The first FAA-approved commercial drones launched on September 12 from a ship in the Chukchi Sea, off the North coast of Alaska. The ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system weighs just 44 pounds and has a 10-foot wingspan. It will conduct surveys of ice and marine mammals in the vicinity of drilling rigs. The UAS will be allowed to fly 24 hours a day at heights up to 2,000 feet and out of the line of sight of operators on the ground. The U.S. Air Force also said in September it has successfully flown the first of its mothballed F-16 fleet as a drone, which will be used for target practice.
Textron, the parent company of Cessna and Bell Helicopters, said in September it has developed a new military twin-jet tactical aircraft in a joint venture with AirLand Enterprises. The Scorpion jet is designed to be “a versatile Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)/Strike aircraft platform,” Textron said. The project launched in January 2012 with the goal to produce “the world’s most affordable tactical jet aircraft capable of performing lower-threat battlefield and homeland security missions.” Industry analysts were quick to question the need for such an aircraft and its lack of launch customers, but Textron says: “We believe Scorpion will fill a critical price and performance gap in the tactical military aircraft market.”
