AeroVironment to expand Blackwing UAS programme
AeroVironment has received a contract from the US Navy for continuation and expansion of its Blackwing small UAV programme, the company announced on 9 October.
The contract worth $2.5m includes orders for multiple Blackwing vehicles, sensor payloads and refurbishment kits. The initial set of vehicles are expected to be delivered by May 2018, while the final deliveries are to be made by November 2018.
Blackwing is a small, tube-launched unmanned aircraft that employs an advanced, miniature electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) payload, integrated inertial/GPS autopilot system and secure digital data link, all packaged into a vehicle that launches from under the surface of the sea, from manned submarines and UUVs.
Blackwing builds on the company’s UAS and its Switchblade Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System (LMAMS) to provide the navy with a submarine-launched UAS optimised for denied environments.
AeroVironment developed the Blackwing system as part of a 2013 US Navy and US Pacific Command (PACOM) sponsored Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration (JCTD) called advanced weapons enhanced by submarine UAS against mobile targets.
This JCTD was completed in September 2015 with recommendation to transition the capability into the fleet.
Kirk Flittie, VP and general manager of UAS division, AeroVironment, said: ‘Since first being deployed just a few months ago, Blackwing has delivered valuable new capabilities to US Naval Undersea Warfare units.
‘This contract is consistent with the navy’s plans to resupply existing vessels and equip additional submarines with the Blackwing capability.’
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
Teledyne FLIR stays ahead of the pack on MTRS Increment II
US Army Contracting Command keeps faith in Teledyne FLIR with a new MTRS Increment II deal.
-
Hermes takes off in Switzerland
The ADS-15 UAV (the Swiss designation for the Hermes 900) performed its first test flight on 15 June before planned transfer to the Swiss Air Force in the second half of the year.
-
Kappa optronics joins Eurodrone supplier base
Kappa optronics has received an order from Airbus to provide company materials for the multinational Eurodrone programme.
-
Luxembourg, Leonardo and Skydweller sign off on solar-powered UAV collaboration
A new agreement between Luxembourg, Leonardo and Skydweller will focus on UAS ISR opportunities.
-
Eurosatory 2022: Aeronautics unveils VTOL Orbiter 4 and new Trojan system
Israeli UASs have been a visible fixture of the Eurosatory 2022 defence exhibition in Paris.