The Australian Navy could soon be using helicopter drones to keep an eye on things, as it furthered Project Sea 129 earlier this week. The Australian Navy has shortlisted companies into the next round, with Northrop Grumman and Leonardo Australia being chosen. The two companies will work together to develop a single system that utilizes Leonardo’s AWHERO helicopter drone and Northrop Grumman’s command and control center.
The Australian Navy will keep the drones onboard its ships, fully integrated into the ship’s systems, allowing for improved control and quick deployment when a possible threat needs to be watched closely.
The AWHERO drone can carry up to two modular payloads at a time, consisting of different visual sensors to improve detection ability. The payloads can be mounted in the nose, the underbelly, or the drone’s side, with the underbelly and sides being able to carry larger payloads....MORE
