Drone Developed for Small Infantry Units
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Edited by Robert H. Williams
A
vertical launch unmanned aerial vehicle that is designed to support
infantry platoon and company operations recently twice negotiated
a course of 10 waypoints in southern California. The ducted fan
aircraft is being developed under a Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency program.
Built by BAE Systems, this new multi-mission UAV will be proficient
in “reconnaissance and surveillance, path-finding for friendly
ground vehicles, maneuver force protection and targeting for non-line-of-sight
fire operations,” according to a company official.
Several other contractors are participating in the DARPA competition
that was to enter a second stage beginning last month. The winner
of the third and final phase will participate in a development and
demonstration program that is expected to satisfy an Army requirement
for a UAV the service will field as part of the Future Combat Systems
program.