The US Navy has awarded Sonex Research a six-month contract to start development of a heavy-fuel powerplant for a gun-launched unmanned air vehicle (UAV) under study by Science Applications International.
The USN plans to conduct a demonstration of a gun-launched Forward Air Support-Marine advanced technology surveillance UAV. The vehicle would have a range of up to 139km (75nm) and would loiter for up to 3h under the control of a forward observer.
A munitions-carrying UAV is also envisioned.
Source: Flight International
