Lockheed Martin [LMT] said it already has delivered some of the total number of Desert Hawk III unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAV), under a $5.1 million contract from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence.
Desert Hawk III’s improved payloads maximize target detection and recognition by providing 360-degree–daytime and nighttime–coverage in a common turret package. These newest payloads also include a Lockheed Martin-developed navigation system that delivers more refined target position information and superior image stability to the troops.
The U.K. MoD bought the latest version of the Desert Hawk as part of a $4.6 million Urgent Operational Requirement to further boost front line surveillance capability.
Desert Hawk’s cameras have been upgraded, improving image clarity and stability. It also has a new wing design which improves its performance in the hot and high conditions of Afghanistan.
Awarded by the MoD’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) organization, the latest contract calls for Lockheed Martin to deliver an undisclosed number of the Desert Hawk III air vehicles by fall 2010.
“We are extremely pleased with the enhanced capability that these new payloads bring to Desert Hawk III and the British Army,” said Duncan Robbins, program manager for mini- UAV systems, U.K. MoD DE&S. “Desert Hawk’s latest enhancements allow it to operate more effectively in difficult conditions and provide our soldiers with greater situational awareness in a very timely manner.”
Mark Swymeler, a vice president for Lockheed Martin’s Ship and Aviation Systems line of business, said: “The battle-proven Desert Hawk III can operate in high winds, extended altitude and extreme temperatures, making it very effective in areas such as Afghanistan.
Equipped with steerable, plug-and-play imaging payloads, Desert Hawk has provided the British Army with greater situational awareness in Afghanistan since 2006.
The eight-pound Desert Hawk III features an open architecture environment and consists of the hand-launched, rugged air vehicle with snap-on Plug and PlayloadsTM, a portable ground station and a remote video terminal. The aircraft is 91cm long, with a wingspan of 137cm. It can fly for 90 minutes with a range of nine miles, the MoD said in a statement.
The snap-on payload capability allows a single operator to swap sensors on the air vehicle in less than one minute to meet immediate and rapidly changing mission requirements.
Desert Hawk is operated in Afghanistan by 47 Regiment Royal Artillery. It is light and easily transportable by patrols. It can be dispatched in ten minutes and is virtually undetectable once it is in the air, MoD said.
Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Peter Luff, said: “Continuing to support this capability demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that troops on the front line get the cutting-edge equipment to help them in the fight against the insurgents.”
Staff Sgt. Dan Gardner from 47 Regiment Royal Artillery, who recently used Desert Hawk on operations in Afghanistan, said: “It is used in a variety of roles, including reconnaissance and surveillance of troops and patrols, and it provides valuable situational awareness to commanders of troops in contact with the enemy.”
Robbins said recent technology advances provide front-line troops with crystal clear imagery from the new cameras. “General improvements in Desert Hawk III introduced by Lockheed Martin allow it to operate more effectively in difficult conditions and provide our soldiers with greater situational awareness in a timely manner. These air vehicles are essential in delivering highly flexible and responsive intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance [ISTAR] to soldiers on the front line.”
Desert Hawk is one of the range of ISTAR assets supporting U.K. forces in Afghanistan. The ISTAR aircraft systems include: Sentinel aircraft and radar system which provides wide area detailed surveillance of ground movements; Reconnaissance Airborne Pod for Tornado GR4, RAPTOR, Reaper, Desert Hawk and Hermes 450 remotely-piloted aircraft which provide tactical levels of surveillance direct to troops on the ground. The RAF’s combat ISTAR assets like Reaper remotely-piloted aircraft and Tornado GR4 can provide detailed surveillance for ground forces but can also deliver an armed response should it be required.