From: | thomsona@netcom.com (Allen Thomson) |
Title: | DARKSTAR FLIES |
Source: | BUSINESS WIRE |
Date: | March 29, 1996 |
[EXCERPTS AND PARAPHASES]
The Tier III Minus DarkStar High Altitude Endurance Unmanned Aerial
Vehicle (UAV) successfully completed its first flight Friday [at Edwards
AFB].
The system successfully executed a fully automated flight from
takeoff to landing utilizing the differential Global Positioning
System (GPS).
At the completion of t[he initial program], the system will be
prepared for a series of technical demonstrations with the Services.
The program is pointing toward participating in Roving Sands '97 in May
1997.
The DarkStar system is a [stealthy] high altitude endurance UAV
optimized for reconnaissance in highly defended areas. It will operate
within the current military force structure and with the existing command,
control, communications, computer and intelligence equipment. It
can operate at a range of 500 nautical miles and stay on station for
greater than eight hours at an altitude greater than 45,000 feet.
The air vehicle can carry either [a high resolution] SAR or EO
payload.
The DarkStar program is managed by DARPA on behalf of DARO. The
prime contractor team consists of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works,
Palmdale, Calif.; Boeing Military Aircraft Division, Seattle; and
Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space, Sunnyvale, Calif.