Raytheon KillerBee Demonstrates Capabilities in Simulated Combat Environment

30th September 2008 - 01:00 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

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Raytheon Company’s KillerBee unmanned aircraft system demonstrated its interoperability, integration and functionality as an end-to-end UAS combat system.

During the demonstration, a Raytheon flight operations crew simulated a combat environment by delivering the KillerBee system to a remote location via Humvees. In less than 45 minutes, the crew set up the system and launched the UAS. The team then executed the operational scenario and safely retrieved the UAS with a unique net-recovery system.

The KillerBee is designed to provide the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps with a UAS for their respective Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Tier II missions. A mini-common data link enables KillerBee interoperability with both U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems.

"The KillerBee is at a point where we can demonstrate an integrated combat capability," said Ken Pedersen, Raytheon Missile Systems’ vice president of Advanced Programs. "Combined with Raytheon’s Universal Control System, a first-of-its-kind unmanned aircraft flight station, the KillerBee can reliably insert ISR into the battlespace and then quickly deliver actionable data to a combatant commander."

Raytheon Company, with 2007 sales of $21.3 billion, is a technology leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 86 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 72,000 people worldwide.