WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin says it can deliver real-time imagery from high-resolution MiniSAR radar on an unmanned aerial vehicle directly to U.S. tactical ground units.
The company announced Tuesday it had conducted a successful demonstration test of a MiniSAR (Miniaturized Synthetic Aperture Radar) mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle, giving ground commanders a potential source of sharp radar imagery of a wide area regardless of variables such as weather, daylight and battlefield conditions.
The demonstration took place earlier this fall at a Minnesota National Guard test range.
Lockheed Vice President Rick Udicious said in a news release that teaming the MiniSAR, built by Rockwell Collins and Sandia National Laboratory, with Lockheed's SkySpirit unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) would give tactical units a rapidly deployable eye in the sky that can detect moving targets and coherent change detection, which detects objects in motion.
"Lockheed Martin understands the military's need to provide tactical support for the warfighter," said Udicious. "The need for small unmanned systems that meet emerging mission requirements for agility, endurance, affordability and the next generation of resolution accuracy is a key to extending U.S. tactical capabilities."
The SkySpirit is designed to be carried into the field with ground troops and launched at times enemy forces are engaged or the commander needs a quick look at the lay of the land. The UAV has a gross take-off weight of 180 pounds and can carry payloads up to 75 pounds.
