After 15 Years Of Trying, The British Army's Drone Program Is A Failure

The Warzone/The Drive: The UK Has Spent Nearly 15 Years Developing Watchkeeper Drones It Says Aren't Safe to Fly

The British Army has more than 50 of the unmanned aircraft, but authorities say they still aren't reliable enough even for routine drills.

After more than a decade of development, the U.K. Ministry of Defense has acknowledged that its Watchkeeper WK450 drones have yet to receive a full “release to service” certification. This means that officials have not yet deemed the aircraft safe enough to operate regularly in training exercises, let alone actual operations, and it’s not clear when they might be ready routine duties.

On Jan. 29, 2018, Permanent Secretary Stephen Lovegrove, the U.K. Ministry of Defense’s chief civilian administrator, revealed the latest setbacks in a letter to the head of the Public Accounts Committee within the country’s parliament. The memo appeared online earlier in March 2018 and a report by Jane’s 360 called it an “unprecedented move” on the part of the Secretary. The United Kingdom first announced the project in 2005 and the British Army now has a fleet of approximately 52 of the unmanned aircraft, which carry a sensor turret with electro-optical and infrared full motion video cameras and synthetic aperture imaging radar with a ground moving target indicator function.

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WNU Editior: After 15 years of trying .... and failing .... it is time to throw in the towel and start something new.

DARPA's New Drone Will Be Able To Supply Or Deliver Troops And Supplies In Rugged Terrain

WNU Editor: Impressive. Looking forward to a working model.

Drones Are Flooding The Skies Over Syria And Iraq

A female Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighter waits for a drone to land, in Sinjar, March 11, 2015. The drone had flown to check enemy positions near a site which had been hit by two Islamic State car bombs.

VOA: Military Drones Flood War Skies Over Syria, Iraq

WASHINGTON — When an Iraqi soldier heard a buzzing sound overhead last month in Iraq’s Anbar province, he took aim and shot down what looked like a bird-sized model plane.

After studying the device, Iraq’s Ministry of Defense said it was a surveillance drone available for purchase on the Internet for less than $1,000 that was being flown by the Islamic State (IS) group.

“The brave warrior ... was able to hit a spying plane belonging to the gangs of IS,” the ministry said in a Facebook post.

Such incidents are becoming increasingly common in both Iraq and Syria. Drones from at least seven nations – and several militias and military forces including IS – are crowding the skies above Iraq, Syria and Turkey, according to interviews with analysts and officials in the region.

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WNU Editor: The U.S. is still the leader in development and use of this technology .... but everyone is now trying to catch up.

U.S. Navy Installs Its First Drone Command Center Aboard An Aircraft Carrier

SAN DIEGO (June 12, 2015) Three Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), and USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) are pierside at Naval Air Station North Island. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel M. Young/Released)

The Diplomat: US Navy Installs First Drone Command Aboard Aircraft Carrier

The U.S. Navy hails the installation as a “historical milestone.”

This month, the United States Navy made another stride in its quest toward unmamed carrier aviation by installing the first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) command center aboard the Nimitz-class supercarrier USS Carl Vinson, according to a U.S. Navy press release.

“This marks the start of a phased implementation of the MQ-XX system on an aircraft carrier,” said Captain Beau Duarte, the program manager of the U.S. Navy’s Unmanned Carrier Aviation program office ”The lessons learned and ground-breaking work done here will go on to inform and influence future installations on other aircraft carriers.”

The MQ-XX is a planned high-endurance drone specifically designed for aerial refueling as well as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions (ISR). It is meant to replace the F/A-18E/F aircraft in its role as the aerial tanker for the air wing of an aircraft carrier.

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More News On The U.S. Navy Installing Its First Drone Command Center Aboard An Aircraft Carrier

First Phase Unmanned Aviation on CVN Complete -- Navy.mil
The future of America's aircraft carriers? Floating drone factories. -- Kyle Mizokami, The Week
Floating Robot Killing Machines: US Envisions Carrier-Based Drone Factories -- Sputnik
US Navy Aircraft Carrier Gets First Drone Command Centre -- Defense World
US aircraft carrier gets UAV C2 centre -- Shephard News

The Israeli Military Wants A Fleet Of Suicide Drones

Haaretz: IDF Interested in Buying Suicide Drones, Israel Aerospace Industries Exec Says

The executive says such drones, which carry grenades, have been sold to foreign armies but would not specify which.

