Adding to its capabilities in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), Lockheed Martin [LMT] on Tuesday said it has acquired Procerus Technologies, a company that develops and produces avionics systems for micro UAS.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, although Lockheed Martin said it would be immaterial to its financial results. Utah-based Procerus has 23 employees.
For Lockheed Martin, the acquisition gives them specialized capabilities in the UAS market, particularly for small UAS but also expertise to apply in larger unmanned aircraft.
“This acquisition is consistent with our focus on acquiring capabilities that enhance our product portfolio and align with our customers’ strategic priorities,” Bob Stevens, chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin, said in a statement. “Small unmanned aerial vehicles are low-cost, highly effective tools for our military, and the expertise Procerus brings will enhance the value we offer to our customers.”
Procerus’ primary products are the Kestrel Autopilot system it makes for fixed wing and vertical take-off and landing UAS, its OnPoint Targeting system that allows operators to click on a location and the airborne vehicle will automatically fly there and track the target, and its Virtual Cockpit ground control station for the autopilot system.
Multiple UAS can be flown from the ground control station at once, Todd Titensor, CEO of Procerus, told Defense Daily yesterday.
Procerus typically supplies its systems to UAS developers and producers. The company has an installed base of 2,000 autopilots, Titensor said.
Customers of Procerus include the Applied Research Associates’ Nighthawk micro UAS, Prioria Robotics’ Maverick UAS and others for small lethal UAS platforms, Titensor said. The company also is eyeing work on the Special Operations Command Precision Acquisition and Weaponized System project that will integrate precision weapons on tactical UAS.
Titensor said that small UAS are also being looked at more closely by local law enforcement departments for use. He also said that as part of Lockheed Martin his company has more reach and can begin to apply its technology to other UAS platforms.
Procerus will become part of Lockheed Martin’s Mission Systems and Sensors (MS2) business. In the unmanned systems area, MS2 has experience with the Desert Hawk UAS, the K-MAX unmanned helicopter system, aerostats used for persistent surveillance and high-altitude airship programs.
Procerus did not use a financial adviser on the deal.