Test Proves Raytheon KillerBee Unmanned Aircraft System Can Be Recovered At Sea

7th May 2009 - 08:32 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

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Raytheon Company's KillerBee unmanned aircraft system demonstrated it can be recovered from a net on a moving platform, simulating an at-sea recovery.

The KillerBee UAS features a blended-wing aircraft body design. It also has systems for land or sea launch, recovery and ground control. The unique design of KillerBee enables growth for future payloads and additional mission capabilities.

During the land-based test, KillerBee was recovered in a net mounted on a rapidly moving truck, demonstrating that the guidance system enables aircraft recovery from platforms moving at speeds similar to a naval vessel.

"Raytheon continues to provide innovative UAS solutions that deliver actionable intelligence to the warfighter," said Bob Francois, Raytheon Missile Systems Advanced Programs vice president. "KillerBee's minimal footprint ensures our ability to integrate the system onto a wide variety of U.S. Navy ships."

KillerBee is designed to provide the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps with a UAS for their respective Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Tier II missions, which require UAS launch and recovery aboard a ship. KillerBee is ideally suited for force protection in an expeditionary environment and represents a major upgrade to today's embedded airborne surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition capability.