The Israel Defense Forces is interested in purchasing suicide drones, an Israel Aerospace Industry executive has said.

The aircraft in question, developed by IAI, is a drone capable of carrying grenades or a camera that can be used by army units at the tactical level. The cost of the IAI product, which has been named Rotem, a Hebrew acronym for “attack and suicide drone,” can run tens of thousands of dollars. A military source has confirmed the IDF is interested in purchasing such aircraft but noted that no such acquisition is currently planned.

The IAI executive said such drones have been sold to foreign armies but would not specify which.

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WNU Editor: A prediction .... these "suicide drones" will become a standard for most armies within a decade (if not sooner).

More News On The Israeli Military Wanting A Fleet Of Suicide Drones

IDF said to look at buying Israeli small attack drones -- Times of Israel
IDF Looking to Buy Fleet of Suicide Drones -- Breaking Israeli News
Israel to Arm Soldiers With Miniature Grenade Carrying ‘Suicide Drones’ -- Sputnik
VIDEO: Israel looks to arm soldiers with cheap 'suicide drones' -- Middle East Eye

U.S. Military Spy Drones Are Flying Over The U.S.

USA Today: Pentagon admits it has deployed military spy drones over the U.S.

The Pentagon has deployed drones to spy over U.S. territory for non-military missions over the past decade, but the flights have been rare and lawful, according to a new report.

The report by a Pentagon inspector general, made public under a Freedom of Information Act request, said spy drones on non-military missions have occurred fewer than 20 times between 2006 and 2015 and always in compliance with existing law.

The report, which did not provide details on any of the domestic spying missions, said the Pentagon takes the issue of military drones used on American soil "very seriously."

A senior policy analyst for the ACLU, Jay Stanley, said it is good news no legal violations were found, yet the technology is so advanced that it's possible laws may require revision.

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More News On U.S. Military Spy Drones Flying Over The U.S.

Pentagon flew drones over US to aid first responders, official says -- FOX News
Pentagon officials admit using military drones to spy over U.S. soil but won't say how many times they were used -- Daily Mail
Pentagon spy drones sometimes flown over U.S.-USA Today -- Reuters
Pentagon Reveals It Used Drones Over The United States -- Popular Science
Pentagon admits using drones to spy over U.S. territory: Reports -- AL.com
Little Dirty Secret: Pentagon Admits Using Spy Drones Over US -- Sputnik

Pentagon Shows-Off Its Micro-Drones That Can Create A 'Swarm'

Washington Post: Veil of secrecy lifted on Pentagon office planning ‘Avatar’ fighters and drone swarms

High over Alaska last summer, the Pentagon experimented with new, secret prototypes: Micro-drones that can be launched from the flare dispensers of moving F-16s and F/A-18 fighter jets. Canisters containing the tiny aircraft descended from the jets on parachutes before breaking open, allowing wings on each drone to swing out and catch the wind. Inch-wide propellers on the back provided propulsion as they found one another and created a swarm.

The experiment was run by the secretive Strategic Capabilities Office, a Pentagon organization launched in summer 2012 to figure out how to best counter growing strategic threats from China and Russia. The specifics of what the mini-drones can do are classified, but they could be used to confuse enemy forces and carry out surveillance missions using equipment that costs much less than full-sized unmanned aircraft. Video reviewed by The Washington Post shows the tiny aircraft, which weigh about a pound each, moving in packs and gaining situational awareness after sitting inert in the flare canisters.

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WNU Editor: Science fiction becoming reality.

There Is A Growing Demand For Counter-Drone Technologies

The Anti–UAV Defence System. Photograph: PR

Luke Penn-Hall, The Cipher Brief: The Rise of Counter-Drone Technology

Commercially available unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), popularly known as drones, appear to be changing the game in regards to aviation. The market for drones has been expanding rapidly, the applications of drones are growing more diverse, and the cost of the machines themselves is dropping. There are plans to try and use drones to revolutionize everything from shipping to border control, and the trend towards greater use of UAVs shows no sign of slowing. However, the growing number of UAVs flying in American airspace is beginning to create a problem for law enforcement and security organizations, due to concerns about drones being used as weapons.

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WNU Editor: I am surprised that this tech is only taking off right now. I can also see these technologies being deployed at military bases, government installations, airports, and other critical areas.

