not operationally suitable" because it works as advertised only half the time. The system of nine cameras is mounted on a MQ-9 Reaper UAV to provide wide-area surveillance coverage.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Pentagon cost review: F-35B to be redesigned, put on probation

Some aviation-related takeaways from US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates speech on on cost reviews at the Pentagon.

  • The F-35B STOVL remains the only JSF model behind schedule. Redesign of the variant's structure and propulsion may be needed.

  • The F-35B will be put on probation for two years, cancellation at the end of the probation period will remain a possiblity.

  • More F/A-18E/Fs will be purchased for the Navy to cover fighter gaps due to F-35 delays.

  • 150 (legacy?) F/A-18s will have their service lives extended. (also due to F-35 delays)

  • The USAF will field a new, optionally-manned long range nuclear-capable bomber.

  • More Reaper UAVs will be purchased by the USAF.

  • Continuing radar upgrades for existing USAF F-15s.

  • A new seaborne strike/surveillance aircraft will be purchased

Full transcript of SecDef Gate's speech.

Monday, January 3, 2011

USAF to deploy revolutionary surveillance system on UAVs

The US Air Force is set to deploy to Afghanistan a new airborne surveillance system called Gorgon Stare on its Unmanned Aerial Vehicles comprising of multiple cameras which can monitor a much larger area than currently possible. However, the problem would be whether the capability to sift through huge quantities of imagery quickly enough exists.

Monday, December 13, 2010

RAF to double Reaper fleet

Following a 2008 request to the DSCA, The Royal Air Force has confirmed it will double its fleet of General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper unmanned air vehicles. The RAF's current Reaper fleet is being used to support ISAF operations in Afghanistan.

Friday, September 3, 2010

French, U.S. Procurement Chiefs to Discuss Reaper

The head of the Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) or French procurement office is in the United States to meet his American counterpart and executives of General Atomics to gather information about the MQ-9 Reaper. France is considering a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) surveillance drone for Afghanistan.