Textron Systems Unmanned Systems has opened an UA) training and maintenance facility, the Unmanned Systems Service & Support Center, in Blackstone, Virginia, the company announced on 10 May.
The facility will house the company’s sustainment operations for its Aerosonde SUAS and its schoolhouse for maintainers and operators. The facility will also support research on UAS integration into national airspace through its Certificates of Authorisation (COA) for the Shadow M2 and Aerosonde SUAS.
The 14,700sq ft facility is spread across two buildings and includes two simulator rooms that can operate up to 12 total flight simulators and three classrooms with capacity for 12 students each. The facility also includes an air vehicle test cell, engine test cell, space for air vehicle assembly, composite and engine maintenance, repair and operations.
Bill Irby, senior vice president and general manager, Textron Systems Unmanned System, said: ‘With this expansion, we have the opportunity to train more operators, maintain additional UAS and continue our research on integrating UAS into national airspace.’
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