The US Navy's vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) demonstration to test three unmanned air vehicle (UAV) designs has got under way, but one of three contractors missed the 11 March delivery deadline. Bell Helicopter's Eagle Eye and Bombardier's improved CL-327 Guardian UAV both beat the deadline, and testing of these has begun. SAIC, however, failed to meet the strict schedule in delivering its contender, which is built around the American Sports Copter Ultrasport 496, converted into a VTOL UAV, dubbed the Vigilante. Programme officials, however, have granted SAIC an extension, saying that the delay was caused by the Vigilante having yet to pass the critical test readiness review. The officials say that SAIC expected to undergo the critical review by around 18 March.
Source: Flight International
