Boeing Launches Compact 3-D Imaging Camera– Press Release

March 8, 2010 by Matthew Potter · 1 Comment
Filed under: Boeing, Business Line, Companies, Events, Press Releases

Boeing Launches Compact 3-D Imaging Camera

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., March 8, 2010 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced it has begun offering a new, compact, energy-efficient camera that provides three-dimensional images for military and commercial applications.

Boeing Directed Energy Systems and wholly owned Boeing subsidiary Spectrolab have jointly developed the camera using their own research and development funding, and successfully tested it over the past two years by attaching it to mobile ground platforms and a Boeing AH-6 Little Bird helicopter. Equipped with advanced sensors that were developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory and transferred to Boeing under a teaming arrangement, the cube-shaped camera is one-third the size and uses one-tenth the power of most comparable 3-D imaging cameras.

“Our three-dimensional camera fits a lot of capability into a small package,” said Nasser Karam, vice president of Advanced Technology Products at Spectrolab. “Its compact design and modest power needs will allow it to be deployed on a wide range of platforms, including unmanned aerial and ground vehicles that don’t have much room or power to spare.”

The camera, which Boeing can customize for each customer, has many potential uses, including mapping terrain, tracking targets and seeing through foliage. To create a 3-D image, the camera fires a short pulse of laser light, then measures the pulse’s flight time to determine how far away each part of the camera’s field of view is.

“The camera combines cutting-edge sensor technology with Boeing’s advanced pointing and tracking solutions and real-time processing to provide our customers with highly integrated 3-D imaging payloads for ground, airborne or space-based applications,” said Joseph Paranto, Growth lead for Directed Energy Systems in Albuquerque.

Boeing is currently integrating the camera into compact 3-D imaging payloads on unmanned aerial vehicles and will be testing that capability this spring. The team will also add 3-D video capability to the camera soon to complement its existing still-image capability.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world’s largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide.

Tags: advanced technology products, boeing company, d imaging, ground platforms, ground vehicles, lincoln laboratory, massachusetts institute of technology, spectrolab, three dimensional images, unmanned aerial vehicles

Northrop Grumman’s Fire Scout Deploys Unmanned Ground Vehicles

February 25, 2010 by Jeffrey Bradford · Comment
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News

Northrop Grumman's Fire Scout Deploys Unmanned Ground Vehicles
February 25, 2010

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Fire Scout Vertical Unmanned Aircraft System (VUAS) demonstrated how the U.S. Army and other land forces could rely on its ability to ferry unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) and other logistics items into combat zones during the Army's recent Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE) at Fort Benning, Ga.

Fire Scout demonstrated how the soldier can rely on its multifunctional capability for force protection, reconnaissance surveillance target acquisition (RSTA) and communications relay that only a VUAS of its caliber can provide.

During the AEWE, Fire Scout flew to a named area of interest,
surveyed the area to ensure it was clear, and landed autonomously
within its pre-planned landing point. When Fire Scout's on-board skid
sensors detected contact with the ground, a command was sent to release
the unmanned ground vehicle. Seconds later, Fire Scout ascended and
then loitered at a higher altitude to observe and provide a relay for
commands between the UGV and its controller.

"Use of an unmanned system to carry other unmanned systems into
battle could improve the speed of operations while protecting U.S.
lives," said Al Nikolaus, program manager of land-based Fire Scout at
Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "This demonstration
provides another example of Fire Scout's maturity, reliability,
flexibility, and its ability to operate successfully with currently
deployed systems."

# # #

Technorati Tags:
Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC), UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), US Army

Tags: aerospace systems, Defense Industrial Base, fire scout, multifunctional capability, northrop grumman, northrop grumman corporation, target acquisition, u s army, unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned ground vehicle, unmanned systems

UAV’s Are Like Other Aircraft — General Atomics To Support Fielded Systems

January 5, 2010 by Matthew Potter · Comment
Filed under: Business Line, Companies, Contract Awards, Events, General Atomics, Military Aviation, Services, U.S. Air Force, development program, production program

When a company makes an aircraft for the U.S. military they not only get contracts to build them; they also get contracts to provide engineering support, modifications and maintenance. The U.S. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) fleet is just like their manned aircraft in this manner. It was announced yesterday that General Atomics received a contract to provide technical support to the Predator and Reaper UAV systems in use by the U.S. Air Force. Genral Atomics of course manufactures these weapons.

The two systems which are both armed have seen heavy use in Afghanistan and Iraq providing Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) as well as precision strike. These type of contracts continue to provide a steady source of revenue for companies that make systems for the military. Eventually though they can go to any company and the bidding may become quite intense.

