Uncrewed Vehicles

SOF Week 2023: AeroVironment introduces VTOL kit for Puma AE UAS (video)

11th May 2023

AeroVironment has introduced the Puma VTOL kit, designed for plug-and-play integration into Puma 2 AE and Puma 3 AE small uncrewed aircraft systems.

Air Warfare

AeroVironment unveils Puma VTOL kit for small UAS

10th May 2023

The VTOL kit allows the Puma 2AE and Puma 3AE UAS to operate in a wider range of terrains.

Uncrewed Vehicles

Eurodrone gets Liebherr landing gear

25th April 2023

Airbus has chosen Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH to supply the landing gear and hydraulic system for the medium-altitude, long-endurance Eurodrone.

Training

IAI delivers 100th US Air Force T-38 jet trainer wing

13th April 2023

The Israeli manufacturer has increased production rates to meet US Air Force T-38 Talon advanced jet trainer wing demand.

Air Warfare

US buys 21 tactical resupply drones for navy and marines

12th April 2023

Survice Engineering has been awarded $8 million contract for 21 TRV-150C Tactical Resupply Uncrewed Systems.

Military UAS - tactical

VTOL UAV (ROKA)

Programme Background All branches of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces are placing a large emphasis on the procurement of unmanned systems to improve ISR ...

Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

Blue Water Maritime Logistics UAS (BWUAS) (USA)

Programme Background Programme Goal The Blue Water Maritime Logistics UAS (BWUAS) programme stems from the Military Sealift Command and Fleet Forces Command identifying, in 2018, a ...

Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

Ship-Bourne VTOL UAV (South Korea)

Programme Background Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) On 18 January 2023, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Northop Grumman at a ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

Beyond Vision Drones [Portugal]

Programme Background Contract Award On 14 February 2023, Beyond Vision announced that it had been awarded a €600,375 contract for the acquisition of "6 Mulittoror ...

Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

UAV Tactical Level [Norway]

Programme Background Request for Information (RfI) In September 2022, the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) launched a request for information in preparation for a possible ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing

Fixed-Wing VTOL UAV (Malaysia)

Programme Background Tender Issued As reported by Shephard, on 18 June 2021, Malaysia issued a tender for fixed-wing hybrid VTOL UAVs.  Requirement The tender stated that Malaysia required ...

Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

Cargo UAV (Turkey)

Programme Background Inception & Requirment Turkey's Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) initiated a programme to procure VTOL-capable cargo drones in June 2018. These were planned for ...

Military UAS - small

Small UAV (Colombia)

Programme Background Many of the Colombian military's UAVs are operated by the Colombian Air Force, but the Colombian Army has also employed several different types ...

Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

Parrot Anafi (Singapore)

Programme Background On 7 February 2022, the Singapore Army posted photographs on Facebook that showed the Anafi UAV used as training devices in a five-day ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

Ship-Bourne VTOL UAV [Singapore]

Programme Background Multi-Role Combat Vessel  The Republic of Singapore Navy will retire its class of six Victory-class corvettes and replace them with a new platform ...

Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

Columbia Class Submarine (SSBN 826 - 827) (1-2)

Programme Background The Columbia class is being built to replace the ageing Ohio class SSBNs in service with the US Navy. The Major Defense Acquisition ...

Submarines: conventional, attack

Besat Class

Iran reportedly began the construction of two semi-heavy, diesel-electric submarines in 2008 known as the Bersat-class. There is a plan for Iran to acquire two ...

Military UAS - rotary-wing

Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Project (UK)

Programme Background Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Project The British Army launched the RAS project to provide the "direction required to exploit emerging technologies to ...

Submarines: nuclear, attack

Virginia Class Attack Submarine (SSN 792-SSN 811)

Programme Background Timeline The US Navy’s Virginia-class submarines (SSN 774) are built by both General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) under ...

Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

Columbia Class Submarine (3-12)

Programme Background The Columbia class is being built to replace the aging Ohio class SSBN's in service with the US Navy. The Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) ...

Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

QTP-UAV

The Quad Tilt Prop UAV (QTP-UAV) is an electric platform that is designed to provide VTOL capability with high-speed horizontal flight. 

Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

Zala 421-22

The Zala 421-22 is a rotary-wing UAV designed for ship- or land-based reconnaissance and surveillance, bomb damage assessment and real-time target acquisition. The VTOL UAV ...

Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

A-Hawk I (Cloud-1)

Part of a strike-capable ISTAR series of A-Hawk platforms is the A-Hawk I (Cloud-1) VTOL developed by AVIC. Reports indicate that the A-Hawk I enables ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

CW-25D

The CW-25D is VTOL capable UAV manufactured by Chengdu Jouav Automation Technology Co CW (JOUAV). It is a hybrid platform containing a 64cc two-stroke gasoline engine and electric ...

Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

Maya Mk1

The Maya Mk1 is a small, electric VTOL UAV with a 'tail-sitting' design. It is an encased system that allows for safe operation in urban ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

CL-9

The CL-9 is a fixed-wing VTOL UAV. It is fitted with two underwing pylons with electric brushless motors at each end powering rotors to provide ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

SR-10 VTOL

Deftech showcased the SR-10 VTOL at DSA 2022. It has been locally designed in Malaysia to conduct aerial mapping, surveillance and line inspection missions. The hand-launched platform is powered ...

Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

Drako

Drako is a quadrotor electric VTOL UAV suitable for close-range surveillance and reconnaissance on SF and police missions, especially in urban areas. It is available ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

XV-24A LightningStrike

The XV-24A LightningStrike, developed by Aurora Flight Sciences and its partners Rolls-Royce and Honeywell, was a project for a tilt-wing UAV powered by an electric-distributed ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

Rakshak VTOL

The Rakshak VTOL is a fixed-wing UAV with an EO/IR sensor for ISR missions. Developed by TATA Advanced Systems, the UAV is VTOL-capable, allowing it to operate ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

Turac VTOL UAV

The Turac is a fixed-wing VTOL UAV developed jointly by Havelsan and Istanbul Technical University Aerospace Research Center. It can be used for traditional military ISR ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

Loong 1

The Loong 1 is a VTOL-capable fixed-wing mini-UAV powered by an electric motor. Manufactured by LoongUAV, the platform is designed for ISR missions and can ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

H12 Poseidon

The H12 Poseidon is the largest member of Swarmly's UAV family. Designed to compete with other theatre-level UAVs, the fixed-wing VTOL capable H12 integrates many payload options, such ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

H10 Poseidon

The H10 Poseidon is a fixed-wing VTOL-capable UAV manufactured by Swamrly. Due to the UAV's electric propulsion system, small-radar cross-section, lack of detachable thermal signature and ability to operate ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

Shaheen VTOL UASN SH-01

Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Defense Studies & Research Center displayed its Shaheen VTOL UASN SH-01 at IDEX in February 2019. The aircraft is designed for ...