drones

WASHINGTON — Kurdish forces fighting the Islamic State in northern Iraq last week shot down a small drone the size of a model airplane. They believed it was like the dozens of drones the terrorist organization had been flying for reconnaissance in the area, and they transported it back to their outpost to examine it. But […]

Our air traffic control system successfully monitors thousands of aircraft per day. Yet, no such system for monitoring drones exists, yet. And UAVs are not required to report their location, as aircraft does. Even so, drones are quickly becoming ubiquitous in our society, making it less likely for us to know if the flier has ill intentions, until it’s too late. A group of no-goodniks could easily fly an explosive-laden drone, or half a dozen of them, into an office building, a park, city square, or even a stadium full of spectators.

The next drone revolution is happening underwater. Just as flying drones have changed from expensive specialist tools to mass-market million-sellers in a few short years, their aquatic counterparts are opening up the seas. Unmanned submarines, known as Remotely Operated Vehicles, can regularly be seen on television exploring sunken cities or looking for crashed aircraft. They are connected […]

The war in Afghanistan is both different and the same as Iraq. The Afghanistan theatre is seen as a righteous war. Iraq is not. The Iraqis have shown more progress than the Afghans. Empire after empire entered Afghanistan and went home empty-handed. Maybe because there’s nothing to do there. Except our Afghan war has much to […]

In addition to the already $25k in bonuses the Air Force has dedicated to 5 year commitments, they are tacking on another $10k, according to Engadget. So, if you sign up for 5 more years, you are potentially adding a cool $35k a year to your salary.

Obama published guidance requiring that drone pilots have “near certainty” that non-combatants will not be harmed before firing, drone strikes in Pakistan have killed 352 militants and only six civilians.

A Marine infantry company is putting new gear to the test here that can sustain and protect small teams deployed on their own for weeks on end. Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines kicked off the yearlong experiment here this summer. The grunts and some support Marines got their hands on 40 new pieces of gear the Marine […]

The Obama administration is preparing to announce as early as next week that it believes around 100 civilians have died in nearly 500 U.S. drone strikes since 2009, U.S. officials tell NBC News. That is a far lower estimate than those of the three major independent groups that seek to track the secret operations in […]

John S. Duncan, Director of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Flight Standards Service issued an Advisory Circular detailing new rules designed to regulate and phase in small commercial drones. It is a first step in the government’s efforts to properly regulate and harness the explosive growth in commercial drones.  The regulations take a cautious approach, setting […]

Today John S. Duncan, Director of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Flight Standards Service issued an Advisory Circular detailing new rules designed to regulate and phase in small commercial drones.   Read the full AC No: 107-2 here. It is a first step in the government’s efforts to properly regulate and harness the explosive growth in commercial drones.  […]

  Happy Father’s Day Fighter Sweep community. I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce the new Assistant Editor for Fighter Sweep. We are incredibly excited to add someone with “Smokin” Joe Ruzicka’s experience and credentials.  Smokin is a former Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) in the F-14 Tomcat and Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) in the F-18 […]

Last year the Iraqi military took delivery of three Chinese CH-4 Cai Hong drones, an aircraft that, according to its creators, is better than the American MQ-1B Predator. That claim is now being put to the test as the drones carry out strikes against ISIS with bombs and laser-guided missiles. The CH-4s are flying from Al-Hayy airbase in support […]