ORLANDO, Fla., 15 May 2014. The Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) Kestrel autopilot and a version of the vertical takeoff and lift Indago system are no longer restricted by International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and are now controlled under the Export Administration Regulations. Kestrel received its commodity jurisdiction, enabling quick, affordable deployments for international markets, officials say.
"We are looking forward to working with our international partners to deliver the Kestrel autopilot, Indago platform, and their robust capabilities," says Kevin Westfall, director of unmanned solutions at Lockheed Martin's Mission Systems and Training business. "The Kestrel 3.0 suite allows sensors to cross check each other for accuracy and fault detection. The autopilot uses failsafe algorithms to return to base and auto land in emergency situations such as low battery or loss of communications with the ground control station."
The Kestrel 3.0 autopilot features Lockheed Martin "Fly Light" avionics technologies and incorporates data from a suite of sensors and GPS to create an accurate estimate of the vehicle's location and orientation. Low-latency, high-rate data is sent to the motors to stabilize and position the vehicle and payload.
To obtain approval for exports, Lockheed Martin submitted a commodity jurisdiction request, which determines whether an item is covered by the U.S. Munitions List, and therefore is controlled by regulations such as ITAR. The outcome of the request led to the Kestrel 3.0 autopilot and Indago system's availability for international customers.
With more than five decades experience in unmanned and robotic systems, Lockheed Martin offers multiple solutions for air, land and sea. From the depths of the ocean to the rarified air of the stratosphere, Lockheed Martin's unmanned systems help our military, civil and commercial customers accomplish their most difficult challenges.
