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| Press Release Number: EPEOW200305011 | 01-May-03 |
Upcoming Navy/Industry UAV Demonstration Gathers Momentum |
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| The second demonstration of multiple unmanned aerial vehicle systems is set to be held Monday, July 14, 2003, at the Webster Field Annex of NAVAIR, Patuxent River, located in St. Mary's County, Maryland. The event is sponsored by the Program Executive Office for Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation, in conjunction with the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. It serves as a kick off to AUVSI's annual conference, "Unmanned Systems 2003" to begin the next day at the Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland. The day-long demonstration highlights UAV technology and capabilities. It offers a unique opportunity to display and demonstrate full-scale UAV systems and hardware. A 17 ft x 23 ft outdoor video screen will allow the attendees to see the same imagery as the UAV operators, while the vehicle is in flight. Invited speakers include Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Senator John Warner, Chairman, Senate Armed Services Committee. There will be sixteen slots available for flying systems. To date, expressions of interest have come from domestic and foreign UAV manufacturers including: Schiebel CamCopter; Boeing ScanEagle; Geneva Dakota; TRW Hunter; SAIC Vigilante; Northrop Grumman Fire Scout; Systems Research & Development Corporation Archangel; Marine Corps Warfighting Lab Dragon Eye; Micro Autonomous Systems HeliSpy UAV; Raytheon Tactical Control Station; D-Star Engineering Micro Engine; Innocon Minifalcon; Aeronautics Aerostar; Yamaha RMAX; Mmist Snowgoose; and Aerosonde. Selections of flying systems will be made by mid-May, following a review process by the range safety committee. Over the years, UAVs have gained the attention of military planners and other potential civil users in such fields as transportation, agriculture, meteorology, and homeland defense. "Just as unmanned aircraft have proven themselves as an absolute 'must-have' for the military services today, we believe the same type of evolution will occur in numerous civil and commercial arenas in the near future," said Daryl Davidson, Executive Director of AUVSI. The Defense Department recently unveiled a comprehensive roadmap for UAVs covering the next 25 years. Unveiling the plan for the first time, Dyke Weatherington, deputy, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Planning Task Force said, "the overarching goal of this roadmap is to define the clear direction to the services and agencies for the logical, systematic migration of mission capabilities to a new class of tools for the military toolbox; namely, UAVs." The event will be open to AUVSI conference exhibitors and registered attendees, and specially invited guests. The unique event will include static displays all day, featuring flight demos from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Attendees of the event should expect higher than usual levels of security. NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From professional training to carrier launch and recovery; from sensor data to precision targeting and real-time communications; from aircraft and weapons development to successful deployment and sustainment; NAVAIR provides dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to the American warfighter. For information about how to participate in the event, visit the demo website at http://uav.navair.navy.mil, or visit the PEO website at www.strikenet.js.mil, and click on PMA-263. |
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