Vought to Provide Wings for US Navy BAMS UAS program
Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. said today that it will supply the wings for Northrop Grumman Corporation’s platform aircraft for the U.S. Navy’s new Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System (BAMS UAS) program.
“We are honored to be a part of a vital aircraft program that supports and protects our nation,” said Dennis Orzel, vice president, Vought Integrated Aerosystems Division. There are about 70 people in Dallas and 20 in Milledgeville, Ga., who work on Vought’s Global Hawk program.
Vought has been on the Global Hawk program since May 2001, responsible for the wing fabrication, assembly and structural testing. The company built two prototype and nine production wing sets under its initial contract with Northrop Grumman for the original Block 10 version. Vought has delivered 14 wings for the Block 20 version of Global Hawk – the RQ-4N’s platform. The Block 20 version features an increased wing span of approximately 15 feet, allowing it to carry more fuel and fly longer missions than its predecessor.
Vought uses commercially available graphite and epoxy materials, including high modulus unidirectional tape, in the fabrication of the Global Hawk wing. The RQ-4 wing is 130.9 feet long, weighs about 4,000 pounds and is the longest wing ever delivered from Vought’s Dallas facility.
Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4N, a maritime derivative of the RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned air vehicle, will be the platform for the BAMS UAS suite of maritime surveillance sensors and communications systems. When operational, the BAMS UAS will play a key role in providing commanders with a persistent, reliable picture of surface threats, covering vast areas of open ocean and littoral regions.
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.
-
![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.
