Thu, May 15, 2003
General Atomics to Help Update Systems
Boeing
and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding that will allow the two companies to
discuss cooperation in the areas of unmanned systems,
network-centric operations and other large-scale systems
integration efforts.
The initial area of cooperation under the MOU will involve
integrating the command and control architecture for General
Atomics Aeronautical Systems' Predator unmanned aircraft system
into both the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) and
the AH-64 Apache helicopter platforms. The ultimate goal is to
"fuse" the disparate systems, and in turn increase connectivity and
interoperability between manned and unmanned aircraft.
"Unmanned systems and network-centric operations,
are extremely important to the transformation of the military,"
said Mike Heinz, Boeing vice president and general manager, deputy
of Integrated Defense Advanced Systems (IDeAS). "We plan to rapidly
develop and provide new technologies and system-of-system solutions
to our customers that will meet their evolving needs with currently
fielded and developing systems, and lead to major increases in
operational effectiveness."
"This MOU constitutes a step forward in strategic planning,
allowing each company a vehicle through which to communicate on
potential business opportunities," said Thomas J. Cassidy, Jr.,
president and chief executive officer of General Atomics.
"Establishing a working relationship with Boeing and other leading
companies could have significant benefits for the customer, which
is our ultimate goal. Interoperability between manned and unmanned
systems will be key to making network centric a successful concept
for the military."
Boeing and General Atomics will also consider working together
to identify, develop and capture other specific new business
opportunities. The agreement also allows the companies to share
relevant business development strategies and information to help
anticipate evolving customer needs.
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