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.
BAE Systems has signed an agreement with Prismatic to develop a new solar electric UAS, which will have the potential to fly for up to a year at a time, BAE Systems announced on 3 May.
The companies will collaborate on the development of the solar powered high altitude, long endurance UAS known as the Persistent High Altitude Solar Aircraft 35 (PHASA-35). Work is already underway to prepare the first aircraft to be ready for flight tests in 2019.
PHASA-35 UAS will offer a year-round, low cost persistent service for a wide range of missions including surveillance and vital communications to remote areas, using only the sun to power the aircraft during the day and recharge the batteries for overnight operation.
Solar HALE vehicles offer a significantly cheaper alternative to conventional satellite technology. PHASA-35 uses long life battery technology and ultra-lightweight solar cells to maintain flight for up to 12 months. The PHASA-35 concept has a 35m wingspan and weighs 150kg.
A quarter scale model, PHASE-8, completed a successful maiden flight in 2017.
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.