BAE Systems tests Lockheed Martin Skunk Works’ small UAS on ACV C4/UAS
Image courtesy BAE Systems
Both UAS will provide unprecedented, long-endurance reconnaissance capabilities to support the US Marine Corps’ expeditionary warfare and battle management capabilities aboard the ACV C4/UAS.
Mark Brinkman, programme manager for ACV design and development at BAE Systems, said: “We’re focused on giving Marines an advanced technology solution to meet their reconnaissance requirements.
"That’s why we’re teamed with companies like Lockheed Martin, to provide Marines with the best possible capabilities for their expeditionary needs.”
BAE Systems tested Skunk Works’ Stalker and Indago UAS along with a number of other technology suppliers as part of contractor verification testing, a key event in the ACV C4/UAS programme’s lifecycle.
Now that contractor verification testing is complete, the Marine Corps will conduct its own series of tests to evaluate if the ACV C4/UAS is a capable and cost-effective Government Off The Shelf (GOTS) solution for the Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) programme.
Skunk Works’ Stalker and Indago UAS provide endurance, a broad operating envelope and an open systems architecture, to allow them to execute diverse and demanding missions while maintaining a small operational footprint and crew requirement.
Jacob Johnson, Skunk Works UAS and Attritable Systems director, said: “Collaboration with our SOCOM and Marine Corps customers and industry partners has enabled the rapid development of needed capabilities for the warfighter – as exemplified through this partnership with BAE Systems.
“By integrating Stalker and Indago on BAE Systems’ ACV platform, we are delivering greater mission flexibility in a small form factor that supports Marine Corps operations.”
BAE Systems’ ACV C4/UAS vehicle is a Mobile Systems Integration Lab (SIL) built to demonstrate the transformational technology Marines need to conduct reconnaissance, surveillance and acquisition capabilities, including the ability to sense and communicate targets over the horizon using cutting edge C4 systems. Skunk Works’ Stalker and Indago UAS are some of the technology components that the ACV C4/UAS employs to achieve this goal.
