A rendering of the Kaman Kargo UAV for the US Marines. (Kaman)
Aerospace company Kaman said it is on track to fly a full-scale model of its Kargo unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the latter half of third quarter.
Kaman flew a half-size model in June 2021 to test the new drivetrain designed for the UAV. The transmission for the full-size model is in manufacturing and will be delivered to Kaman “very soon“, Romin Dasmalchi, Kaman's senior director of government relations, told Janes during the Modern Day Marine 2022 conference in Washington, DC on 10 May.
The quadcopter UAV is being built to fly over 500 n miles with a max speed of 121 kt and carry up to 800 lb of cargo depending on the desired range. Payload options include a supply pod, medical pod, and an external slingload. The UAV fits into a standard-size cargo container and Kaman says that it can be taken out of storage and be flight-ready in “minutes”.
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General Atomics is developing an MQ-9B STOL UAV kit for operations off any flat-deck carrier or amphibious ship. (General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc)
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) said on 10 May that it is developing a kit to provide short take-off and landing (STOL) capability on its MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian unmanned aerial systems (UASs).
The MQ-9B STOL option will utilise a wing and tail kit that can be installed on the platform in the hanger or on a flight line in less than a day, according to the company. The kit can be removed to return the aircraft to conventional operations.
“Imagine taking the hardtop off your Jeep. You lift it off, stow it in your garage, and now you've got an open vehicle. If it rains, you put the hardtop back on. We're the same. Take a standard MQ-9B, put the STOL kit on, and then go fly,” said GA-ASI president David Alexander in a statement.
The unmanned aerial vehicle's (UAV's) endurance will be affected by the STOL capability. GA-ASI expects
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France's DGA and AID have released two calls for projects for low-cost mini attack drones such as the Switchblade (pictured) that the US has supplied to Ukraine. (AeroVironment Inc)
The Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA), the French defence procurement agency, and the L'Agence de l'Innovation de Défense (AID), the country's defence innovation agency, have released two calls for projects for low-cost mini attack drones. French Ministry of Armed Forces spokesperson Hervé Grandjean told a press conference on 12 May that the first call is for the Larinae project for a system to neutralise targets at a range of over 50 km, and the second is for the complementary Colibri project for a system to neutralise targets in the area of contact with the enemy at a range of over 5 km.
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Acquiring the A-29 Super Tucano would provide increased capabilities to the Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya (FAU) as it looks to replace its Cessna A-37B Dragonfly light attack aircraft and Pilatus PC-7U Turbo Trainers. (Embraer)
Uruguay is in active talks to buy 12 Embraer A-29 Super Tucanos from Brazil in a nearly USD40 million deal, sources in Brazil told Janes.
The specific aircraft had previously been offered to Portugal and Ukraine and have had their frames and engines overhauled to zero hours, according to the sources. The sale would also include training and spare parts.
Uruguayan Minister of Defence Javier Garcia told reporters on 7 May that Uruguay is negotiating with Brazil to buy the aircraft. The talks are part of negotiations that started when Garcia met with his Brazilian counterpart, General Walter Braga Neto, in 2021.
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Aerospace company Kaman said it is on track to fly a full-scale model of its Kargo unmanned aerial v...
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