07 June 2022
by Robin Hughes
A computer-generated image depicting a Ninox 103 launch from a submarine. (SpearUAV)
Israeli tactical unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) house, SpearUAV, has revealed a new capsuled loitering system development that utilises underwater-to-air transition technology to deliver an organic, real-time, beyond-line-of-sight situational awareness capability for submerged submarines.
“A submarine is a standalone platform that cannot always use other force assets for its intelligence-gathering requirements,” Gadi Kuperman, founder and CEO of SpearUAV, told Janes . “Additionally, submarine periscopes are naturally somewhat limited in what they can see. Our Ninox 103 sub-to-air loitering system brings a completely new dimension to that submarine intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) functionality. Critically, Ninox 103 extends and enhances the ISR range of a submarine while submerged … This technology marks [the] first time that an underwater platform can project an ISR capability without revealing its presence,” he added.
Unveiled at the Undersea Defence Technology exhibition in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on 7 June, the Ninox 103 sub-to-air loitering UAS is a development evolved from an earlier ‘first-of-type' technology engine initially intended for use with ground or air platforms. Ninox 103 sub-launched is now the baseline for all future developments in this class.
24 April 2024
by Jeremy Binnie
A still from a video released on 21 April shows the Iraqi Army Aviation Command stand at IQDEX in Baghdad. (Iraqi Ministry of Defence)
Iraqi Army Aviation Command (IAAC) has confirmed it has ordered, if not already received, Chinese-made CH-5 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The command's stand at the International Defense Exhibition in Iraq (IQDEX) held in Baghdad from 20 to 23 April was decorated with posters that showed all the aircraft it has in service, which included the CH-5 next to the CH-4 UAV operated by its 100 Squadron.
Earlier reports that Iraq had acquired CH-5s were based on a photograph that circulated on social media in September 2023 showing a man holding a certificate in front of a projected image that identified the event as the “closing ceremony for CH-5 training” above Iraqi and Chinese flags.
A second photograph purportedly of the certificate showed it was for the successful completion of the CH-5 theoretical, practical, and flight training courses. While the graduate's name was obscured, it had stamps from the Iraqi military attaché office in China as well as the Chinese companies Poly Technologies and CH UAV Science and Technology Company.
24 April 2024
by Zach Rosenberg
A GA-ASI Mojave UAV performs a gun-run with a Dillon DAP-6 podded minigun. (GA-ASI)
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) has tested a podded gun on its Mojave short take-off and landing (STOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the company said in a 23 April release.
GA-ASI mounted two Dillon DAP-6 podded miniguns to the Mojave and tested the combination at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona on 13 April. The Mojave performed seven gun-runs during two flights, expending around 10,000 rounds of ammunition against “a variety of targets”, according to GA-ASI. A video accompanying the release showed the UAV destroying a pickup truck.
“For this live-fire demonstration, our goal was to validate the [Mojave's] battlefield relevance,” GA-ASI told Janes on 23 April. “As such, the effort was done completely using GA-ASI's [internal research and development funding], but we believe that successfully demonstrating this capability is of considerable interest to potential customers.”
Integrating the gun pods took “about 70 business days” to complete, added the company.
23 April 2024
by Jeremy Binnie
Chad's new Aksungur is seen warming up for take-off in a still from a video released by the AAT. (Armée de l'Air Tchadienne)
The Chadian Air Force (AAT) has revealed it has received at least one Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ) Aksungur unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
It released a video on 21 April that included footage of an Aksungur with AAT markings and the Turkish-format serial 23013 taking off from Adji Kosseï Air Base at N'Djamena International Airport armed with eight MAM-L small laser-guided bombs. The video also featured AAT personnel being trained by TUSAŞ in Türkiye.
The AAT operates at least two TUSAŞ Anka UAVs and three TUSAŞ Hürkuş-C turboprop light-attack aircraft, which were unveiled when President General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno visited Adji Kosseï Air Base in July 2023.
Israeli tactical unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) house, SpearUAV, has revealed a new capsuled loiter...
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