21 Sep 05. The U.S. DoD is equipping ground operators of UAVs in southeastern Asia with real-time video capabilities from EMS DVB-RCS systems. The two-way, open-standard terminals give the U.S. intelligence community real-time video feeds of surveillance data in key locations involved in the war on terror. Marshall Communications, a systems integration firm specializing in satellite communications, is the prime contractor and DVB-RCS Hub integrator for DoD and has issued a subcontract to EMS’s Satellite Networks Division. Financial details of the contract were not disclosed. EMS is supplying a hub in Europe and more than a dozen SITs (Satellite Interactive Terminals) in Asia, co-located with ground flight operators who control the UAVs. The system is the first of its type to support these kinds of reconnaissance applications.
08 Sep 05. Raytheon Systems Co., McKinney, Texas, is being awarded a $31,402,406 firm-fixed-price task order under previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00164-00-G-0007) for Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS) “A” configuration,including 51 (ea.) turret units and associated line items in support of Predator unmanned aerial vehicles and MH-60 helicopter programs. The MTS is a forward-looking infrared system for Predator unmanned aerial vehicles. It provides real-time imagery, selectable between infrared and day TV, as well as a laser designation capability. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be completed by September 2007. Contract funds in the amount of $1,098,121, will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity.
16 Sep 05. iRobot Corp. has been awarded a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) contract modification to deliver the iRobot PackBot(R) Man Transportable Robotic System, or MTRS, robots. An initial order has been placed for 103 PackBot MTRS robots at a value of $12.1m. iRobot could deliver up to 1,200 robots through 2012 under the indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract.
19 Sep 05. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. announced that the Predator® unmanned aircraft system (UAS) family achieved a milestone of 150,000 flight hours last month, with over two-thirds (100,000 hours) of that time spent in combat. Predator Series aircraft are currently flying more than 5,000 hours a month and continue to maintain the highest operational readiness rates in the U.S. inventory.
18 Sep 05. Perry Slingsby Systems receives a contract from Geoconsult AS for two Advanced Workclass ROV systems. Perry Slingsby Systems (PSS), an international provider of remote intervention technologies and equipment systems, is pleased to announce that Geoconsult AS has recently purchased two 3000 meter TritonÒ XLS 125HP systems. Both systems, complete with additional high -specification survey capability and enhanced thrust output, will be permanently installed on one of Geoconsults new vessels during the 1st quarter of 2006.