Mil-Tech

AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems and ViaSat Enter Strategic Alliance

AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, and ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq:VSAT) announced  that the organizations have entered into a strategic alliance to align AAI’s advanced unmanned aircraft and command and control technologies with ViaSat integrated airborne and terrestrial satellite communications, as well as its Internet Protocol-based networking and security technology. Under the agreement, the organizations intend to develop and mature beyond-line-of-sight satellite communications capabilities for current and next-generation AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems aircraft.

Along with fellow Textron Systems business Overwatch, AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems and ViaSat collaborate on the Forward Airborne Secure Transmission and Communication, or FASTCOM™, system. FASTCOM is an end-to-end, mobile cellular network that accommodates Top Secret smartphone communications. Through this strategic alliance, the two companies can build on the FASTCOM system’s maturity with additional third- and fourth-generation, or 3G and 4G, capability to further enhance battlefield communications.

“The performance and affordability of tactical UAS like our Shadow® system make them an invaluable battlefield asset with a growing mission spectrum,” says Senior Vice President and General Manager Steven Reid of AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems. “Our customers’ unmanned assets need to be as flexible and capable as the troops who utilize them, and this new strategic alliance with ViaSat is one way that we’re staying on the leading edge of system development and integration.”

“This new phase of the AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems relationship is completely in-sync with our intent to continue delivering industry-leading broadband performance over ultra-small-aperture airborne satellite communication systems,” said Vice President and General Manager for ViaSat Global Mobile Broadband Paul Baca. “And our private satellite network services can deliver the dedicated bandwidth needed to distribute tactical UAS video throughout the battlespace.”

About AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems

AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems has designed, manufactured and fielded combat-proven unmanned aircraft systems for more than 25 years. AAI’s multi-mission capable unmanned aircraft and interoperable command and control technologies provide critical situational awareness and actionable intelligence for users worldwide. Its Australia-based strategic business, Aerosonde Pty Ltd, is a manufacturer of small unmanned aircraft systems. AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems is an operating unit of Textron Systems. More information is available at www.aaicorp.com.

About Textron Systems

Textron Systems has been providing innovative solutions to the defense, homeland security and aerospace communities for more than 50 years. Headquartered in Wilmington, Mass., the company is known for its unmanned aircraft systems, advanced marine craft, armored vehicles, intelligent battlefield and surveillance systems, intelligence software solutions, precision smart weapons, piston engines, test and training systems, and total life cycle sustainment and operational services. Textron Systems includes AAI Logistics & Technical Services, AAI Test & Training, AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Advanced Systems, Aerosonde, ESL Defence, Lycoming Engines, Medical Numerics, MillenWorks, Overwatch, Textron Defense Systems and Textron Marine & Land Systems. More information is available at www.textronsystems.com.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.   

About ViaSat

ViaSat delivers fast, secure communications, Internet, and remote network access to fixed sites or on-the-move. The company provides networking products and managed network services for enterprise IP applications; is a key supplier of network-centric military communications and encryption technologies and products to the U.S. and allied governments; is the primary technology partner for gateway and customer-premises equipment for consumer and mobile satellite broadband services; and offers high-speed Ka-band satellite broadband services. Based in Carlsbad, Calif., ViaSat has established a number of worldwide locations for customer service, network operations, and technology development. More information is available at www.viasat.com

Australian military chooses ground robots from QinetiQ to equip Australian Army

Leaders of the Australian Department of Defence in Canberra, Australia, needed small unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to equip the Australian Army. They found their solution from the QinetiQ North America Technology Solutions Group in Reston, Va. The Australian Department of Defence is ordering the QinetiQ Dragon Runner 20 (DR20) robot, which emerged as the top performing robot during a competition to equip the Australian Army, QinetiQ officials say.

Source: www.militaryaerospace.com

New Leader 50 BMG Rifle Manufactured by MICOR® Defense Receiving Rave Reviews For Innovative Design

MICOR® Defense will unveil the new Leader 50 BMG™ sniper rifle at the upcoming 2012 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. The Leader 50 BMG™ sniper rifle, manufactured by MICOR® Defense, Inc., is being hailed as “potentially one of the most important developments in .50 BMG rifles in over 29 years,” according to David Crane of Defense Review.

Designed by Charles St. George of Leader Propulsion, the Leader 50 BMG™ is significantly more compact and lightweight than other .50 BMG products currently on the market measuring just 39” long with a 24” barrel and weighing approximately 17 pounds dry/empty. This smaller size provides the versatility for the rifle to be discharged from positions other than prone unlike other weapons in this caliber currently on the market. Its gas operated action and ten round magazine allows for multiple shots on rapidly moving targets while minimizing muzzle climb and generating less recoil than a M1 Garand semi-auto .30-06 Springfield battle rifle.

In addition to the custom machined products like the Leader 50 BMG™ that MICOR® Industries manufactures for the defense and related industries, MICOR® Defense also manufactures a line of flash suppressors and a .50 barrel. These products are distributed online at http://www.MICORdefense.com. The MICOR® flash suppressors reduce muzzle flash and climb and can be used with U.S. military blank firing adapters or silencers. This revolutionary flash suppressor technology has been fully integrated into the patent-pending MICOR® M2HB .50 barrel designed for the M2 machine gun.

About MICOR®

MICOR® is an ISO 9001:2008 and AS9100 certified company providing global contract manufacturing and integration services for various industries, including aerospace, defense, oil field, and subsea. The company’s MICOR® Industries division uses state-of-the-art equipment for laser marking, CNC precision machining, fabrication, E.D.M., welding, finishing, and honing. MICOR® Defense products include weapons and accessories developed for use by the general public, as well as custom products created for defense and related industries. MICOR® is a prime contractor for the Department of Defense, as well as a subcontractor to several large prime government contracts. More information about MICOR® can be found at http://www.MICORind.com and http://www.MICORDefense.com.