By Arthur Holland Michel and Dan Gettinger In a video released on Sunday, Amazon previewed its delivery drone prototype. The two-minute teaser features a drone that can take-off like a helicopter and fly like a fixed-wing airplane, giving it greater range and the ability to potentially land right on your …
For an update on underwater drones, click here. By Dan Gettinger Late last month, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus appointed Brig. Gen. Frank Kelley to become the first deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for unmanned systems, a position that was created in April. “The change to the organization …
For our October 2016 update on the presidential candidates, click here. By Arthur Holland Michel Isobel Coen contributed to research for this story. In the crowded presidential primary field, the use of drones for targeted killing has received very little attention compared to issues such as …
By Arthur Holland Michel Last month, Steve Whitby, an executive at the french aerospace giant Airbus Defence and Space, briefed reporters with some exciting news. Airbus, he said, had entered into a deal with the British Ministry of Defense, which would buy three of the company’s Zephyr solar-powered, high-altitude, long-endurance …
By Arthur Holland Michel On January 26, 2015, California Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson introduced a short, simple bill to the State Senate. S.B. 142, which was vetoed earlier this month by California Governor Jerry Brown after passing comfortably in the state legislature, sought to restrict the recreational and commercial use of …
By Tekendra Parmar Need to Know provides context and resources to help you get a better understanding of recent developments in the world of drones. This past July, the United States and Singapore conducted their annual joint maritime warfare exercises; the 21st annual ‘Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training’ exercise was …
By Dan Gettinger Earlier this year, despite increasing demand for U.S. drones over Iraq and Syria, the Air Force decided to cut the number of drone missions it flies every day. The move is in response to growing concerns within the military and without that Air Force drone missions are …
By Arthur Holland Michel In January of this year, photos emerged that appeared to show a China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation CH-3 drone armed with two AR-1 anti-tank missiles lying upside down in a field in Nigeria’s Borno Province, where Nigerian forces have been battling Boko Haram. The crash …
For an updated analysis of 1033 data, click here. By Dan Gettinger After an exchange of gunfire on Saturday morning, in Dallas, Texas, an explosive ordnance disposal robot rolled up to a van parked outside of a fast food restaurant. James Boulware, the van’s occupant, is suspected of being involved in …
By Dan Gettinger On the afternoon of Monday, June 8, 2015, U.S. senators returning from the weekend will tackle the growing conflagration over defense spending. The Senate will resume debate on H.R.1735, the bill authorizing defense spending for Fiscal Year 2016 that was passed by the House of Representatives on …
By Dan Gettinger On May 20, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released 103 documents that were collected during the raid that killed Osama bin Laden on May 1, 2011. A large portion of the documents, which have been translated into English, are letters between bin Laden and …
By Dan Gettinger When it comes to unmanned flight today, fixed-wing drones like the Predator and Reaper have captured much of the public imagination and debate, particular in the military realm. Less mentioned, however, is the fact that helicopter drones—which are known as Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) UAVs—are a …
