British Army orders additional Desert Hawk III
Lockheed Martin’s Desert Hawk III unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) is capable of operating in high-wind environments, such as those prevailing in deserts, and is less detectable by ground-based foes; the UK wants more of them
The U.K. Defense Equipment & Support Organization in the Ministry of Defense (MOD) awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a $4.8 million contract to procure additional Desert Hawk III unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Together with a $6.3 million award in April, the contracts are directed at increasing the capability of the British Army. The Desert Hawk III UAS is a light-weight, hand-launched, ruggedized vehicle which includes a portable ground station. The UAS provides autonomous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability, including terrain avoidance and dynamic in-flight retasking. Desert Hawk has provided important support to British forces in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
The contract calls for Lockheed Martin to provide additional systems to British forces with the latest generation Desert Hawk UAS. The Desert Hawk III has two advantages which are of interest to the military: The system is capable of operating in high-wind environments such as those experienced in the desert; the system’s air vehicle is less detectable by ground-based foes and includes steerable plug-and-play imaging payload capabilities. The company has already delivered other Desert Hawk III elements to the British Army, including ground control stations, remote video terminals, field repair kits, a spare parts program, and technical support.
