Sat, Oct 23, 2010
AN/DVS-1 COBRA System Allows MQ-8B To Conduct Unmanned Aerial
Recon In Littoral Areas
The Navy successfully conducted the first flight test of the
Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis (COBRA) Block I
system at Yuma Proving Ground, AZ on October 13, testing the
system's performance on the MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical take-off
unmanned aerial vehicle. The AN/DVS-1 COBRA system allows the MQ-8B
to conduct unmanned aerial reconnaissance in littoral areas,
detecting minefields and obstacles to prepare for amphibious
assaults. The Block I upgrade was designed to specifically address
the beach zone and inland areas.
Fire Scout UAV During COBRA Test Navy Photo
"COBRA will provide valuable minefield, obstacle, and bathymetry
information to the warfighter and amphibious task groups;
information which is critical to amphibious assault planning," said
Capt. John Hardison, Mine Warfare Programs deputy program manager.
"Successful completion of these tests is a significant leap forward
in delivering this capability."
The Fire Scout, equipped with COBRA, conducted integration
testing and flew for approximately 2 1/2 hours. Several successful
tracks were completed in both pre-planned and operator-controlled
modes, and the systems conducted simulated missions. Takeoff and
landing went without incident, and the system completed all test
scenarios.
Fire Scout UAV File Photo
With the successful completion of the first COBRA flight on Fire
Scout, the system moves closer to delivery and deployment. The
COBRA Block I system will enter low-rate initial production under a
Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase III contract. Under
this contract, the first production unit is scheduled for delivery
to the fleet in fiscal year 2012.
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