Raytheon, General Atomics evaluate UAV control for GSARS

Raytheon Company and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems are evaluating ways to integrate unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight control, sensor collection and exploitation capabilities into the Ground Surveillance Airborne Radar System's (GSARS) platforms and ground stations.

GSARS is the export version of the United Kingdom's Airborne Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR) system.

Raytheon will examine ways of integrating its Tactical Control System (TCS) onboard the GSARS aircraft and ground stations for the control of General Atomics' family of UAVs.

During the study, Raytheon and General Atomics will address expanded concepts of operation, flexible communication architectures, and size, weight, and power analysis.

The integration of UAV control within the GSARS architecture would significantly enhance the system's intelligence, surveillance, targeting, acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities.

Examples of Raytheon's current advanced remote control technology include the Global Hawk Ground Segment, U-2 Deployable Common Ground Segment, and generic ground control and intelligence processing systems. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems develops and manufactures a wide variety of UAV platforms including the Predator, Predator B, IGNAT, and Prowler II.

Raytheon is the prime contractor for the ASTOR programme.

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