U.S. Navy Wants To Know Who's Flying Drones Over Their Submarine Base?

Seattle Times: Who flew drone over Bangor submarine base? Navy wants to know

A recent drone sighting over Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, home to nuclear submarines, comes as the Defense Department is scrambling to beef up defenses against the rapidly evolving technology.

A Navy employee spotted a drone earlier this month flying in prohibited airspace over Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, home to eight Trident nuclear-armed submarines.

The Feb. 8 sighting was confirmed by a Navy spokeswoman, who in a written statement said the incident is under investigation in coordination with civilian law enforcement.

That investigation has included deploying Navy security officials to question homeowners who live near Bangor, according to Alan Starcevich, a Kitsap County resident who says he was interviewed by two base agents.

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More News On Reports That Drones Are Flying Over Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor

Drones above Bangor has Navy Base Buzzing -- Military.com
Navy investigates mystery drone sighting near Bangor submarine base -- Geek Wire
Navy launches investigation into who flew drone over Bangor submarine base -- Maine News Online
US Navy Desperate to Know Who’s Been Buzzing Their Base With a Drone -- Sputnik

Israel Has Made A Quadcopter Killer Drone

Defense Update: IAI’s ROTEM – Tactical Multirotor Killer Drone

From a distance of few hundreds of meters ROTEM is practically inaudible and can loiter silently for the entire mission.

IAI recently released details on a new member of its mysterious family of multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the new version dubbed ROTEM L (abbreviation of its Hebrew designation: ‘hovering reconnaissance and attack platform – Light’). Designed as a small, quad-rotor based loitering weapon, ROTEM is uniquely built for operation in urban warfare, offering combatants effective, indirect observation and engagement of targets from an elevated position. IAI is displaying a number of loitering weapons at the Singapore Airshow this week, as well as the HoverMast hovering surveillance system.

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WNU Editor: Perfect for urban warfare.

Six Countries Are Now Using Drones For Targeted Killings, And This List Is Growing

China is “engaged in an ambitious effort” to sell drones in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia, says Ian Easton, a research fellow at the Project 2049 Institute. (Ku shou / Imaginechina)

L.A. Times: A fast growing club: Countries that use drones for killing by remote control

The targeting crosshairs are focused on a dark building, tucked in the trees, when a missile dropped from the wings streaks down and the suspected terrorist base explodes in a fireball.

The grainy video might appear to be another U.S. drone strike, but this was a Nigerian military crew operating a Chinese-built Rainbow drone against Boko Haram, an extremist militia allied with Islamic State, in northeastern Nigeria's remote Sambisa Forest on Feb. 2.

Nigeria thus joined the small but fast-growing club of countries — six so far, including three since September — using armed drones for targeted killing by remote control.

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WNU Editor: It is only a question of time before every country that is involved in a conflict will be using drones for targeted killings. I give 5 more years.

Russia Now Has A Rocket Launching, Flamethrowing Tank Killer Drone

Sputnik: Russian Military Reveals Rocket Launching, Flamethrowing Tank Killer Drone

The Russian military has unveiled an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which can carry anti-tank rocket launchers and flamethrowers; it can also fly on reconnaissance missions, transport cargo and coordinate artillery fire on the battlefield.

The drone was developed by the United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation (UIMC), a subsidiary of the civil and military technology firm Russian Technologies State Corporation (Rostec).

"The drone determines the coordinates of a location using GLONASS satellite signals and can correct artillery fire. The combat multicopter is able to find enemy objects such as tanks and armored vehicles and destroy them with rockets," UIMC explained.

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WNU editor: I am not impressed .... but if viewed as just the first generation of anti-tank drones .... and if the goal is to improve and enhance these drones over time .... one has to then wonder what type of drones will be fielded 10, 20, or 30 years in the future.

The Pentagon Has Decided To Kill The US Navy's Armed Drone Fleet Program

U.S. Navy photo by Erik Hildebrandt/Released

David Axe, Daily Beast: Pentagon Kills Its Killer Drone Fleet

The U.S. military spent billions developing an armed drone that could take off from an aircraft carrier. But now, the Pentagon says it doesn’t want that kind of flying robot at all.

