Posted by John McHaleSAN DIEGO, June 15, 2011. The Firebird reconnaissance aircraft from Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:NOC) made use of three high-definition video sensors from FLIR Systems in Wilsonville, Ore., and an electronics payload simultaneously. The payload is the Common Signals Intelligence System 1500 from Northrop Grumman.According to Northrop Grumman officials this is the first time on an aircraft that three infrared sensors were operated simultaneously. "Firebird's universal interface is what makes this all possible," says Rick Crooks, director of special projects and Firebird program manager for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "It's very similar to plugging a memory stick into a computer -- it's automatically recognized without needing to load new software. With this plug-and-play technology we can place many different sensors on Firebird and operate them in a matter of minutes."It also reduces the length of time required to replace sensors to adapt Firebird quickly for specific missions, Crooks notes. The full-motion video (HD FMV) sensors can be installed along with a communications payload in less than an hour.During a demonstration, the Firebird also distributed real-time HD video to different locations such as remote terminals, a ground control station, a cellular phone, and a tablet computer. Control of the sensors was done independently through the ground station and remote terminals."Not only can soldiers on the ground and aircraft crews see the video and data, but they also control the sensors independently," Crooks says. The three HD FMV sensors were supplied by FLIR Systems, with the fourth payload being the Northrop Grumman-produced that provided an electronics support and direction finding capability. To date, Firebird has operated 15 different intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance sensor payloads.
