Achieving standard enables seamless unmanned ground system interoperability
FALLS CHURCH, Va., July 15, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company's
(NYSE: RTN) Tactical Control System has been certified as the first NATO
standard unmanned ground control system. An industry first, it is the only
ground system conforming to the NATO STANAG (Standardization Agreement)
4586 standard for the U.S. Navy Tactical Control System (TCS).
NATO ratified the STANAG 4586 standard, enabling allied nations to
share information from unmanned aircraft through a common ground control
system. NATO-compliant aircraft are equipped to translate information into
standard message formats, and information received from other compliant
aircraft can be transferred into vehicle-specific formats for seamless
interoperability.
"This is a significant first for the unmanned aircraft system
technology community and the Navy," said Mark Bigham, director of business
development for Raytheon's Tactical Intelligence Systems unit. "For more
than 40 years, Raytheon has been at the forefront of developing the latest
unmanned ground systems for our customers, and we have incorporated that
heritage into the TCS system."
TCS provides the Navy with an advanced ground system that can control
two dissimilar air vehicles. The Navy's MQ-8B Fire Scout by Northrop
Grumman will be the first air vehicle to use this STANAG 4586-conforming
software. The control system consists of mission planning, command and
control, data processing and dissemination capabilities for operation of
the full range of tactical unmanned aircraft systems.
"Proving an open user interface enables the unmanned aircraft system
operator, trained on one system, to control different types of UAS payloads
with minimal additional training," Bigham said. "TCS also has a 'plug-and-
play' capability that allows for seamless integration."
TCS provides operators with all the necessary tools for communication
mission tasking, planning, execution, data receipt, data processing,
limited data exploitation and data dissemination.
Based in Garland, Texas, Raytheon IIS is a leading provider of
information and intelligence solutions to the government. IIS had 2007
annual revenues of approximately $2.7 billion and employs more than 9,000
engineering and technical professionals worldwide.
Raytheon Company, with 2007 sales of $21.3 billion, is a technology
leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government
markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 86
years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems
integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing, effects, and
command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a
broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham,
Mass., Raytheon employs 72,000 people worldwide.
Contact:
Keith Little
703.608.4230 mobile
KDLittle@raytheon.com
SOURCE Raytheon Company
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Related links:
http://www.raytheon.com
CONTACT:
Keith Little, Raytheon Company,
+1-703-608-4230 mobile, KDLittle@raytheon.com
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