Tags: General Atomics, intelligence surveillance, ISR, manned aircraft, precision strike, steady source, u s air, u s air force, uav systems, unmanned aerial vehicles

Breakthrough for Elbit Systems in the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Field: Successful Maiden Flight for Elbit Systems’ Hermes(R) 900 UAV — Press Release

December 15, 2009 by Matthew Potter · Comment
Filed under: Business Line, Companies, Countries, Elbit Systems, Events, Israel, Military Aviation, Press Releases, development program

Breakthrough for Elbit Systems in the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Field: Successful Maiden Flight for Elbit Systems’ Hermes(R) 900 UAV

HAIFA, Israel, December 14/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ –

- The New Hermes(R) 900 Builds on the Rich Operational Experience of the Hermes(R) 450, Offering Additional Capabilities Such as Flight Altitude of Over 30,000 ft, Long Endurance, Large Payload Capacity (up to 300kg), Modular Design Allowing Fast Payload Replacement and Flight Capabilities in Adverse Weather Conditions Serial Production of the UAV Will Commence Shortly, Following Completion of Additional Test Flights

Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT), announced today that its Hermes(R) 900 UAV completed a successful Maiden Flight and will commence serial production following the completion of additional flight tests.

The Hermes(R) 900 is based on the successful track record of the Hermes(R) 450, that has accumulated over 170,000 flight hours and is one of less than handful of UAVs in the world to cross the 100,000 operational flight hour’s barrier. The new Hermes(R) 900 offers additional key capabilities, such as longer endurance, flight altitude of more than 30,000 ft, large payload capacity (up to 300kg), modular design allowing fast payload replacement and flight capabilities in adverse weather conditions.

Hermes(R) 900 offers an advanced satellite communication channel and is operated from Elbit Systems’ universal command & control ground station (UGCS), enabling advanced mission management, automatic taxiing, autonomous flight and automatic takeoff and landing systems common to all the UAVs and in the Hermes(R) family.

The Hermes(R) 900 also includes innovative avionics and electronic systems and a silent engine, as well as systems required for flight in a combined civil and unmanned aviation area. The new UAV offers additional cutting edge technologies and applications such as electro-optic systems, laser designators and electronic intelligence sensors (ELINT, COMINT).

Haim Kellerman, Co-General Manager of Elbit Systems UAS Division, noted that the Hermes(R) 900 broadens out the Elbit Systems UAS portfolio, offering customers a variety of mission capabilities, from the mini-UAV system designed for the soldier level, through battalion-level UAVs, and up to higher chains of command for both Armies and Air Forces. The operational experience accumulated by the Hermes(R) systems for the Israeli Defense Forces and other leading armies worldwide, as well as the ongoing improvements based on its operational track record, have maintained this UAV family’s leadership in performance, reliability, variety of mission-oriented payloads and more. Kellerman further noted that the fact that the Hermes(R) 900 builds on existing applications and similar infrastructure of the Hermes(R) 450, allows Elbit Systems to transfer the new UAV directly into serial production. Elbit Systems is enhancing its production abilities in order to meet the growing demand of this new addition to the Hermes(R) UAV family.

To download the Hermes(R) 900 Maiden Flight Video copy the following link to your browser: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/457672/HERMES900%20flight.wmv

About Elbit Systems

Elbit Systems Ltd. is an international defense electronics company engaged in a wide range of defense-related programs throughout the world. The Company, which includes Elbit Systems and its subsidiaries, operates in the areas of aerospace, land and naval systems, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (“C4ISR”), unmanned air vehicle (UAV) systems, advanced electro-optics, electro-optic space systems, EW suites, airborne warning systems, ELINT systems, data links and military communications systems and radios. The Company also focuses on the upgrading of existing military platforms and developing new technologies for defense, homeland security and commercial aviation applications. For additional information, please visit us at : http://www.elbitsystems.com.

Contacts:

Company Contact:
Joseph Gaspar, Executive VP & CFO
Dalia Rosen, Head of Corporate Communications
Elbit Systems Ltd
Tel: +972-4-8316663
Fax: +972-4-8316944
E-mail: j.gaspar@elbitsystems.com
dalia.rosen@elbitsystems.com

IR Contact:
Ehud Helft / Kenny Green
G.K. Investor Relations
Tel: +1-646-201-9246
E-mail: info@gkir.com

Tags: cutting edge technologies, elbit systems ltd, electronic intelligence, endurance flight, flight altitude, haifa israel, laser designators, new hermes, unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned aviation

Boeing Laser Systems Destroy Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Tests — Press Release

November 18, 2009 by Matthew Potter · Comment
Filed under: Boeing, Business Line, Companies, Events, Press Releases, S&T, development program, missile defense

boeing uav test Boeing Laser Systems Destroy Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Tests

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Nov. 18, 2009 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] in May demonstrated the ability of mobile laser weapon systems to perform a unique mission: track and destroy small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

During the U.S. Air Force-sponsored tests at the Naval Air Warfare Center in China Lake, Calif., the Mobile Active Targeting Resource for Integrated eXperiments (MATRIX), which was developed by Boeing under contract to the Air Force Research Laboratory, used a single, high-brightness laser beam to shoot down five UAVs at various ranges. Laser Avenger, a Boeing-funded initiative, also shot down a UAV. Representatives of the Air Force and Army observed the tests.

