General Dynamics will supply the Aerostar UAV system and various payloads under license from Aeronautics Defense Systems, LTD, headquartered in Yavne, Israel. The company will also provide the required support personnel and mission operators.
The Aerostar UAV system is a commercial off-the-shelf tactical UAV that is currently deployed on four continents for border surveillance and military operations. The UAV system uses an open architecture command and control system that easily facilitates integration into other networks and payloads.
The UAV can be operated remotely from portable control stations and uses a state-of-the-art propulsion system. The Aerostar system is extremely reliable and has logged over 15,000 flight hours. Future production of the UAV system will be at the General Dynamics Moses Lake facility.
Training support on this contract begins in September 2004 and will last for a minimum of 6 months. All UAV support flights will be performed at the Naval Air Station Fallon facility.
General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems manufactures payload delivery systems, propellant, large- and medium- caliber ammunition, warheads, control systems, and ordnance/missile components.