Monday
July 19, 2004 :
Unmanned Combat Armed Rotorcraft (UCAR)
FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW ( Bell Helicopters Press Release ) -
Bell Helicopter, a Textron company is a proud member of the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] Unmanned Combat Armed Rotorcraft (UCAR) development team. The UCAR system is in initial development by DARPA for the U.S. Army as the end user and final developer. UCAR will become a cost-effective force multiplier for current and future rotary wing assets.
"The combination of Bell Helicopter and Lockheed Martin expertise creates a formidable development capability," said Jeff Bantle, vice president, Multi-Mission Solutions with Lockheed Martin Systems Integration - Owego. "Multi-disciplinary advanced technology is critical to a system of vehicles that will be required to respond autonomously to battlefield conditions and operate collaboratively."
"We are pleased to support the UCAR program as part of the Lockheed Martin team," said Mike Redenbaugh, CEO of Bell Helicopter. "We look forward to making a major contribution to an important new capability for the United States armed forces."
The UCAR system can operate as a part of a manned-unmanned (MUM) collaborative aviation team or be controlled from the ground. The effectiveness of a pack of highly autonomous rotorcraft vehicles demands mastery of many advanced technology challenges and the expertise of a uniquely capable and integrated development team. Other members of Lockheed Martin's UCAR team include: Raytheon; The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory; Harris Corporation; DRS Technologies; Whitney, Bradley and Brown; Smart Information Flow Technologies (SIFT); and four Lockheed Martin businesses.
Bell Helicopter, a Textron company, is the one of the world?s leading manufacturers of vertical lift aircraft. Bell has manufactured more than 35,000 helicopters flying in more than 120 countries. The current line includes a full range of commercial and military helicopters as well as a Family of Tiltrotor Aircraft ranging from the Bell Eagle Eye UAV, to the V-22 Osprey for the US military, as well as the BA609 nine passenger civil tiltrotor aircraft.
Textron Inc. is a $10 billion multi-industry company with more than 43,000 employees in nearly 40 countries. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others.
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