The Army wants to outfit each platoon-sized unit with a hand-held and easily operated drone weighing between 2 and 15 pounds, a senior adviser at the Training and Doctrine Command told Aviation Week. The systems would be battery powered for easy maintenance and operation, and capable of launch without rails or bungee cords. Lt. Col. James Cutting, Aviation UAS director in the Army’s operations office, is calling on industry to help make what he called a “pair of flying binoculars,” a reality. But it’s really not just one pair for everyone, but rather a series of different drones, phased in over time,…
Browsing: UAVs
Gen. George Casey, Army chief of staff, said last week that half of combat-ready troops will not be headed for Iraq or the ‘Stan, but instead will be ready to deploy wherever needed. That’s why you’re soon to get new ACUs and in-depth training in full spectrum operations. So, where might this push take you? China and North Korea are always a hot topic. Defense Secretary is in China right now, and this morning described North Korea as a “direct threat” due to “the combination of their continuing nuclear programs but also the progress that they’re making in the development…
Air Force Army Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are taking significant strides, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army logged more than 1 million flight hours earlier this year, and is growing more comfortable – and capable – with an ever-increasing inventory. The service is flying the MQ-1C Gray Eagle over Iraqi skies from Camp Taji. Only two deployed Army units fly the Gray Eagle, according to this story. The plan is to field up to 132 Gray Eagles in 11 units at the division level. Operators in Iraq are attached to the Enhanced Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, from Fort…