DARPA Spins Up Northrop Grumman UAV Efforts

UAV NEWS

The RQ-8A Fire Scout is an unmanned vertical takeoff and landing tactical system that is in low-rate initial production for the US Navy and Marine Corps. Earlier this month, Northrop Grumman successfully completed the first two flights of the third Fire Scout prototype, including a completely autonomous flight.

San Diego - Jun 03, 2002
Northrop Grumman Corporation will study an unmanned combat armed rotorcraft (UCAR) program that will provide enhanced reconnaissance and attack capabilities for U.S. Army aviation. The study constitutes a significant milestone to develop unmanned systems for the Army.

Under a $3 million award from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the company's Integrated Systems sector will research the DARPA/Army UCAR program, which will combine autonomous operations and advanced command and control technologies with the advantages of vertical takeoff and landing capability.

Integrated with the Army's manned aircraft, the UCAR system will perform armed reconnaissance and attack missions, operating within the Army's Objective Force concept, effectively identifying and prosecuting targets that are camouflaged and concealed in close combat situations such as dense, mountainous and urban terrain.

"We have built a strong reputation as a leading integrator of autonomous unmanned systems," said Bob Mitchell, vice president, Advanced Systems Development for Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems.

"Leveraging technology from the successful Global Hawk, Fire Scout and our company-funded X-47A Pegasus technology demonstrator, we look forward to working with DARPA and the Army on the development and deployment of the UCAR system, a key element of the Army's transformation efforts."

After completion of the 12-month UCAR concept development phase, DARPA will select two contractors for a preliminary design concept development effort, which is expected to last nine months.

The design concept development will be followed by a system development phase that will include the development and test of two demonstration vehicles. This will be followed by a system maturation phase, during which the contractor will develop and test a final system concept. The program is scheduled to transfer to the Army in 2009.

For the concept development phase, Northrop Grumman's UCAR team includes MD Helicopters, Carter Copters, BAE SYSTEMS, L3 Communications, Sabre Group, Signature Research, Natural Selection and Aero-Science Technology Associates.

Northrop Grumman's work on this award will be performed at its Integrated Systems facilities in San Diego and El Segundo, Calif.

UAV NEWS

Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Completes First Flight

Edwards AFB - May 23, 2002
The X-45A Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle technology demonstration aircraft completed its first flight here May 22.

SUPERPOWERS US Warned Not To Ignore Chinese Military Advances	NUKEWARS Chagrined India Flip-Flops On Nuclear War Stance Conflict Spirals As Pakistan Begins Troop Reinforcement Pakistani President Warns Of War As India Tensions Peak Pakistan Test-Fires Second Missile Despite International Uproar
MISSILE NEWS US Says It Wants Kwajalein Missile Test Range For 40 More Years Nuclear-Tipped Foolishness Taiwan's Drills Draw Spy Ships From China, Other Countries: Report Pentagon Announces Proposed Aegis Weapons System Sale To Japan	MISSILE DEFENSE Lockheed Martin To Study Big Target Rocket Concepts Missiles In "Position" As India Mulls Further Action Against Pakistan Abm Pullout: The Phonecall That Soured Putin's Year. Or Did It? US Official Defends Plans for Missile Defense Despite Test Failure
AEROSPACE Boeing Signs Technology Development Agreement With JAI For Work On Sonic Cruiser Boeing Sonic Cruiser Completes First Wind Tunnel Tests	UAV NEWS DARPA Spins Up Northrop Grumman UAV Efforts Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Completes First Flight Northrop Grumman To Continue Work On Naval Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle India Tests Upgraded Unmanned Spy Plane
IRAQ WARS	MILTECH

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement