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MRA supports sea-skimming UAV test flight

20th December 2012 - 15:15 GMT | by Shephard News Team

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Roke Manor Research has announced that its Miniature Radar Altimeter (MRA) has contributed to a successful flight test in which a sea-skimming UAV was used to mimic the threat of an incoming missile. UAV Navigation, a developer of flight-control avionics for unmanned aircraft, led the test on a range used by the Spanish Navy.

The test saw Roke’s MRA Type 1 integrated into UAV Navigation’s LCAP autopilot system, enabling the aircraft to accurately determine its height above the sea. A SCRAB aerial target UAV was flown at cruise speeds only a few meters over the water which followed its flight path without the intervention of a human pilot.

Roke’s lightweight MRA maximises payload and provides continuous accurate measurements in the most challenging flying situations such as misty or dusty conditions. This ensures missions can continue regardless of the environmental conditions.

Paul Webb, unmanned systems business sector manager at Roke, said: ‘UAV Navigation chose Roke’s MRA as it remains the most technologically capable in its class. It has been developed for easy installation into all major UAV platforms, and provides outstanding capability at low-cost. Importantly for this particular test, was that the MRA was developed to meet the IP67 rating, which is essential when recovering the UAV from the surface of the sea.’

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