Mon, Dec 17, 2012
Ten-Hour Test Flight Provided Real-Time Full-Motion Video To Troops On The Ground
Marines in Afghanistan witnessed the first flight of AAI's Aerosonde Unmanned Air System (UAS) Dec. 2. The flight was conducted under NAVAIR’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) services contract. AAI field services representatives conducted the nearly 10-hour mission and provided real-time full-motion video (FMV) to Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron (VMU) 3.
Under ISR services, the Aerosonde 4.7G UAS is a contractor-owned and operated system. The 70-pound air vehicle provides real-time FMV and other sensor capability to Marines deployed in Afghanistan.
“ISR services continue to be a very important piece of our kit and allows us to quickly and efficiently fill the demand for our current theaters of operations,” said Col. Jim Rector, program manager for the Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical UAS (STUAS) Program Office (PMA-263). “Until we field our current expeditionary STUAS Program of Record for this class/group of UAS, the requirement for both land- and ship-based ISR services are going to continue for the Marine Corps.”
PMA-263 currently supports the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Special Operations Command with ISR services, Rector said. In June 2012, PMA-263 awarded a land-based task order to AAI under the NAVAIR ISR services contract. Under the contract, AAI provides up to 3,600 hours per month of ISR services and manages all operations and maintenance of the UAS for up to one year, with options to extend.
AAI is concurrently supporting training and UAS familiarization exercises at Twentynine Palms, CA, for the Marine Corps.
More News
"Fly-by-wire flight, coupled with additional capability that are being integrated into ALFA, provide a great foundation for Bell to expand on its autonomous capabilities. This airc>[...]
Hold Procedure A predetermined maneuver which keeps aircraft within a specified airspace while awaiting further clearance from air traffic control. Also used during ground operatio>[...]
Aero Linx: B-21 Raider The B-21 Raider will be a dual-capable penetrating strike stealth bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. The B-21 will form th>[...]
Also: Virgin Galactic, B-29 Doc to Allentown, Erickson Fire-Fighters Bought, FAA Reauthorization After dealing with a big letdown after the unexpected decision by Skyreach to disco>[...]
Also: Skydio Chief, Uncle Sam Sues, Dash 7 magniX, OR UAS Accelerator US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall was given a turn around the patch in the 'X-62A Variable In-flight>[...]