Iran is gathering up foreign technology for its nascent satellite program. According to Associated Press news service, the effort has gained urgency because Iranians believe the West—read that US—will try to curtail its space efforts like it is doing with its nuclear aspirations. Iranian officials claim they only want to use satellites to monitor natural disasters and improve communications. Iran launched its first satellite in October aboard a Russian rocket. AP reports that a second is slated for launch early next year, and the two combined will provide Iran the means to monitor the Middle East.
U.S. Africa Command will soon see if a small, autonomous aircraft can evacuate casualties from austere locations during a demonstration planned for December in Morocco. Merlin, an autonomous aviation firm, announced Nov. 11 it has received a $500,000 contract from AFRICOM for the demo mission.