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AAI UAS and Aurora Flight Sciences Integrate UGCS with Orion UAS and Centaur Optionally Piloted Aircraft

Dépèche transmise le 11 octobre 2011 par Business Wire

HUNT VALLEY, Md. & MANASSAS, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, and Aurora Flight Sciences announced today that the organizations have formed a strategic alliance to integrate AAI’s Universal Ground Control Station (UGCS) and other ground control technologies with Aurora’s Orion UAS and Centaur Optionally Piloted Aircraft (OPA). This pairing supports medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) missions of up to five days with the Orion UAS, as well as defense, first responder and scientific missions with the Centaur OPA.

“In the current fiscal situation, it is our responsibility to provide the U.S. Department of Defense with affordable and innovative ISR capabilities.”

The UGCS is a NATO standardization agreement 4586-compliant command-and-control platform based on AAI UAS’ proven One System^® architecture. It incorporates a digital Tactical Common Data Link for robust bandwidth and data security, and is designed to command and control multiple joint services UAS simultaneously.

“Our Universal Ground Control Station lives up to its name with features for scalability, interoperability and commonality,” says Steven Reid, senior vice president and general manager of AAI UAS. “We currently provide command and control for numerous UAS including the General Atomics Gray Eagle^® and the Northrop Grumman Hunter. Bringing this same proven capability to the Orion UAS enables this game-changing platform to integrate into the U.S. Army’s layered intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance [ISR] strategy, and continues our efforts to align with the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s interoperable communications architectures.”

The Orion UAS will demonstrate five-day endurance sorties with 1,000 pounds of payload operating at 20,000 feet in support of the United States Central Command, or CENTCOM, urgent operational need for persistent, multi-intelligence ISR. With an open-architecture payload and ground station interface, the Orion UAS will provide the U.S. Air Force with flexibility to accommodate the myriad payloads suited to the Orion’s design.

The Centaur OPA is ideally suited to allow users to operate as a manned ISR platform, then be reconfigured as an unmanned system in the field. This flexibility allows users transiting national airspace or in research and development environments to provide ISR to a much broader customer base than available today.

”Integrating the UGCS with Orion and Centaur will ensure they are rapidly available to the warfighter and other customers,” said Dr. John Langford, chief executive officer of Aurora Flight Sciences. “In the current fiscal situation, it is our responsibility to provide the U.S. Department of Defense with affordable and innovative ISR capabilities.”

Under the agreement, the companies also will consider integration of other AAI UAS technologies with the Orion UAS and Centaur OPA. Among these is the Forward Airborne Secure Transmission and Communication, or FASTCOM™, mobile telecommunications solution. FASTCOM pods can be utilized aboard airborne assets to create an agile mobile network for voice and data smartphone communications up to Top Secret level. Additionally, the Tactical Sensor Intelligence Sharing, or Tac-SIS^®, System enables manned/unmanned teaming by making UAS data and imagery directly available to pilots via cockpit displays.

About Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences designs and builds robotic aircraft and other advanced aerospace vehicles for scientific and military applications. Aurora is headquartered in Manassas, VA and operates production plants in Bridgeport, WV and Columbus, MS and a Research and Development Center in Cambridge, MA. To view recent press releases and more about Aurora please visit our web site at www.aurora.aero.

About AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems

AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems has designed, manufactured and fielded combat-proven unmanned aircraft systems for more than 25 years. AAI’s multi-mission capable unmanned aircraft and interoperable command and control technologies provide critical situational awareness and actionable intelligence for users worldwide. Its Australia-based strategic business, Aerosonde Pty Ltd, is a manufacturer of small unmanned aircraft systems. AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems is an operating unit of Textron Systems. More information is available at www.aaicorp.com.

About Textron Systems

Textron Systems has been providing innovative solutions to the defense, homeland security and aerospace communities for more than 50 years. Headquartered in Wilmington, Mass., the company is known for its unmanned aircraft systems, advanced marine craft, armored vehicles, intelligent battlefield and surveillance systems, intelligence software solutions, precision smart weapons, piston engines, test and training systems, and total life cycle sustainment and operational services. Textron Systems includes AAI Logistics & Technical Services, AAI Test & Training, AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Advanced Systems, Aerosonde, ESL Defence, Lycoming Engines, Medical Numerics, MillenWorks, Overwatch, Textron Defense Systems and Textron Marine & Land Systems. More information is available at www.textronsystems.com.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.

One System is a registered trademark of the U.S. Army.

Gray Eagle is a registered trademark of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.