Northrop to Deliver Reference System for Neuron UCAV

Northrop Grumman subsidiary, LITEF will supply attitude and heading reference systems (AHRS) for the Neuron unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator, under a contract with Saab Aerosystems.

The Neuron UCAV demonstrator, presently being developed, will be used to investigate and validate technologies needed to design next-generation UCAV aircraft.

The UCAV programme is supported by the government and industry participation from France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, and developed by an industry team.

The LCR-100 Gyrocompass AHRS is a north-finding attitude and heading reference system based on a fibre-optic gyro and micro-electromechanical (MEMS) accelerometers.

The equipment provides accurate and uninterrupted attitude, heading, position, velocity and status information.

Northrop Grumman LITEF director of marketing and sales Norbert Sandner said that the LCR-100 has been selected for the Neuron due to its data rate performance, small size, and light weight.

“Precise attitude and heading information as well as linear accelerations and angular rates are essential for flight control of the UCAV,” he said.

The first flight of the UCAV is planned in 2011.