Boeing has been offering the LITTLE BIRD as an Optionally Piloted Vehicle (OPV), which so far flew over 1,700 hours. It is a FAA/Mil certified air vehicle. It demonstrated land and maritime capabilities: takeoff/landings on ships, ISR missions, precision cargo supply, communications/data relay station, manned/unmanned teaming and one of the most recognized feature is the sense and avoid system. It is an autonomous design; do not need a big staff to guide it at the ground. Boeing is offering UAV kits for existing manned helicopters. The system offers a fast conversion and Boeing is going on with a proof of concept in Korea (flight by end of 2014 and the Korea Army just provide a MD-500 DEFENDER for a possible conversion).
Andre Forkert
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