General Atomics Aeronautical Systems of the USA has offered its Prowler II and I-GNAT unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) for the Australian Army's competition for the short-term lease of a tactical UAV system.
The requirement is also being contested by AAI with the Shadow 600, Kentron with the Seeker, and TRW with the Hunter. A source selection is expected by late next month, with the system required to begin operations in northern Australia by June.
The system will be used to demonstrate the military utility of UAV-based surveillance as part of the Crocodile 99 exercises to be held in Australia later this year.
According to General Atomics, the company's bid for the Australian requirement is part of an ongoing effort to secure a foothold in the Asian market where AAI has enjoyed success with the Shadow in markets such as Singapore.
South Africa's Kentron has teamed with Australia-based Air Affairs for the project. Air Affairs already operates the Meggitt Banshee target drone for commercial ly conducted training of regional armed forces.
The UAV lease is intended to support risk reduction for the proposed development of a two-tier land and ocean surface surveillance system, which is known as Project 129 by the Australian Army.
The Joint 129 system calls for a combination of "broad"and "focal" area airborne surveillance platforms, employing various combinations of sensors to detect and pinpoint likely targets for attack by ground or air forces.
The tactical UAV lease will explore the effectiveness of the focal area surveillance mission covering areas of up to 100km2 around key military bases or civilian sites.
The Crocodile 99 project calls for the UAV to work in conjunction with a representative "broad" area surveillance aircraft based on an Army Raytheon Beech King Air equipped with the locally developed Ingara synthetic aperture radar system.
Source: Flight International
