Raytheon debuts ground control system for Scavenger UAV, gains ITAR approval

Posted by Courtney E. Howard WASHINGTON, 29 Aug. 2011. Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTN) officials demonstrated the company’s unmanned aircraft system (UAS) common ground control system (CGCS) technology for United Kingdom Ministry of Defence representatives. In a Scavenger unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) mission scenario, the Raytheon control station demonstrated simultaneous control of multiple dissimilar vehicles, sensor command and control, and connectivity to external systems, among other capabilities. Raytheon received International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) approval from the U.S. State Department to demonstrate its CGCS to U.K. and French governments last month. The company currently is evaluating partnering opportunities as a common ground segment provider for Scavenger and related programs.

Scavenger is a joint U.K. and French program operating under the Defence and Security Cooperation Treaty, which seeks to develop the next-generation medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

"Using Raytheon's CGCS, the U.K. and French governments would not be bound to a single prime or vendor, because the low level interfaces are all open with a software development kit provided for all development and integration needs central to the UAS core framework," explains Mark Bigham, vice president of business development for Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems' Defense and Civil Mission Solutions product line. "Open architectures provide government with the greatest ability to acquire the system capability and operational effectiveness it needs while reducing acquisition and sustainment costs."