“The Air Force and Boeing achieved a directed-energy breakthrough with these tests,” said Gary Fitzmire, vice president and program director of Boeing Missile Defense Systems’ Directed Energy Systems unit. “MATRIX’s performance is especially noteworthy because it demonstrated unprecedented, ultra-precise and lethal acquisition, pointing and tracking at long ranges using relatively low laser power.”

Bill Baker, chief scientist of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Directed Energy Directorate, praised his team and Boeing for these successful UAV shootdowns.

“These tests validate the use of directed energy to negate potential hostile threats against the homeland,” Baker said. “The team effort of Boeing and the Air Force in developing MATRIX will pay major dividends for the warfighter now and in the years ahead.”

As part of the overall counter-UAV demonstration, Boeing also successfully test-fired a lightweight 25mm machine gun from the Laser Avenger platform to potentially further the hybrid directed energy/kinetic energy capability against UAV threats.

Boeing Directed Energy Systems, based in Albuquerque, developed MATRIX, a mobile, trailer-mounted test bed that integrates with existing test-range radar. Directed Energy Systems and Boeing Combat Systems in St. Louis cooperatively developed Laser Avenger, which integrates a directed-energy weapon together with the existing kinetic weapons on the proven Avenger air defense system developed by Combat Systems.

Boeing leads the way in developing laser weapon systems for a variety of U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy applications. These systems include the Airborne Laser, Advanced Tactical Laser, Free Electron Laser, High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator and Tactical Relay Mirror System.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world’s largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.

# # #

Contact:

Marc Selinger
Boeing Missile Defense Systems
703-872-4240
marc.selinger@boeing.com

Chuck Cadena
Boeing Missile Defense Systems
703-872-4503
chuck.cadena@boeing.com

Photo courtesy of Boeing.

Tags: air warfare center, boeing co, energy breakthrough, energy capability, force research laboratory, missile defense systems, naval air warfare, naval air warfare center, unit matrix, unmanned aerial vehicles

ASD Releases Report on UAV Market

February 9, 2009 by Matthew Potter · Comment
Filed under: Business Line, Companies, Events, Military Aviation, S&T, development program, production program

Our premier sponsor, ASD Reports, has just released a new one on The Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Market 2009-2019. You can find it here. This report reviews one of the defence industry’s most interesting and promising markets. The market study describes leading UAV programs and products, with the prospects and outlook for providers of UAV systems and technologies.

Tags: defence industry, promising markets, prospects, uav programs, uav systems, unmanned aerial vehicles

US Navy Buys Micro UAV’s

November 5, 2008 by Matthew Potter · Comment
Filed under: Contract Awards, Honeywell, Military Aviation, New Mexico, U.S. Navy, development program

Honeywell was awarded a contract by the US Navy to provide micro, ducted fan Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. New Mexico Business Weekly reports that the $65 M contract will supply 95 of the systems. The T-Hawk has already been used in combat situations in Iraq and is a saucer shaped vehicle with the ability to carry video cameras for pin point reconnaissance. The primary use of UAV like these by the US Military is to provide as close as possible real time intellgence in support of tactical operations. Read more

Tags: combat situations, gamut, Global Hawk, ground combat, ground operations, hawk, Honeywell, intellgence, mexico business, pin point, Predator, reaper, reconnaissance, surveillance systems, tactical operations, U.S. Navy, UAV, unmanned aerial vehicles, us military, video cameras

AML Communications Receives $220,000 Order for Microwave Amplifiers to Be Deployed in a Northrop Grumman Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Program

March 16, 2010 by Business Wire Defense: Contracts News · Comment
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News

CAMARILLO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AML Communications, Inc. (OTCBB: AMLJ), a designer, manufacturer and marketer of amplifiers and integrated assemblies for the defense industry, today announced it has received a pre-production order in the amount of $220,000 for microwave amplifiers to be deployed in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, also known as UAVs. Specifically, the AML amplifiers will be deployed in the STARLite™ Synthetic Aperture Radar, part of Northrop Grumman’s Extended Range/Mul

Tags: aml communications inc, designer manufacturer, grumman, microwave amplifiers, northrop grumman, otcbb, starlite, synthetic aperture radar, uavs, unmanned aerial vehicles

European Leaders Push for Early Deployment of UAVs in Civil Airspace – New Security Market Research Report from ASD Media

March 16, 2010 by Business Wire Defense: Contracts News · Comment
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in border security missions around the world is expanding rapidly from very little activity today.