Aerosonde UAS to support US Air Force Academy mission
AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. company, announced today that it has been awarded a fee-for-service contract from BOSH Global Services to provide an Aerosonde unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for use by the US Air Force Academy.
The contract includes an Aerosonde Mark 4.7 system; support personnel to launch, fly and recover the aircraft; and computer-based training and simulation software for Cadets to utilize in their training. The academy also will gain use of AAI's On-the-Move Command and Control (OMCC) capability, which allows the aircraft to be controlled by personnel in a moving command and control station. The contract is for a one year period with an option to extend for one additional year.
"The fee-for-service arrangement provides the academy with a flexible, cost-effective, comprehensive system to train Cadets in the planning and executing UAS missions," says Stephen Flach, division vice president of AAI's Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems. "The academy will be able to draw upon the considerable assets of this AAI system as they train a core group of future US Air Force leaders."
First unveiled in March 2009, the Aerosonde Mark 4.7 is part of AAI's modular fleet of small unmanned aircraft systems, and was jointly developed and produced by personnel at both AAI's Hunt Valley, Md., headquarters and Aerosonde Pty Ltd, the company's small unmanned aircraft systems business unit in Melbourne, Australia.
A standard-bearer in unmanned innovation for the last several decades, AAI has spent more than 25 years designing, producing, fielding and sustaining UAS for use in a wide variety of military, scientific and civilian applications. The company's contractor-owned, contractor-operated fee-for-service business was launched in an effort to meet our clients' UAS needs in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible while providing them with experienced, highly skilled operators and maintainers under a variety of operating conditions.
Source: Textron
Follow Shephard News on Twitter
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.