Naval Drones 2012 Year in Review
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpz2yb6WEwXqXtXtnV8evsB365r_R_fw-14AZ6D6CIkX4cO289sElekU3Q-ur36dKEqf3T9xaDJQgnBF1LqFWnFH-cjCALlNCF1N48vRAHY5gjvJXPsMYl3j1IsV7dW22Q_-bNLosXXtE/s320/S-100PLAN.jpg)
What were the top stories in unmanned naval technology during 2012? What follows is a completely unscientific count-down of the major events related to naval drones over the past year: 10. The Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force captures a flock of Schiebel S-100 UAVs operating from PLAN frigate on film. Camcopter variant operating off Chinese Frigate. 9. SAIC was awarded a contract for the planned DARPA ASW drone , Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV), which will autonomously hunt and track diesel subs. SAIC rendering of ACTUV's unique tri-maran hull form. 8. DARPA *almost* conducts air-to-air refueling of UAVs . Trials actually transferring fuel were postponed due to BAMS-D crash (See #3). RQ-4 Global Hawks in formation for DARPA drogue and probe refueling demonstration. 7. Kongsberg Maritime's Hydroid subsidiary REMUS mine-hunting AUVs proliferate globally with orders received from UK, Japan, Belgium, Germany,