Electro-optics Brief
Star SAFIRE III performs in Fire Scout simultaneous radar and EO/IR video demonstration
The Star SAFIRE III from FLIR Systems Inc. in Portland, Ore., provided simultaneous radar and electro-optical infrared (EO/IR) digital video as part of Northrop Grumman Corp.’s latest MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Unmanned Aircraft System (VUAS) demonstration. The demonstration was part of an ongoing internal research-and-development effort to reduce risk and solidify requirements for multiple program radar integration on Fire Scout. The 40-minute flight, using a company-owned air vehicle and ground control segment, took place on November 18th at the Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona test center. Star SAFIRE III is qualified beyond Mil Specs and available with up to seven sensor and laser payloads, including a high-resolution infrared imager, long-range color cameras, and an embedded global positioning system/inertial navigation system for precise target location. “FLIR Systems is proud to provide the Fire Scout’s eyes that will aid our warfighters in identifying potential threats in the field,” says Earl R. Lewis, president and CEO of FLIR Systems. “Successfully demonstrating simultaneous radar and electro-optical infrared digital video capability is a significant milestone for the Fire Scout program.” Northrop Grumman’s MQ-8B Fire Scout will provide situational awareness and precision targeting support for future military and law enforcement agencies, says an official. The Fire Scout can find tactical targets, track and designate targets, provide targeting data to strike platforms, and perform battle damage assessment. With vehicle endurance greater than eight hours, Fire Scout will be capable of continuous operations providing coverage 110 nautical miles from any launch site.
Raytheon debuts sensor to promote understanding of climate change
Raytheon Co. in El Segundo, Calif., has completed integration, baseline performance characterization, and vibration testing of a space-based sensor intended to help NASA scientists better understand the effect of aerosols on global warming and climate change. The Aerosol Polarimetry Sensor will conduct a three-year climate monitoring mission from NASA’s Glory satellite. With 161 optical elements, including six precision-aligned telescopes, the sensor is designed to distinguish and characterize various aerosols and accurately measure their global distribution and lifetime. “This is an extremely important mission for the entire world,” says Brian Arnold, vice president for Raytheon’s Space Systems group. “We look forward to contributing to the scientific community’s understanding of agents that may be related to climate change.” The device will next undergo electromagnetic interference and thermal vacuum testing to confirm its performance in space-like conditions. Raytheon engineers expect to complete the environmental tests in time to deliver the sensor in the first quarter of 2009.
FLIR Systems wins order, service contract from U.S. Army
FLIR Systems Inc. in Portland won a $12.9 million delivery order for its Star SAFIRE III stabilized multi-sensor systems, and an $11.2 million contract modification from the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command in Huntsville, Ala. The $12.9 million order is issued under a $358.4 million contract modification on an existing indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract. The units delivered under this order will support the Marine Corps Ground-Based Operational Surveillance System (G-BOSS) program. Work on the delivery order will be completed within the next 12 months in FLIR’s Wilsonville, Ore., facility. The PBL contract provides for service, upgrades, and logistics support for certain U.S. Army and Marine Corps programs. The $11.2 million modification funds an existing $71.6 million contract. Including deliveries made year-to-date, revenue under this modified contract is expected to total approximately $15 million in 2008. Work under the PBL contract will be performed over time as required to support the installed base of Star SAFIRE III and THV-3000 systems in use under these programs. “This delivery order and contract modification demonstrates the value of our systems for force protection applications and our logistics capabilities. We are pleased the U.S. Army has once again chosen FLIR Systems for the critically important force protection mission,” said Earl R. Lewis, president and CEO of FLIR Systems Inc.
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