Cutting-edge killer drones will not be flying over the world’s oceans any time soon. The Defense Department’s budget proposal for 2017, released on Feb. 9, terminates an on-again, off-again program dating back to the late 1990s that aimed to develop a bomb-hauling robotic jet capable of launching from and landing on the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carriers.

The decision to cancel the so-called Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike is reflected in the Defense Department’s 2017 budget proposal, released on Feb. 9. The proposal shows a combined $818 million in funding for the UCLASS killer drone program in 2015 and 2016 and, abruptly, no money at all in 2017.

Instead, there’s a new budget line for 2017—a meager $89 million for a so-called “Carrier Based Aerial Refueling System.” In other words: Goodbye, drone death from above. Hello, flying robot gas stations.

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More News On The Pentagon Killing The US Navy's Armed Drone Fleet Program

Pentagon Shuts Down Killer Drone Fleet -- Ubergizmo
Rep. Forbes Decries Cuts To Carrier Wings, Cruisers & UCLASS In Navy 2017 Budget -- Breaking Defense
Exposed: Behind the U.S. Navy's Killer Drone Strategy Shift -- Dave Majumdar, National Interest

Why Is The U.S. Navy Not Interested In Developing Drone Fleet?

Popular Mechanics: A Short History of the Navy's Long Dislike of Drones
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Why do the U.S. Navy's higher ups keep shooting down UAV programs?

They Navy does not like drones. That's why they keep terminating them.

Nobody wants to be told that a computer can do their job better than they can, and pilots are not the least egotistical of individuals. Given how many commanders are ex-pilots, it is no surprise that the Navy's new combat drone has been re-assigned to less glamorous duties. This is just the latest case of a drone that presumes to rival human fliers getting the thumbs-down.

UCLASS, the Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike system, was supposed to be a stealthy, unmanned warbird which could take on targets too dangerous for manned aircraft. However, during the long years of development–UCLASS was originally supposed to be in service by 2017, it will now be 2023 or so—the strike element was gradually downplayed in favor of "Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting." Some suggested that the Navy did not want a plane that would compete with the F-35. Now UCLASS has been pushed further down the food chain and will serve as a flying gas station, providing aerial refueling for the manned aircraft doing the real work.

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WNU Editor: I am surprised that the US Navy developed these drones decades ago, but choose to ignore its possibilities.

Why Are U.S. Air Force Drones Crashing

Washington Post: More Air Force drones are crashing than ever as mysterious new problems emerge

A record number of Air Force drones crashed in major accidents last year, documents show, straining the U.S. military’s fleet of robotic aircraft when it is in more demand than ever for counterterrorism missions in an expanding array of war zones.

Driving the increase was a mysterious surge in mishaps involving the Air Force’s newest and most advanced “hunter-killer” drone, the Reaper, which has become the Pentagon’s favored weapon for conducting surveillance and airstrikes against the Islamic State, al-Qaeda and other militant groups.

The Reaper has been bedeviled by a rash of sudden electrical failures that have caused the 21/2-ton drone to lose power and drop from the sky, according to accident-investigation documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. Investigators have traced the problem to a faulty starter-generator, but have been unable to pinpoint why it goes haywire or devise a permanent fix.

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More News On The Growing Problem Of U.S. Air Force Drones Crashing

Fallen from the skies: Drone Crash Database -- Washington Post
The US Air Force Has A Serious Drone Crashing Problem -- Tech Times
The Air Force Can't Figure Out How to Stop Its Drones From Falling Out of the Sky -- Gizmodo
Mysterious Problems Bring Air Force Drone Crashes to a Record High -- Popular Mechanics
At Least 20 Major US Drone Accidents ‘Worst Annual Toll Ever’ in 2015 -- Sputnik
The Air Force's Reaper drone keeps crashing -- The Verge

Airplane Manufacturer Airbus Has Revealed A 'Drone Killer' System That Can Disable UAVs

Airbus has revealed a new 'drone killer' system that can automatically monitor an area - and disable the drone by jamming its signals if it spots one.

Daily Mail: Airbus reveals 'drone killer' camera system that can automatically detect and disable UAVs

* Cameras and sensors can scan large areas
* Signals can be 'spoofed' to allow operators to hijack it
* Drone can also be jammed to stop in functioning
* System can work out exactly where it is being controlled from

They have begun a growing threat to airports, power stations and even public events.

