Raytheon develops UAS ground solution to meet Air Force ISR needs
Raytheon Company has developed an advanced common ground control system, or CGCS, for the U.S. Air Force to address mission capability needs for the Predator unmanned aircraft system.
“We’ve been working with combat-tested UAS operators and trainers for more than two years to develop a CGCS that puts the human operator into the UAS ‘cockpit’ to dramatically improve the way he or she operates unmanned aircraft systems,” said Mark Bigham, business development director for Raytheon’s Intelligence and Information Systems business.
“The results have been exciting,” Bigham added. “Our unsolicited bid for the Predator ground control system will address significant decreases in required aircrew manpower, faster training and greatly reduce mishap rates previously attributed to human-machine interface or pilot error. It also enables more aircraft to be controlled by the same number of operators, increasing more unmanned aircraft systems in operation.”
The proposed CGCS is also compatible with improved Predator operations centers currently being fielded to the U.S. Air National Guard. For more than 35 years, Raytheon has been a recognized leader in developing a wide variety of unmanned aircraft systems for the U.S. military.
Bigham said, “The CGCS will help the current Predator contractor maximize the number of unmanned aircraft systems operators can fly, ultimately helping to meet Secretary of Defense Gates' goal of ‘more ISR now.’”
Raytheon says it can produce the first CGCS system in less than 12 months with data support from platform primes and adequate funding support for the Department of Defense. Raytheon predicts that during the next 10 years, it can save the Air Force more than $500 million. The five cost savings benefits are:
-
Reduce manpower requirements by 20 percent
-
Reduce ground control segment requirements by 20 percent
-
Reduce training time and costs by 30 percent
-
Reduce aircraft losses by 50 percent
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![NATO uncrewed maritime exercise under way off the coast of Portugal]()
NATO uncrewed maritime exercise under way off the coast of Portugal
Twenty-five navies, eight NATO entities and more than thirty companies and universities are currently involved in Robotic Experimentation Prototyping Augmented by Maritime Unmanned Systems Exercise 2023 (REPMUS 23), held off the coast of Portugal until 29 September.
-
![DSEI 2023: SpearUAV rolls out drone launcher system for submarines]()
DSEI 2023: SpearUAV rolls out drone launcher system for submarines
Israeli UAS developer SpearUAV introduced a submarine-launched capsule option for its Viper 750 UAV at DSEI 2023.
-
![Ukraine shows combat-tested armament at DSEI 2023]()
Ukraine shows combat-tested armament at DSEI 2023
The Ukrainian pavilion at DSEI 2023, organised by state-owned Spetstechnoexport, exhibited several indigenous combat-tested systems, including UAVs, USVs and an evacuation vehicle.
-
![DSEI: Milrem displays new versions of THeMIS and reveals plans for larger UGV]()
DSEI: Milrem displays new versions of THeMIS and reveals plans for larger UGV
Milrem Robotics has now supplied more than 100 of its Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) hybrid UGVs including approximately 15 for service in Ukraine. Lessons learned are continuing to inform the platform’s development, according to the company.
-
![Leonardo and UK MoD unveil rotary-wing UAS at DSEI 2023]()
Leonardo and UK MoD unveil rotary-wing UAS at DSEI 2023
The design selected for the Rotary Wing Uncrewed Autonomous System is best suited for maritime operations.
-
![DSEI 2023: Irish company Reamda develops upgradeable dual-use Casur UGV]()
DSEI 2023: Irish company Reamda develops upgradeable dual-use Casur UGV
Reamda is designing a new SWAT version of its Riddler tactical UGV, to be designated Casur which is Irish for hammer, and designing a smaller lightweight version of its controller.
