IAI deepens Indian ties with Elcom to support UAV fleets
A new MoU on drone MRO and upgrades follows previous agreements IAI has made with Elcom.
UAVOS has developed a kit to convert manned aircraft into UAS as part of work to enable unmanned aircraft to carry out group missions for an unnamed customer.
The company has carried out a test flight of three Pipistrel Sinus light aircraft converted into UAS and integrated with special payloads. The UAS and their payloads were simultaneously controlled by a ground control station.
The aircrafts’ wings have been modified, onboard electronics have been altered and automatic control systems have been integrated.
The converted Sinus UAS has a maximum payload weight of 200kg, and can fly for up to five hours at up to 75mph. With a payload of 40kg its endurance increases to 20 hours. Take-off, flight and landing are performed in fully automatic mode. The aircraft’s onboard control system is adjustable to a wide range of payloads and provides remote diagnostics as well as remote control via wireless Internet.
UAVOS is developing the UAS for surveillance, communications relay, target indication, and the towing and dropping of targets.
Vadim Tarasov, UAVOS investor and board member, said: ‘Due to the nature of the project, the mission requires a well-coordinated work of the payloads of the aerial robotic complex consisting of 3 UAVs.
‘The customer has opted for an unmanned complex, since installation of such payloads on manned vehicles is dangerous due to the high level of electromagnetic interference that affects the operation of the regular radio navigation equipment.’
A new MoU on drone MRO and upgrades follows previous agreements IAI has made with Elcom.
According to media reports, researchers at universities aided the development of Iranian drones.
At SeaFuture 2023 in La Spezia, Italy, Leonardo showcased new AWHero rotary-wing UAS (RWUAS) developments, touting its maritime operations capabilities.
On 31 May, Quantum Systems announced that the Ukrainian MoD had ordered 300 additional Vector drones under a third order that the German government is funding.
AeroVironment has been dropped from the hunt to provide the US Army with a Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS), leaving Griffon Aerospace, Northrop Grumman, Sierra Nevada and Textron Systems in the running.
At FEINDEF in Madrid, Navantia, SAES and Perseo announced an intention to develop a line of uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs).