Defense Technology International - March 2008 - (Page 36)

AIRCRAFT UNMANNED HOLDING PATTERN Rules for UAVs in civil airspace are slow in coming U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION Illegal immigration and smuggling are targets of the General Atomics MQ-9 Predator B operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on the Mexican border. RAMON LOPEZ•WASHINGTON he development of regulations that permit flights of military and civilian unmanned aerial vehicles in the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS) is proceeding at a snail’s pace, holding back the potential of the technology and the number of non-military missions envisioned by proponents. Unlike agencies in some other countries, the FAA appears to be in no rush to establish rules for UAV operations in U.S. civil airspace (see story, p. 39). To make matters worse, the most visible use of drones within the U.S. was marred by a crash in Arizona near the Mexican border two years ago that raises serious concerns over what is needed before drones can operate over populated areas. Unmanned aircraft come in all shapes 36 T and sizes. They range in wingspan from 6 in. to 246 ft., and weigh as little as 4 lb. or as much as 100,000 lb. UAVs can be remotely controlled from the ground or programmed to make an entire ﬂight without human intervention. Some ﬂy no higher than rooftops, while others ﬂy well above piloted-aircraft altitudes. According to the FAA, more than 50 manufacturers o er nearly 150 models, with many others poised to enter the market. The one thing UAVs have in common is that their numbers and uses are growing dramatically. “ [R]egulatory standards need to be developed to enable current technology for unmanned aircraft to comply with federal regulations,” the FAA states. Routinely used for reconnaissance and attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan, drones are being ﬂown in small numbers in the U.S. on a variety of missions, including probing hurricanes and monitoring forest ﬁres. Drones stand ready to support disaster relief operations and local law enforcement. While military drones ﬂy at will above combat zones and, domestically, in controlled military airspace, they are only allowed to fly on a case-by-case basis in non-restricted airspace, the best example of which is the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s use of the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 Predator B for spotting illegal border crossings and drug smugglers. The FAA considers UAVs as public (government-owned or -operated) or civil (commercial or civil use). In 2005, the agency issued guidance for public use of UAVs, deﬁning a process for evaluating AviationWeek.com/dti DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL MARCH 2008 http://www.aviationweek.com/dti

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Defense Technology International - March 2008

Defense Technology International - March 2008 Contents Sweden Cancels SEP; Israel Launches Imaging Satellite; Geotextiles Secure Ammo Dump U.S. Navy Taps Neural Architecture Software to Assure Job Satisfaction Shrapnel-Like Pieces of Reactive Materials Increase Explosive Force of Bombs Technology is Rapidly Closing the Gap Between Sensors and Shooters Italian Army Program Aims to Develop a Fully Networked Land Force Political and Military Uncertainties Plague U.S. Defense Budget Democrats Put Pentagon on Notice Over Spending and Policy at DTAR Conference Russian Combat Vehicle Protects Tank Formations from Anti-Armor Weapons European Battlelabs Use Simulation to Verify Technologies and Stretch Defense Funds Malaysia Accelerates Fleet Modernization to meet Long-Term Goals U.S. Navy Says Composite Raiding Boat May Reduce Injuries From Wave Shocks Seeing Isn’t Believing When it Comes to Deciphering Funds for Secret Projects Advances in Sensors and Propulsion Make Torpedoes Ever More Lethal FAA is in No Rush to Approve Rules that Let UAVs Fly in Civil Airspace USS Truman Carrier Strike Group Patrols a Rough Neighborhood 24/7 U.S. says Sino-Russian Space Disarmament Plan is Riddled with Pitfalls Hyperspeed Projectile; “Sound Cloak” Hides Subs; Improving Nuclear Forensics Dutch Air Commodore Theo ten Haaf Analyzes the Impact of Rotary-Wing Operations One Soldier’s War is a Behind-the-Headlines Look at Russia’s Campaigns in Chechnya Black Budgets are Huge and Growing, and Often Conceal Amazing Failures

Defense Technology International - March 2008

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