Aerosonde UAV makes first operational flight from USS Miguel Keith
An Aerosonde UAS is launched from USS Miguel Keith. (Photo: Textron)
The Textron UAS is also deployed on three other USN ships.
On 1 February, Textron announced that its Aerosonde UAS on board the Expeditionary Support Base (ESB) USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5) had made its first operational flight.
The sortie follows an October 2022 contract award to provide uncrewed aviation support aboard the ship for up to five years.
Textron is tasked with deploying Aerosonde to provide ISR services to the ship.
Textron air systems senior VP Wayne Prender said: ‘Having an unmanned aircraft system operational aboard the ship acting as a remote sensor contributes to overall maritime domain awareness and mission success,
‘The Aerosonde system is providing added reach beyond the horizon and an ability to operate multi-INT ISR consistently, both great examples of the benefits of teaming unmanned aircraft with manned ships.’
The Aerosonde UAS is also being used to support operations aboard USS Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams (ESB 4) and two USN destroyers.
The UAS itself has racked up over 600,000 flight hours in US and allied service.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Poland approved for another buy of AMRAAMs under $1.3 billion deal]()
Poland approved for another buy of AMRAAMs under $1.3 billion deal
The deal is for 400 AIM-120D-3 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM). It increases the stocks the country already has and follows a US$1.7 billion order for 745 missiles approved in March last year.
-
![Italian Army receives first UH-169D light utility helicopter]()
Italian Army receives first UH-169D light utility helicopter
The delivery is the first in a total of 25 helicopters on order, with all deliveries expected to be completed by 2027.
-
![Norway receives final F-35 aircraft and unveils first Joint Strike Missile delivery]()
Norway receives final F-35 aircraft and unveils first Joint Strike Missile delivery
Work has begun on stockpiling the Joint Strike Missile (JSM), following the first missile’s delivery from Kongsberg and the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency.
-
![US Air Force has big plans for the F-47]()
US Air Force has big plans for the F-47
The USAF Chief of Staff has claimed that the sixth-generation fighter would allow for guaranteeing “air superiority for generations to come”.
