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The Australian Defence Materiel Organisation has signed contracts
with Boeing Australia Limited for the delivery and support of
a Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) capability for the
Army. Boeing Australia, teamed with Israel Aircraft Industries,
will provide the I-View UAV system. The Army’s TUAVs are
scheduled to commence operational service in late 2009, operated
by 132 Battery, of the 20th Surveillance and Target Acquisition
Regiment, based at Gallipoli Barracks in Enoggera.
The I-View was selected by the Australian defence following
a tough competition. The A$145 million (US$113 million) UAV
project aims to provide the Australian Army with high precision
day and night surveillance and targeting capability with accompanying
ground systems.
I-View has a wingspan of 6.7 metres and has a fully automatic
take-off and landing system that dramatically increases operational
reliability. Its catapult launcher and unique parafoil landing
concept enable it to be deployed and recovered from an uneven
area smaller than a football field.
This capability will enable 24 hour surveillance for the protection
of Australian forces and identification of enemy targets. The
system will incorporate data link equipment based on the U.S.
Common Data Link (CDL) standard to facilitate interoperability
with allied forces.
Remote video terminals delivered as part of the mission system
will allow all mounted or dismounted Army units to receive the
images directly. These deployed units, communicating through
radio relay capabilities onboard the TUAVs, will be able to
direct the sensors to new areas of interest in near real-time,
providing a vital edge to soldiers engaged in an increasingly
complex and rapidly evolving battlespace.
See the I-View
Video
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