Rockwell Collins flight controls, navigation systems to guide STUAS vehicle
Rockwell Collins' flight control and navigation systems will play a critical role in the Small Tactical Unmanned Air System (STUAS) program, which promises to provide the warfighter with greatly enhanced levels of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
The Navy and Marine Corps recently awarded the STUAS contract to Insitu for its Integrator Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The Integrator uses Rockwell Collins' Athena 111m flight control system, which enables the UAS to perform with high accuracy and autonomy using a lightweight, small form factor avionics package.
The Integrator also flies with Rockwell Collins' GPS that improves the position accuracy of the UAS and its subsystems. For example, the flight control system uses the GPS to autonomously and accurately position the UAS to capture the aircraft using the SkyHookâ retrieval system.
Rockwell Collins will work with Insitu during a two-year engineering and manufacturing development effort to mature the UAS design to meet the STUAS requirements. STUAS will provide ISR support for US Marine Corps and US Navy.
"We are pleased to be working closely with Insitu on this important program," said David Vos, Rockwell Collins senior director of UAS and Control Technology. "Rockwell Collins' role in the STUAS contract validates the reliability and performance of our Athena flight control and navigation systems."
Source: Rockwell Collins
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
US Navy foresees an uncrewed future for its surface and underwater fleet
The service has been conducting various procurement and development efforts to integrate unmanned surface and underwater vehicles into its inventory.
-
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.