What’s Around the UAV Corner?

Lockheed Martin is ready for the coming “explosion”—to use Gen. Bruce Carlson’s word—in unmanned systems, briefing Washington-based reporters Tuesday on an arsenal of new UAVs. One such, which company officials say has been in the works for two years, is an unmanned version of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The proposed F-35 UAV could be used both as an unmanned and manned fighter, depending on the mission. Lockheed also introduced the Polecat, which officials say “offers potential technology transfer” for future long range strike and ISR platforms. Lest anyone consider Lockheed a relative newcomer in the UAV field, the company says its involvement goes back to the 1960s, and recently, UAVs have consumed nearly 40 percent of its R&D investment.