What's next for the Pentagon after the Replicator programme?
Although the Replicator initiative has made several accomplishments, there are still multiple gaps to plug across the US Department of Defense (DoD) and its services.
Inmarsat selects Alpha for UAV Pop-up Lab
Alpha Unmanned Systems has been selected to participate in Inmarsat’s UAV Pop-up Lab, a programme aimed at exploring the advantages of satellite-enabled UAS with commercial end-users, the company announced on 20 February.
As part of the Pop-up Lab, Alpha Unmanned Systems will integrate the Inmarsat connectivity services using the Cobham Aviator UAV 200 terminal onto its Alpha 800 UAS. The company will work along side six other UAV companies and will carry out a range of missions using Inmarsat’s global satellite network enabling beyond line of sight operations and global resilient C2 capability for safer and more efficient flight operations.
Under the programme, Alpha Unmanned Systems will execute a beyond visual line of sight mission to deliver urgent medical supplies in a limited/no radio-frequency coverage area. The mission will utilise Inmarsat SATCOM to enable long-range control and real-time video streaming from the Alpha 800 tactical helicopter UAS. With an endurance of three hours, the Alpha 800 UAS can cover a wide range of area and its vertical take-off and landing capabilities allow for very precise control during missions.
The Alpha 800 is a tactical gasoline powered UAS capable of carrying a payload of 3kg. It is equipped with a military-grade autopilot with high precision GPS and sensors. The Alpha 800 was originally developed for ISR and can also be used for other services including delivery of urgently supplies.
Trial outcomes will be presented at an event on 30 May 2019 at Inmarsat’s headquarters.
You may also like
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![What's next for the Pentagon after the Replicator programme?]()
-
![Cummings Aerospace showcases Hellhound loitering munition designed for US Army’s LASSO programme (video)]()
Cummings Aerospace showcases Hellhound loitering munition designed for US Army’s LASSO programme (video)
Cummings Aerospace presented its turbojet-powered Hellhound loitering munition at SOF Week 2025, offering a man-portable solution aligned with the US Army’s LASSO requirements.
-
![SOF Week 2025: PDW unveils attritable FPV drone for SOF operations at scale]()
SOF Week 2025: PDW unveils attritable FPV drone for SOF operations at scale
PDW has revealed its Attritable Multirotor First Person View drone at SOF Week 2025, offering special operations forces a low-cost, rapidly deployable platform for strike and ISR missions, inspired by battlefield lessons from Ukraine.
-
![SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions]()
SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions
Teledyne FLIR is highlighting the emerging requirements for 'recoverable and re-usable' loitering munitions across the contemporary operating environment during this week’s SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida.
-
![SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America]()
SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America
High-performance maritime industry player Kraken Technology Group, based in the UK, has used the SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida this week to debut its K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessel (USV) to the North American market.
-
![Palladyne AI and Red Cat to demonstrate capabilities for autonomous drone swarms to the US military]()
Palladyne AI and Red Cat to demonstrate capabilities for autonomous drone swarms to the US military
Red Cat and Palladyne AI recently conducted a cross-platform collaborative flight involving three diverse heterogeneous drones.
