EMARSS aircraft completes first test flight
The Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (EMARSS) under development by Boeing for the US Army has completed the first of four test flights on 22 May.
Boeing has reported the flight to be a success. The Engineering, Manufacturing and Development aircraft was in the air for more than four hours and completed all first-flight test objectives, including evaluation of aerodynamic handling qualities, aircraft systems performance, and autopilot functions.
The EMARSS programme is being led by Boeing. It aims to deliver the US Army a manned airborne multi-intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system with the ability to detect, locate, classify, identify, and track surface targets in nearly all weather conditions, day or night, with a high degree of timeliness and accuracy.
The flight, conducted at the Beechcraft facility in Wichita, follows a series of ground tests for the aircraft, including high-speed taxi testing. This milestone is a key event on the path to Limited User Tests and the Milestone C low rate initial production decision.
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