Abu Dhabi is to establish a new investment company to fund the development of unmanned air vehicle technologies and provide in-service support to operational systems fielded by the United Arab Emirates armed forces.
Abu Dhabi UAV Investment will fund design, development, manufacturing and integration activities, and "act as the incubator for new unmanned systems programmes", the UAE government says.
Source: Flight International
Amid steady demand for existing propulsion systems, the defence unit of GE Aerospace is targeting development efforts on a series of next-generation technologies, including high-powered adaptive engines and small, low-cost solutions for uncrewed fighter jets.
Northrop Grumman has built the experimental XRQ-73 hybrid-electric flying-wing that it has been developing under a secretive US military project.
The maker of uncrewed aircraft received an additional $9 million from the US Air Force Research Laboratory to continue development work of the experimental Off-Board Sensing Station jet, believed to be the basis for General Atomics’ bid for an autonomous aircraft capable of supporting crewed fighters.
