Fri, Jan 07, 2005
Part Of Phase One In Organic Air Vehicle Project
The Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency (DARPA), has selected BAE Systems as one of three
companies to develop a ducted-fan unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as
part of a first phase of its Organic Air Vehicle Class II (OAV II)
program. The award of the design and development contract follows a
competitive selection process.
The multimillion-dollar contract calls for the development and
demonstration of a ducted-fan UAV for operation in diverse missions
such as environment reconnaissance and surveillance, path finding
for friendly ground vehicles (both robotics and manned), maneuver
force protection, and targeting for non-line-of-sight fire
operations. At the end of the three-phase program, the OAV-II
vehicle should be of sufficient maturity to transition into an Army
System Development and Demonstration program to fulfill the Army's
requirement for a Class II UAV.
"BAE Systems looks forward to
presenting DARPA with a prototype ducted fan air vehicle that meets
the needs of the war fighter," said Tom Herring, vice president of
Integrated Solutions for BAE Systems Platform Solutions. "This
selection also represents an excellent opportunity to grow our
presence in the quickly emerging UAV market."
BAE Systems Platform Solutions has a 30-year UAV heritage and is
actively developing vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAVs to
expand its UAV portfolio. "DARPA's selection complements our
existing and proven UAV programs," Herring said. "Our selection by
DARPA reflects well on our expanding technology and know-how in
this field."
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