Tiny Aircraft To Help Company Develop Unmanned Systems

Raytheon received an Experimental Airworthiness Certificate (EAC) for its Cobra Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). This is the third unmanned aircraft and the first of its size certified by the FAA.

Raytheon says the Cobra is a low-cost, highly reliable UAS designed to support the development, integration and test of its unmanned systems technologies. The aircraft has a wingspan of 10 feet and is 9-feet long -- no wonder it's unmanned!

Restrictions to the Cobra's EAC permit flight operations only in a specified section of Southeastern Arizona. The EAC authorizes Raytheon to conduct research and development, crew training and market surveys using the Cobra UAS.

In furthering the development of Raytheon's unmanned systems, it will use the Cobra test bed to test and demonstrate sensor systems; networked command, control and communications systems; and UAS architectural concepts.

Raytheon's vice president of Missile Systems Ken Pederson said, "The Cobra UAS will significantly decrease costs and compress schedules for bringing new UAS technologies to market. Our customers will benefit from our ability to support both internal Raytheon development efforts and their programs with Cobra, without increasing the pressure on tactical systems and valuable range resources."

Raytheon worked closely with the FAA to receive the Experimental Aircraft Certification, providing Cobra UAS design, manufacturing, maintenance, safety, operations and training documentation for its review and approval. The final step in the certification process was a demonstration of Cobra UAS ground operations conducted under the observation of FAA teams from Washington and Phoenix.

The Cobra UAS is composed of the aircraft and ground elements. The ground element consists of two control systems -- the Cloud Cap Technology Piccolo Ground Control Station and the Raytheon IIS next-generation Multi-Vehicle Control System (MVCS). The MVCS uses the NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 4586 interface to communicate with the Cobra aircraft. The dual control system configuration provides for maximum flexibility and safety during testing.

FMI: www.raytheon.com