Now, Airbus has revealed a new 'drone killer' system that can automatically monitor an area - and disable the drone by jamming its signals if it spots one.

The system can even analyse signals from the drone to work out exactly where it is being controlled from.

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WNU Editor: I suspect that the market for this is going to be huge.

Report: Terror Groups May Use Drones To Launch Bomb Attacks

BBC: Warning over drones use by terrorists

Drones could be used by terrorist groups as "simple, affordable and effective airborne improvised explosive devices," says a report by London-based think tank the Remote Control Project.

The authors suggest manufacturers should program drones with the GPS coordinates of no-fly zones.

The British government should also relax regulations on radio frequency jammers, they add.

In addition, they advise tighter UK licensing regulation.

Currently in the UK, anyone can own and operate for non-commercial purposes a drone that weighs less than 20kg (3st 2lb) - and there are hundreds on the market.

"A range of terrorist, insurgent, criminal, corporate and activist threat groups have already demonstrated the ability to use civilian drones for attacks and intelligence gathering," the report reads.

WNU Editor: I have been saying the same thing for the past few years. Drones are becoming cheap .... it is only a matter of time before a terror group jury-rigs one with a bomb and uses it at a public event. The Remote Control Project report is here.

More News On Concerns That Terror Groups May Use Drones To Launch Bomb Attacks

UK should prepare for use of drones in terrorist attacks, says thinktank -- The Guardian
'Simple and affordable' drones could be turned into flying bombs that target nuclear power stations or the prime minister's car in lone wolf attacks, security experts warn -- Daily Mail
Terrorists could use drone bombs, warn UK experts -- Business Standard
UK: Oxford Research Group warns of drone-led terrorist attacks -- IBTimes

The SAS's New Military Drone Resembles A Klingon 'Bird of Prey'

The SUN: Blow me up, Scotty! New drone’s like a Klingon spaceship from Star Trek

Military drone resembles Bird of Prey from sci-fi show.

THIS military drone looking like something out of Star Trek is set to help SAS troops track terror targets worldwide for months at a time.

The sophisticated and lightweight solar-powered Zephyr 8, resembling a Klingon Bird of Prey spaceship, flies at 70,000ft, above commercial jet routes and the weather.

Update #1: Drone that looks like a Star Trek spaceship! Zephyr 8 has an 82ft wingspan and is set to help SAS troops track terror targets around the world for months on end (Daily Mail)
Update #2: Zephyr 8 To Provide British Forces With Improved Surveillance (Defense news)

WNU Editor: The resemblance to a Klingon "Bird of Prey" is so-so .... but it makes a great headline. :)

For Drone Owners, Beware Of Drone Jamming Zones

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

CREDIT: Brown Bird Design

Daily Mail: Drone-jamming equipment to be deployed at public events to stop terrorists using cheap unmanned aircraft in killer attacks

* System was installed for the first time on the roof of Scotland Yard
* Specialised equipment can detect, track and even intercept drones
* The £700,000 device could be used to defend critical infrastructure

A device to block drones flown by terrorists will be used at major public and sports events following a successful trial at London’s Remembrance Sunday parade.

The system was installed on the roof of Scotland Yard, close to where the commemoration took place – the first time it has been deployed by police in the UK.

The equipment, designed and built by a British consortium, can detect, track and intercept small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) flown by enemies – potentially saving hundreds of lives.

WNU Editor: I guess it will only be a matter of time before this tech becomes affordable and widely used.

U.S. Air Force To Vastly Expand Its Drone Program

L.A. Times: Air Force proposes $3-billion plan to vastly expand its drone program

The Air Force wants to vastly expand its drone program over the next five years by doubling the number of pilots and deploying them to bases in California and elsewhere to give commanders better intelligence and more firepower.

The $3-billion plan, which must be approved by Congress, was unveiled Thursday after months of study that focused on a drone pilot force that commanders have described as overworked, undermanned and underappreciated.

The proposed expansion comes as the Pentagon has intensified airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria. Pilots and crews who operate the MQ-1 Predators and MQ-9 Reapers have struggled to meet a rising demand for aerial surveillance of war zones and other hot spots.

Update: Air Force to Strengthen Drone Program by 3,000 Airmen, New Bases (US News and World Report)

WNU Editor: The US Air Force is going to get the money to expand their drone fleet .... and do not be surprise if next year they go to Congress and ask for even more.