BroadSword Unmanned Aircraft System, designated the MQM-171A, goes into production. for the U.S. Army Targets Management Office (TMO). BroadSword was developed by Griffon Aerospace to represent a generic tactical class unmanned aircraft system that could be employed against U.S. and allied forces in the field. BroadSword is a 500 pound class, 17 foot wing span aircraft capable of carrying a variety of payloads. The aircraft provides a reasonably priced target system to support testing of DoD’s weapons systems under development and will be available to support DoD’s training requirements.
A recently released Market Research Media report “U.S. Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Market Forecast 2010-2015″ finds that the U.S. military UAV market will generate $ 62 Billion revenues over the period 2010 – 2015. The U.S. UAV market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10% between 2010 and 2015, says the report.
Griffon Aerospace has been awarded a five-year multi-million dollar production contract in August 2009 by the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command. Under this contract Griffon will manufacture the MQM-171A target systems, provide engineering services, conduct flight services, and complete depot maintenance services for the BroadSword system. Griffon Aerospace also manufacturers the 130 pound class Remotely Piloted Vehicle Target (RPVT) system designated as the MQM-170A Outlaw. In 2009 Griffon was competitively awarded its second five year contract for the continued manufacture and flight support of the Outlaw RPVT. Under these contracts in support of the U.S. Army, Griffon Aerospace has manufactured over 2,000 Outlaw RPVTs, technically making Griffon Aerospace one of the highest volume unmanned aircraft system manufacturers in the United States. These low-cost unmanned aircraft systems provide affordable training for Army Air Defense Units worldwide, support testing of developmental weapon systems, and assist Defense system payload system developers with a low-cost unmanned aerial platform. Griffon Aerospace has also been awarded the U.S. Navy’s Unmanned Aerial Target contract. This target system uses a modified version of the popular Outlaw system to support Navy requirements.
