WASHINGTON — The United States has developed an unmanned aerial vehicle designed to protect military convoys.
Great, but it's 4 years later, guys
The U.S. Air Force has awarded a contract to Boeing for the Ground Situational Awareness Toolkit, or GSAT. The system, meant for use in Iraq, integrates a ScanEagle unmanned aircraft vehicle with a gunfire detection and location system.
"The integrated solution is designed to provide additional force protection for military convoys and bases against sniper fire," Boeing said in a statement on Jan. 23.
Under the project, the ScanEagle would be equipped with the ShotSpotter gunfire detection and location system. Executives said the Air Force plans to conduct a four-month utility assessment to validate ground detection and aerial location of sniper fire.
"GSAT/ScanEagle has the potential to increase our combat capability, protect the lives of our airmen and provide incredible situational awareness to our deployed security forces commanders," U.S. Air Force Col. John Decknick, commander of the 820th Security Forces Group, said.
Executives said any proven system would be deployed in Iraq. They said GSAT, a project launched in 2005, would be used to protect military convoys as well as fixed bases.
"We look forward to completing this task and deploying the system to support their efforts in Iraq," said Don Iverson, Boeing Air Force ScanEagle program manager.
Developed by Boeing, ScanEagle, which measures 1.3 meters, is a long-endurance surveillance UAV equipped with electro-optical and infrared camera payload. The UAV, with an endurance of 20 hours and launched autonomously via a pneumatic wedge catapult, could fly in a pre-programmed or operator-initiated mode.
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