General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has been awarded a A$4.6 million ($2.6 million) contract to carry out trials of its Mariner endurance unmanned air vehicle for the Australian Department of Defence in September.
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| The Mariner has already carried out demonstrations for the US Navy |
To run until 31 October, the six-month deal will see the Mariner demonstrator – a modified General Atomics Altair scientific research UAV – deploy to Australia in late August before conducting seven flights throughout September. The same aircraft has previously been used to carry out demonstrations for the US Navy’s Broad Area Maritime Surveillance requirement and for Canada’s Department of National Defence.
It remains unclear whether General Atomics intends to fly the aircraft across the Pacific or whether it will be dismantled for shipping.
The company holds the current world record for UAV endurance, with at least two of its MQ-1 Predator As currently deployed with US forces in the Middle East having individually exceeded 40h of continuous flight during combat missions.
The sensor payloads to be carried by Mariner while in Australia are expected to comprise a day/night camera, thermal imager and a maritime surveillance radar. A new communications package will also be fitted to allow downlinks to Australian operational assets during the surveillance demonstration, including co-operative operations with a Royal Australian Navy patrol boat.
Three test flights will be conducted from Royal Australian Air Force Base Edinburgh, north of Adelaide, with the facility to also host the primary mission control and interfaces with Australia’s wide area military surveillance network.
Source: Flight International
