Boeing’s A160T Hummingbird unmanned helicopter soon will be equipped to carry signals intelligence payloads and BAE Systems’ Autonomous Real-time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance-Imaging System, or ARGUS-IS, reports FlightGlobal. DARPA signed a $12.8 million contract with Boeing, which is expected to demonstrate the new capabilities by the end of May 2011. ARGUS-IS is designed to continuously track and detect thousands of targets over large areas. Boeing has already tested Hummingbird with foliage-penetrating radar. (See also Humming Along from the Daily Report archives)
Northrop Grumman has received a second B-21 bomber low-rate initial production contract from the Air Force, with which it has discussed accelerating production, the company said.