The Navy’s Unmanned Aerial System program office, and the Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicle (VTUAV) Program completed a major developmental milestone as the VTUAV system completed nine autonomous landings aboard USS Nashville (LPD 13). One air vehicle performed the initial tests with three landings Jan. 16, and a second air vehicle was launched Jan. 17 to complete the testing.
This is the first time a major defense autonomous UAV acquisition program has completed a landing aboard a fleet vessel.
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Autonomous Fire Scout UAV Lands on Ship
Kestrel Aerospace’s Lancer vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned air vehicle was due to undergo tethered hover tests late last month at an undisclosed private hangar in the UK.
The VTOL UAV is an 80kg (175lb) vehicle able to carry a payload of up to 13.6kg with a mission endurance of 8h and top speed of 156kt (290km/h). Powered by two tilt-fan engines, the vehicle is being promoted for military and civil missions, including surveillance and power cable monitoring.
Source and more info: Flight International
Army Spc. Ted Trenary, left, and Pfc. Kevin Tirserio prepare to launch a Raven unmanned aerial vehicle from Forward Operations Base McHenry, Iraq, November 30, 2005.
Source: AeroSpaceNews.com
