MCLEAN, Va., 2 March 2005. Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) today announced the successful live-fire of four 2.75" unguided rockets from its Vigilante VTOL UAV (Vertical Takeoff and Landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) system during flight testing conducted at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground.
Conducted on December 13 and 14, 2004, the rocket firing demonstration represents an aviation first as they were executed while the Vigilante system and its payload was under air-to-air control from a control console installed aboard a UH-1N Huey helicopter flying a loose formation on the Vigilante system.
Teaming with prime contractor and Vigilante system co-developer Advanced Technologies Incorporated (ATI), SAIC conducted the live-fire rocket tests under the Armed VTOL UAV Testbed Integrator contract for the U.S. Army's Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD), in Fort Eustis, Va. AATD's objectives for this program were to use their Vigilante system platform, developed with AATD as a vehicle for demonstrating UAV technologies, to investigate the platform and manned-unmanned teaming issues associated with weapons engagements from Class III UAVs.
The flight test team, including personnel from the Army's AATD, Yuma Proving Ground, ATI and SAIC, executed the test sequence as planned during the two-week deployment. The first three shots were performed at 30, 35, and 40 knots at a 400-foot altitude while the last firing was at 40 knots at a 250- foot altitude. Based on results from the launch, reaction forces were less than those anticipated based on simulation models. The relatively low cost of the program also demonstrates the ability of the Vigilante system to serve as a cost-effective and flexible test platform. This demonstration also enables the team to further explore the collaboration of manned and unmanned systems.
For more information about SAIC's Vigilante system, see www.saic.com/products/aviation/vigilante/vig.html.
The Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD), a tenant activity located at Ft. Eustis, Va., is a Directorate of the Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC), a part of the Research, Development & Engineering Command (RDECOM). AATD's mission is to transition critical technologies that enhance and sustain Army Aviation as the premier land force aviation component in the world through the development, demonstration, and application of critical technologies. AATD provides quality and timely engineering services and rapid prototyping support for customers as well as support for worldwide contingency operations through the expedited fabrication, application, and support of innovative materiel solutions.
Advanced Technologies Incorporated is a leading supplier of research and development products for the aerospace industry. ATI provides engineering and fabrication services and produces a wide variety of wind tunnel models, test equipment, composite fan blades, prototype hardware, full-scale mock-ups and models, training devices, and has specialized expertise developing composite rotor blades, rotor test stands, experimental helicopters, and unmanned CTOL and VTOL UAVs. For more information see www.advancedtechnologiesinc.com.
SAIC is the largest employee-owned research and engineering company in the United States, providing information technology, systems integration and eSolutions to commercial and government customers. SAIC engineers and scientists work to solve complex technical problems in national and homeland security, energy, the environment, space, telecommunications, health care, and logistics. With annual revenues of nearly $7 billion, SAIC and its subsidiaries, including Telcordia Technologies, have more than 45,000 employees at offices in more than 150 cities worldwide. For more information, see www.saic.com.
