MCA seeking unmanned capability
The UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is exploring the possible use of UAS under the Maritime RPAS Pathfinder project that would see systems complementing manned platforms in a range of roles.
As part of the programme the MCA could tender for unmanned systems later this year and be in a position to conduct flight trials and demonstrations by late 2017 or early 2018.
Although cautioning that all timetables were subject to change, Phil Hanson, aviation technical assurance manager at the MCA, said that the idea was to have an operational capability in place by around 2019.
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