SAIC Demonstrates Live-Fire From Vigilante VTOL UAV

UAV NEWS

Vigilante is an SAIC-developed family of small, inexpensive Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Optionally Piloted and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles that are based on the commercially available Ultrasport 496 sport helicopter (pictured).

Mclean VA (SPX) Mar 07, 2005
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) has announced the successful live-fire of four 2.75" unguided rockets from its Vigilante VTOL UAV (Vertical Takeoff and Landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) system during flight testing conducted at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground.

Conducted on December 13 and 14, 2004, the rocket firing demonstration represents an aviation first as they were executed while the Vigilante system and its payload was under air-to-air control from a control console installed aboard a UH-1N Huey helicopter flying a loose formation on the Vigilante system.

Teaming with prime contractor and Vigilante system co-developer Advanced Technologies Incorporated (ATI), SAIC conducted the live-fire rocket tests under the Armed VTOL UAV Testbed Integrator contract for the U.S. Army's Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD), in Fort Eustis, Va.

AATD's objectives for this program were to use their Vigilante system platform, developed with AATD as a vehicle for demonstrating UAV technologies, to investigate the platform and manned-unmanned teaming issues associated with weapons engagements from Class III UAVs.

The flight test team, including personnel from the Army's AATD, Yuma Proving Ground, ATI and SAIC, executed the test sequence as planned during the two-week deployment. The first three shots were performed at 30, 35, and 40 knots at a 400-foot altitude while the last firing was at 40 knots at a 250- foot altitude.

Based on results from the launch, reaction forces were less than those anticipated based on simulation models.

The relatively low cost of the program also demonstrates the ability of the Vigilante system to serve as a cost-effective and flexible test platform. This demonstration also enables the team to further explore the collaboration of manned and unmanned systems.

UAV NEWS

Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Weapons Drop From New Medium-Altitude UAV

San Diego CA (SPX) Mar 07, 2005
Northrop Grumman successfully demonstrated the ability to release a weapon from a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) demonstrator during flight-testing conducted Feb. 24 over Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

SUPERPOWERS US Warned Not To Ignore Chinese Military Advances	NUKEWARS Outside View: Nuke Proliferators Can't Be Stopped Bhutto Got Missile Blueprints For Pakistan Bhutto Missile Story Raises Hill Hackles Khan Network Can Regroup, Warns Report
MISSILE NEWS Lockheed Martin's JASSM Successful In Flight Test SKorea Agrees North Launched Satellite In 98, Now Developing Rocket Engine Expected Patriot Sale Panics Pakistan India Tests Medium-Range Surface-To-Air Missile	MISSILE DEFENSE Test Marks Fifth Successful Intercept for Aegis BMD Team Canada Will Not Participate In US Missile Defence Program US: Missile Shield Intercept Successful Canada Set To Say It Again To US On Missile Shield: Report
AEROSPACE Fossett Commits To Final Dash To Kansas GlobalFlyer Approaches Pakistan In Round-The-World Flight NASA Developed Tools For Successful Air Travel Program Northrop Grumman Begins Upgrade To Joint STARS Air-Traffic Management Systems	UAV NEWS SAIC Demonstrates Live-Fire From Vigilante VTOL UAV Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Weapons Drop From New Medium-Altitude UAV US Military Not Conducting Spy Flights Over Iran: Pentagon PST Announces UAV-Miniature Surveillance Aircraft and Paradrone
IRAQ WARS An American In Sparta Iraq Faces Prospect Of Civil War Preliminary Vote Counts In Iraq CIA Correcting Prewar Iraq WMD Assessments With Retrospective Reports	MILTECH US Navy Commissions Northrop Grumman-Built Aegis Destroyer Northrop Grumman Awarded $197 Million Contract For Work On USS Enterprise Airbag Inflators Provide Push For New Surface Vessel Launcher Russian Navy May Sink By 2008: Admiral

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