Up and Soaring - UAS

NASA Expands Agreement with GA-ASI
A collaborative agreement between NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) allows for the development and flight testing of new command and control satellite link capabilities on a Predator B unmanned aircraft system.

The parties will upgrade the command and control system of NASA's MQ-9 Predator B to enable aircraft operations in more remote geographical regions. The use of the upgraded aircraft is for system testing and evaluation flights, allowing both NASA and GA-ASI to reach the mutual goal of demonstrating advanced capability.

NASA is using the aircraft in advanced flight research activities, including those paving the way to open up the National Airspace System to unmanned aircraft systems operation, in addition to its role in advancing science. www.nasa.gov; www.ga-asi.com

X-48 Makes 100th Test Flight
The upgraded X-48C version of Boeing's Blending Wing Body made its 100th flight in late October at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, CA.

The unmanned X-48C aircraft flew two separate 25-minute flights, the seventh and eighth flights for the X-48C since it began flying last August. Between 2007 and 2010, the aircraft, then in the X-48B configuration, made 92 flights.

With 100 test flights flown, the X-48 has far surpassed the previous record of 40 flights performed by a single unmanned X-plane, held by one of the X-45A Joint Unmanned Combat Aircraft technology demonstrators, also developed by Boeing. www.boeing.com; www.nasa.gov

$248M UAS Contract Awarded
Officials from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) announce the award of a $248 million firm-fixed-price contract for manufacturing, testing, packaging, marking, storage, and shipping services.

The award, divided among five contractors, AeroVironment, Elbit Systems, Lockheed Martin, Altavian, and Innovative Automation Technologies LLC, will be complete by December 2017. www.avinc.com; www.defense.gov; www.elbitsystems.com; www.altavian.com; www.lockheedmartin.com; www.iat-llc.com

Acquisition of CDL Systems LMCO
Lockheed Martin Co. officials announce the acquisition of substantially all the assets of CDL Systems Ltd., a software company specializing in unmanned technology.

The acquisition is the latest in a line of unmanned purchases by Lockheed Martin, following their acquisitions of Chandler/May in November 2012, and Procerus Technologies in January 2012.

CDL Systems, which has offices in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and Huntsville, AL, develops standards-based software for use in open-architecture systems in support of both government and civilian unmanned applications.

CDL Systems will align under Lockheed's Mission Systems and Training business. The Mission Systems and Training division, which will have 19,000 employees, will have headquarters in Washington, D.C. www.lockheedmartin.com