UAS VISION
an independent online news service for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems world
DARPA ISIS Airship - Artist's Impression
Lockheed Martin has awarded a contract to ATK to provide the Thermal Control Subsystem for the Integrated Sensor is Structure (ISIS) programme, an integral part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) ISIS Airship. Lockheed Martin leads an industry team in the development of an airship-based autonomous unmanned sensor with unique capabilities to track ground and air targets.
Lockheed RQ-170 Sentinel
New pictures have emerged of the Lockheed RQ-170 Sentinel stealth UA, which has been flying in Afghanistan since 2009.
A draft report by the US Air Force’s 53rd Wing Group at Eglin Air Force Base said that the new system, dubbed Gorgon Stare*, had “significant limitations,” and is “not operationally effective” and should therefore not be deployed in the field. The Sierra Nevada built device transmits live video from nine cameras and is intended to cover a three-mile area. It has been in development for the last two years. Testers found 13 serious deficiencies in the system, including:
ManTech International Corporation, a leading provider of innovative technologies and solutions for mission-critical national security programmes, has announced that the company has been awarded a $57 million contract by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) to provide engineering, technical and administrative support for naval aircraft (including unmanned aircraft) and systems. The contract has a one-year period of performance plus four option years.
Finland’s Ministry of Defence has narrowed the field in its competition to provide the Finnish army with mini UAS. The shortlist is: DRAC (EADS Cassidian), Spylite (BlueBird) , Skylark (Elbit) , Bird-Eye 650 (IAI) and the Orbiter (Aeronautics Defense Systems). The Finnish army plans to acquire 30-45 Unmanned Aircraft Sysytems in a deal valued at around $25 million. The bid is expected to be narrowed down to two finalists in February 2011, with a contract to be awarded in April.
Textron Systems, announced yesterday that AAI, an operating unit of the company, will become three separate operating units – AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems, AAI Test & Training and AAI Logistics & Technical Services – led by Steven Reid, Bob Peters and Diane Giuliani, respectively. Reid, Peters and Giuliani have been promoted to senior vice presidents and general managers of their businesses, reporting to Fred Strader, Textron Systems’ president and chief executive officer.
The US Army is speeding up delivery of some of its newer Unmanned Aircraft System assets such as the Gray Eagle and expanding the size and range of its overall fleet to include a Family of Small UAS and a Vertical-Take-Off-and-Landing UAS. “We’re going to accelerate Gray Eagle yet again. We’re accelerating from two systems per year to three systems per year, which will result in seventeen systems being procured by FY 2014,” said Tim Owings, deputy project manager for Army Unmanned Aircraft Systems.