US Navy foresees an uncrewed future for its surface and underwater fleet
The service has been conducting various procurement and development efforts to integrate unmanned surface and underwater vehicles into its inventory.
Creating large restricted areas to segregate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) from other air traffic will have negative operational and economic consequences, and it is not the best way to ensure safety, AOPA told the Air Force in formal comments.
The comments, filed Nov. 11, were written in response to a plan to create a large complex of restricted areas in northern North Dakota. The plan marks the first time the FAA will consider creating a restricted area solely for the use of UAS.
"We have concerns about any plan that would close airspace to civilian traffic so UAS can fly," said Pete Lehmann, AOPA manager of air traffic services. "Surveys have shown that 77 percent of our members, or more than half the U.S. pilot population, would rather fly with certified unmanned aircraft rather than be subject to flight restrictions."
In its comments, AOPA recommended alternative means of ensuring safety for both piloted and unmanned aircraft, including using ground spotters or chase aircraft, and allowing operations in positively controlled airspace above Flight Level 180-all of which could be enacted immediately, without the long wait required to establish a restricted area.
AOPA also noted that creating restricted airspace would have serious operational and economic consequences for locally based and transient aircraft, as well as for underlying airports and the businesses based there.
Those affected by the proposal have until Nov. 21 to file comments on the plan by writing to Mr. Doug Albright, EIS Project Manager, HQ AMC/A7PI, 507 Symington Drive, Scott Air Force Base, IL 62225.
The service has been conducting various procurement and development efforts to integrate unmanned surface and underwater vehicles into its inventory.
Tekever has manufactured the AR3, AR4 and AR5 UAS with all systems sharing common electronics and software architecture, which has enabled the reuse of ground segment elements within the new ARX UAS.
As the dynamics of aerial combat rapidly evolve, Chinese scientists have engineered a sophisticated air separation drone model that can fragment into up to six drones, each capable of executing distinct battlefield roles and challenging the efficacy of current anti-drone defences such as the UK’s Dragonfire laser system.
Advancements in air defence technologies have begun to reshape aerial combat dynamics in the Middle East, as illustrated by recent events involving the Israeli Air Force and Hezbollah.
Both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war have been using UAS for effective low-cost attacks, as well as impactful web and social media footage. Thousands more have now been committed to Ukrainian forces.
The US Army has intentions to develop light, medium and heavy variants of the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) as part of the branche’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle family.