AAI Unveils and Demonstrates Its STUAS/Tier II Contender: Aerosonde Mark 4.7
AAI Corporation, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. company, announced on 6 July that it has offered the newest in its successful Aerosonde fleet of small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS), the Mark 4.7, as a contender for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ joint Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (STUAS)/Tier II program. The expeditionary Mark 4.7 system participated in flight demonstrations on June 23-24 at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.
Developed as a part of AAI’s growing Aerosonde fleet of SUAS, including the Mark 4.4 and Mark 5.0, the Mark 4.7 incorporates unique aircraft, ground control and system features designed with the Navy’s and Marine Corps’ mission requirements in mind. The system’s modest footprint and integrated launch and recovery system enable fast, flexible ground and/or shipboard automated launch and recovery capability, making the Aerosonde Mark 4.7 a truly expeditionary system.
The Mark 4.7 aircraft delivers greater than 10-hour endurance, a low acoustic signature and a small footprint, all of which make it ideal for confined-area land or maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions as well as for communications relay. Its modular payload installation allows the rapid addition of new payloads and capabilities as they become available, enabling technology refresh with little to no aircraft or system modifications. The system also utilizes AAI’s Expeditionary Ground Control Station (EGCS). The EGCS is based on the company’s proven One System command and control architecture to provide interoperability between the Aerosonde Mark 4.7 and other One System platforms, including the Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (TUAS). Users receive digital and analog data from the aircraft’s electro-optic and infrared payloads on compact, ruggedized laptops.
“For decades, AAI has not only designed and manufactured unmanned aircraft systems, but fielded them alongside our customers through skilled, experienced field service and performance based logistics support,” says Vice President of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Steven Reid. “We are confident that our Aerosonde Mark 4.7 system meets the unique Navy and Marine Corps requirements for a small, tactical solution both today and well into the future. We also back our Aerosonde systems with the same robust availability management and life cycle support that has made the Shadow TUAS the U.S. Army’s and Marine Corps’ battlefield workhorse, logging more than 415,000 operational flight hours to date.”
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
Ready for the race: Air separation drone swarms vs. air defence systems
As the dynamics of aerial combat rapidly evolve, Chinese scientists have engineered a sophisticated air separation drone model that can fragment into up to six drones, each capable of executing distinct battlefield roles and challenging the efficacy of current anti-drone defences such as the UK’s Dragonfire laser system.
-
Israel’s MALE UAVs ‘must adapt’ to Iranian-made air defences
Advancements in air defence technologies have begun to reshape aerial combat dynamics in the Middle East, as illustrated by recent events involving the Israeli Air Force and Hezbollah.
-
Hundreds more UAS sent to Ukraine forces with thousands more on the way
Both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war have been using UAS for effective low-cost attacks, as well as impactful web and social media footage. Thousands more have now been committed to Ukrainian forces.
-
AI and software companies selected for US Army Robotic Combat Vehicle subsystems
The US Army has intentions to develop light, medium and heavy variants of the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) as part of the branche’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle family.
-
DroneShield to improve software of DroneSentry-X C-UAS system under new contract
DroneSentry-X, a cross-vehicle compatible, automated 360° C-UAS detect and defeat device, can offer 360° awareness and protection using integrated sensors. According to its manufacturer, it is suitable for mobile operations, on-site surveillance and on-the-move missions.
-
Ukraine takes delivery of new indigenous C-UAS systems
Funded by the country’s former president, the new C-UAS systems will be sent to the frontline where they have already been tested against Russian invading forces.