MONROVIA, Calif., May 26 (UPI) -- A U.S. Defense Department, NASA and AeroVironment Inc. team marked a milestone following recently completed ground tests at Edwards Air Force Base.
California's AV is jointly developing unmanned aircraft technologies with the Defense Department and NASA as part of the Global Observer Joint Capability Technology Demonstration program.
AV's first Global Observer aircraft in the program, shipped to Edwards Air Force Base north of Los Angeles in 2009, has successfully completed ground tests marking a milestone for the JCTD program.
"The unique benefit of this truly unblinking eye will be its ability to watch, listen and relay communications signals flexibly, affordably and without interruption," Tim Conver, AV chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement.
The Global Observer is under development to strengthen intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and fly at high altitudes for as long as a week in duration.
AV says the ground tests included vibration, structural and taxi testing. The completed tests advance the program ahead of future flight testing.
