AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems, KOR Electronics enter into strategic alliance

AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems and KOR Electronics Defense Solution announced April 11 a strategic alliance that combines AAI’s expertise as a UAS systems integrator with KOR’s signals intelligence equipment.

AAI UAS is an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. company, and KOR Electronics Defense Solutions is a subsidiary of Mercury Computer Systems.

The organizations intend to integrate KOR’s SIGINT products, focused on expeditionary tactical unmanned aircraft such as AAI’s renowned Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System, as a new addition to AAI’s family of Multi-Mission Payloads.

Each modular MMP “pod” can be attached quickly to the Shadow aircraft to equip it for the mission at hand.

“This technology provides war fighters actionable, time-sensitive data on the capabilities and activities of their adversaries,” said Steven Reid, senior VP and general manager of AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems. “Equipping our Shadow aircraft – a trusted and omnipresent asset for so many U.S. and allied customers – for this collection

mission can help deliver intelligence fast, and to a broader array of deployed forces and formations.”

“During the process of evaluating initial alliance partners, KOR recognized that AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems was a market leader in UAS design, development, production and support, and that the Shadow Tactical UAS is ideally suited for KOR’s market-leading SIGINT precision location capability,” said KOR Electronics President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Carnino. “KOR’s precision location capability, coupled with the Shadow aircraft’s existing electro-optic/infrared sensor, will significantly improve the find, fix and finish timeline and enhance the utility of the Shadow system’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance role.”