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

Raytheon to develop GPS-degraded munitions guidance for High Velocity Penetrating Weapon

Munitions guidance experts at the Raytheon Co. Space and Airborne Systems segment in El Segundo, Calif., will design and demonstrate navigation and guidance technologies that can keep new generations of deep-penetrating bombs and missiles on target in conditions where signals from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite satellites are degraded or unavailable. Raytheon is doing the work under terms of an $11 million contract awarded Friday by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Munitions Directorate at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

Source: www.militaryaerospace.com

Wins Contract To Supply Sophisticated Military Test Equipment To A Major Aerospace Corporation

Lapis Technologies, Inc., a provider of aerospace and defense technologies and solutions, announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Enertec Systems 2001 Ltd (Enertec), received from a global aerospace corporation a purchase order for the production of sophisticated military test equipment. The total value of this order is approximately $800,000 and it is expected to be delivered in 2012.

David Lucatz, President and CEO of Lapis Technologies, said, “Enertec’s leadership position as a provider of ground support equipment solutions for operational military systems has helped the company win a new contract from a major customer. The combat readiness of weapon systems is critical and demands zero tolerance in terms of error or design flaws. We were selected to produce weapons technology for a mission critical component because of our past track record with the client and our proprietary technology. We believe there will be growing global demand for this technology.”

About Lapis Technologies, Inc.

Lapis Technologies, Inc (PINKSHEETS: LPST) was formed in 2002 and is focused on becoming a major force in the aerospace and defense industries. The company’s wholly owned subsidiary Enertec Systems 2001 Ltd. (Enertec Systems) is an Israeli-based developer, manufacturer and provider of military and airborne systems, missiles command and control systems, simulators, automatic test equipment (ATE) and sophisticated power supplies, converters and other power conversion products. Lapis Technologies’ operations are located in Israel and serve leading Israeli defense integrators in the market for both local Israeli and worldwide sales. Lapis Technologies is currently engaged in the formation of a new joint venture a leading Indian industrial group, for the formation of a manufacturing and marketing platform in India of products based on the Enertec Systems aerospace and defense technology and expertise. For more information online please visit: www.enertec.co.il