UV Europe 2011: UK looks forward to micro and nano-UAS technology
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is considering requirements for micro and nano UAS which could be fulfilled by the end of the year, according to a senior British Army officer.
Addressing delegates at the UV Europe conference in Brussels, Maj Matt Moore SO2 UAS HQ Director Royal Artillery, said the MoD was looking at an ‘immediate ISTAR’ micro-UAS requirement at first.
This, he described, would include a ‘rapid, reliable and organic’ system allowing ground forces to ‘see into the compound when they need to and find the firing point when they’re getting shot at’.
The requirement has come to light due to the time taken to deploy the Desert Hawk III, Hermes 450 and Reaper UAS to a contact area.
Describing the MoD’s Urban Warfare Exercise (URBEX) on Salisbury Plain last year, Moore said the army had considered Lockheed Martin’s Night Hawk; AeroVironment’s Wasp III; Datron’s Scout; and Cyberflight’s Maverick.
‘Night Hawk performed the best at the Micro-UAS trial at URBEX last year,’ Moore observed while describing how the MoD was also looking at nano technology for UAS. The MoD is understood to have issued a tender to industry to provide a capability that meets infantry requirements.
‘Our intent is to fill this capability at the end of the year. We have a thought of where we could go,’ he admitted although he was unable to provide more details. Finally, Moore said the army was also looking at a micro-ground control station and battery technology in order to lower the burden carried by dismounted soldiers.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![The shift away from Chinese drone technology presents supplier opportunities]()
The shift away from Chinese drone technology presents supplier opportunities
As countries increasingly move away from Chinese drone manufacturing and focus on domestic production and collaboration, Europe and the US are well-placed to step in – although cost remains a crucial consideration.
-
![What’s next for the Pentagon after the Replicator programme?]()
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.
-
![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.
