
The Army’s wants a Predator-size unmanned aerial system that can take off and land like a helicopter, untethering its drone operations from runways and airfields, aviation officials said Jan. 14.Even as the service fields an improved version of the MQ-1C Gray Eagle for reconnaissance and combat missions, aviation officials envision a forward-deployed UAS with similar payload capacity and range that has vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities.“I don’t want to be on runways anymore, so it needs to be runway…not…