Malaysian aerospace engineering design firm Excelnet is offering a new maritime unmanned air vehicle and has begun developing a tactical UAV for oil and gas pipeline patrol missions.
The 2.5m (8ft) Mini UAV is Excelnet's second UAV product after the 7.6m Eagle ARV, which it developed with BAE Systems and sister company Composite Research Technology Malaysia (CTRM).
The Mini UAV, launched from a ship-based ground control station (GCS), flew for the first time earlier this year and is aimed at companies with oil pipelines and government agencies overseeing customs and fisheries. A package of four Mini UAVs, a GCS and a launch vehicle costs $500,000.
Excelnet also plans to begin offering by early 2005 a 4m tactical UAV to be launched from a truck. Oil and gas companies in Africa and South America will again be the primary sales target for this estimated $7.5 million system.
The Eagle ARV has so far only been sold to the Royal Malaysian Air Force. Excelnet designed the kit that converts CTRM's manned Eagle 150 trainer into a UAV.
Source: Flight International
