 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Northrop Grumman Flies Modernized Firebee Aerial Target For U.S. Navy
San Diego CA (SPX) Aug 18, 2005 Northrop Grumman has reached another milestone for its BQM-34 Firebee aerial target with the latest version's successful first flight featuring an enhanced integrated avionics unit as the vehicle's autopilot. Aerial targets are the U.S. Navy's most realistic means of training sailors and airmen against airborne threats and testing an array of weapon systems, and the avionics upgrade supports the service's aerial-targets transformation plan. The BQM-34 Firebee's primary mission is to simulate tactical threats by enemy aircraft and missiles for defense readiness training, air-to-air combat training and test and evaluation of weapon systems. The BQM-34 Firebee is also in service with the U.S. Air Force and international military services. In addition to serving as an aerial target, the Firebee can also support a variety of operational scenarios including unique payload delivery missions. Most notably, it supported allied operational requirements during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The aerial-targets transformation plan includes implementing autonomous waypoint navigation, complex, pre-programmed three-dimensional maneuvers, and plug-and-play common digital architecture for payloads. Northrop Grumman developed this common-technology approach in collaboration with the Navy's targets program office to help simplify logistics requirements, alleviate obsolescence problems and reduce the operational costs of its fleet of subsonic targets. "With the integration of the avionics unit, the Navy will effectively have a new, flexible, unmanned platform that can support a wide variety of fleet-training exercises, test and evaluation and other special purpose applications," explained Bruce Shaw, Northrop Grumman's BQM-34 avionics upgrade project manager. "The Firebee is a workhorse that has supported multiple services in peacetime and wartime for more than five decades. These latest product enhancements promise to extend that legacy well into the future." The flight took place at the Naval Air Warfare Center at Point Mugu, Calif., following a Navy-funded eighteen-month development program. The integrated avionics unit, currently in production for the Navy's BQM-74E aerial target, will also serve as the baseline autopilot for the BQM-74F aerial target, which will enter flight testing in late August 2005. "The upgraded Firebee Target provides the Navy with a modern, autonomous, flight capable GPS waypoint navigation Target," said Chris Lape, Northrop Grumman's director of target programs. "The benefit to the Navy extends beyond mission performance, to include common avionics and modern mission planning support equipment. This great increase in performance, utility, and supportability will be provided to the Navy at a fraction of the cost of a new Target." Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express UAV News - Suppliers and Technology
USAF UAV Battlelab Sponsors Demo Of Proxy Aviation's SkyForce
Germantown MD (SPX) Jan 11, 2006Proxy Aviation Systems recently announced the United States Air Force (USAF) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Battlelab (UAVB) sponsored and cooperated in a demonstration of SkyForce, Proxy Aviation's unmanned aircraft system. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
