$6.9M for Pioneer UAV Spares & Electronics

Israeli Aircraft Industries/ AAI Corp. joint venture Pioneer Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) Inc. in Hunt Valley, MD received a $6.9 million firm-fixed priced delivery order against a previously issued Basic Ordering Agreement (N00019-04-G-0011). This order provides for the production and delivery of 2 Replacement Ground Control Stations, 12 Modular Avionics Integrated Systems, 2 Ground Data Terminals and 8 Airborne Data Terminals for the RQ-2B Pioneer Unmanned Air Vehicle. The RQ-2 Pioneer has served with United States Navy, Marines, and Army units, deploying aboard ship and ashore since 1986. Initially deployed aboard battleships to provide gunnery spotting, its mission has evolved into reconnaissance and surveillance, primarily for amphibious forces.
The Pioneer was supposed to be replaced by the RQ-8 Fire Scout Helicopter UAV, but delays in that program are keeping the Pioneer in frequent use during the Global War on Terror. Work on this contract will be performed in Hunt Valley, MD (45%); Holon, Israel (40%); and Patuxent River, MD (15%), and is expected to be complete in July 2007. The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD issued the contract.