Drones

German Defense Minister Says Euro Hawk Termination Partly Due to US Export Constraints

By Chris Pocock, AINonline

From Chris Pocock, AINonline:  In a report to parliament last week, German Defense Minister Thomas De Maziere called for NATO and Europe to achieve clarity on the certification and operation of UAVs.

The End of the Euro Hawk, Implications for NATO’s AGS Drone Program

By Justyna Gotkowska, Center for Eastern Studies (Poland)

Congressional Panel Seeks to Block Retirement of Global Hawk Drones

By Jeremy Herb, Hill

From Jeremy Herb, Hill:  A House Armed Services subcommittee is proposing to block the Air Force’s planned retirement of the Global Hawk Block 30 drones at the end of 2014.

German Defense Minister Under Fire over Scrapped Drone Project

By PTI

From PTI:  Germany’s Defence Minister Thomas de Maiziere has come under fire over scrapping of a prestigious drone project after investing around USD 835 million dollars to build a prototype of the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft.

France to Buy Two US Reaper Drones for Mali

By Leigh Thomas, Reuters

From Leigh Thomas, Reuters:  France is in talks with the United States and Israel to buy intelligence-gathering drones to build up a modern fleet, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Sunday.

Germany Cancels ‘Euro Hawk’ Drone Program

By AFP

From AFP:  Germany has cancelled a planned ‘Euro Hawk’ drone programme fearing European authorities will not certify them, a defence ministry source said Tuesday after reported European safety concerns.

Poland to join NATO drone project in 2014

By Polish Radio

From Polish Radio:  Minister of Defence Tomasz Siemoniak has announced that from 2014 Poland will participate in the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) programme.

Xbox Dreadnought?

By Julian Lindley-French

HMS Dreadnought at a stroke condemned every other battleship on the planet to the scrap yard. Launched in 1906 she represented a revolutionary step change in ship design combining big guns and new Parsons steam turbines with heavy armor in such a way that she could out-gun, out-pace and out-protect any battleship afloat.  Is warfare about to […]

Mali mission spurs French interest in purchasing armed UAV

By Pierre Tran, Defense News

From Pierre Tran, Defense News:  France is deepening its interest in acquiring the Reaper UAV from the U.S., a move that would stir political sensitivities over purchasing a weapons-firing UAV, while Paris readies to cut its defense budget, government and industry sources said.