PARIS, 15 June 2009. Boeing today announced the formation of an Unmanned Airborne Systems division within its defense and space business unit.

The new division will assume program management responsibility for the A160T Hummingbird, Unmanned Little Bird, and SolarEagle (Vulture) unmanned aerial system (UAS) programs. Insitu Inc., a wholly owned Boeing subsidiary that manufactures the ScanEagle and Integrator UASs, will report to the new division.

Boeing's experience in developing and manufacturing unmanned systems has resulted in "a broad portfolio of unmanned systems in technology development and current service applications, spanning a number of critical mission types," said Jim Albaugh, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (IDS), while speaking at the Paris Air Show today.

"This new division establishes a single leadership team focused on implementing a common strategy for unmanned airborne systems and services, and ensures access to resources and capabilities from across IDS," Albaugh added.

Boeing has named Vic Sweberg director of the new division. Sweberg will report to Chris Chadwick, president of Boeing Military Aircraft, and lead a UAS team that operates from Boeing sites across the United States. Sweberg will coordinate closely with Phantom Works, the company's advanced research and technology unit, and Global Services & Support. Ground and underwater unmanned vehicles will remain in their current divisions.