TUCSON, Ariz., Nov. 2, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE:
RTN) Cobra Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) is the third unmanned aircraft
and the first of its size to receive an Experimental Airworthiness
Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061102/NETH013 )
Cobra is a low-cost, highly reliable UAS designed to support Raytheon's
development, integration and test of unmanned systems technologies. The
aircraft has a wingspan of 10 feet and is 9-feet long. The certification is
the first given to a small UAS and permits Cobra flight operations in a
specified section of the National Airspace in Southeastern Arizona. It also
authorizes Raytheon to conduct research and development, crew training and
market surveys using the Cobra UAS.
The Cobra UAS integrates advanced systems and capabilities from several
Raytheon businesses, including Tucson-based Missile Systems; Intelligence
and Information Systems (IIS), based in Garland, Texas; Space and Airborne
Systems in El Segundo, Calif.; and McKinney, Texas-based Network Centric
Systems. The Cobra test bed will be used to support the development, test
and demonstration of sensor systems; networked command, control and
communications systems; and UAS architectural concepts.
"The Cobra UAS will significantly decrease costs and compress schedules
for bringing new UAS technologies to market," said Ken Pederson, vice
president of Missile Systems' Advanced Programs. "Our customers will
benefit from our ability to support both internal Raytheon development
efforts and their programs with Cobra, without increasing the pressure on
tactical systems and valuable range resources."
Raytheon worked closely with the FAA to receive the Experimental
Aircraft Certification, providing Cobra UAS design, manufacturing,
maintenance, safety, operations and training documentation for its review
and approval. The final step in the certification process was a
demonstration of Cobra UAS ground operations conducted under the
observation of FAA teams from Washington and Phoenix.
Raytheon Company, with 2005 sales of $21.9 billion, is an industry
leader in defense and government electronics, space, information
technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft.
With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 80,000 people
worldwide.
Note to Editors:
The Cobra UAS is composed of the aircraft and ground elements. The
ground element consists of two control systems -- the Cloud Cap Technology
Piccolo Ground Control Station and the Raytheon IIS next-generation
Multi-Vehicle Control System. The MVCS uses the NATO Standardization
Agreement (STANAG) 4586 interface to communicate with the Cobra aircraft.
The dual control system configuration provides for maximum flexibility and
safety during testing.
Contact:
Chandra Stewart
520.794.8580
SOURCE Raytheon Company
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