Martin UAV LLC, Naval Air Systems Command Sign Contract for V-BAT Development
On June 20, 2018, Martin UAV LLC and the Naval Air Systems Command entered into a research contract to explore extending the V‑BAT’s existing autonomous landing capability.
The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, Futures Directorate is continuing to pursue technologies that successfully participated in last year’s S2ME2 Advanced Naval Technology Exercise by sponsoring further development. On June 20, 2018, Martin UAV LLC and the Naval Air Systems Command entered into a research contract to explore extending the V‑BAT’s existing autonomous landing capability, to include autonomous landings on ships and the integration of advanced payloads. Both tasks add to the V‑BAT’s long catalogue of capabilities that already support the Marine Corps’ Ship to Shore and Objective ISR missions.
The V-BAT is a tail sitting VTOL fixed wing UAV that is launch and recovery equipment independent. A V-BAT, a laptop based GCS, a data link, and a 20’ x 20’ clear space are all that are required to operate. V-BAT can ‘hover and stare’ at a target any time the mission requires and, with an inherently safe ducted fan, can operate close to personnel.
Source: Press Release