UK Ministry of Defense is bringing two Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) used to protect troops in Afghanistan into its core equipment program....
UK Ministry of Defense is bringing two Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) used to protect troops in Afghanistan into its core equipment program.
Contracts worth approximately £23 million ($36 million) have been placed for the Black Hornet and Desert Hawk 3 systems, which were used on operations to provide surveillance and intelligence for troops on the ground.
The Black Hornet, which is palm-sized, provided real-time video and snapshot images while Desert Hawk 3, which is battery-powered, gathers intelligence, and provides reconnaissance and surveillance.
MOD recently awarded a contract extension to Marlborough Communications Limited to support Black Hornet through to its Out of Service Date in 2017, while Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training has also been awarded a contract to support the Desert Hawk 3 programme. Both achieved Full Operating Capability (FOC) last month.
The Black Hornet has a 1.6 km range and 25 min endurance. It is equipped with 3 cameras and is capable of night missions using thermal camera.
Desert Hawk 3 provides tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support to the military forces of the United Kingdom
Desert Hawk 3 has flown more than 30,000 hours, mostly under austere conditions, to support critical mission needs such as enhanced situational awareness, security and counter-IED operations, threat detection, route reconnaissance and battle damage assessment.
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| UK MOD Image |
Lockheed Martin recently upgraded Desert Hawk 3 to the Desert Hawk 3.1 configuration by providing simplified launch, deep stall landing, all-environment capability, longer endurance, updated sensor payloads and operation using Lockheed Martin's mobile ground control system. Desert Hawk 3.1 is a modification kit to a Desert Hawk 3 configuration.
