Aerosonde Pty Ltd Delivers System to Taiwan for Meteorological Research
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — NOVEMBER 17, 2015 — Aerosonde Pty Ltd, a Melbourne-based strategic business of Textron Systems Unmanned Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) business, announced today the delivery of a commercial variant of its Aerosonde™ Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) to the Taiwanese government as part of its typhoon research program (National Applied Research Laboratories/Taiwan Typhoon and Flood Research Institute).
The Aerosonde team delivered a complete system including three aircraft, command-and-control elements, and associated equipment, which is equipped with specialized sensors as part of a comprehensive research effort to model and predict typhoon activity surrounding the island nation. Earlier variants of the Aerosonde system have been used extensively for meteorological research, including history-making hurricane flights off the United States’ Atlantic coast and off western Pacific Ocean by National Taiwan University.
Designed for commercial applications based on lessons learned from the company’s decades in the SUAS industry, the Aerosonde team has optimized its commercial variant for maritime surveillance, payload range testing, and maritime and coastal environmental monitoring. This delivered system offers a radio link that is capable of satellite communications, delivering beyond-line-of-sight operations for more than 18 hours of endurance. It has been demonstrated with a variety of application-specific payloads including electro-optic/infrared, high-definition survey, mapping and meteorology.
The company has a significant heritage in a variety of commercial segments including meteorology, oil and gas, surveying, resource mining, agriculture, scientific data collection and fisheries protection. With this comes strong experience in civil airspace operations. Aerosonde is the first Australian company to receive an Air Operator’s Certificate from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to fly in commercial airspace.
About Textron Systems
Textron Systems’ businesses develop and integrate products, services and support for aerospace and defense customers, as well as civil and commercial customers including those in law enforcement, security, border patrol and critical infrastructure protection around the globe. Harnessing agility and a broad base of expertise, Textron Systems’ innovative businesses design, manufacture, field and support comprehensive solutions that expand customer capabilities and deliver value. Textron Systems consists of its Advanced Information Solutions, Electronic Systems, Geospatial Solutions, Lycoming Engines, Marine & Land Systems, Support Solutions, TRU Simulation + Training, Unmanned Systems and Weapon & Sensor Systems businesses. More information is available at www.textronsystems.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit www.textron.com.
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