Paris Air Show
Aerospace |
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Hughes Has
A Fistful of Announcements
Exhibiting along with its Belgian-based counterpart, Hughes Europe, Hughes
had a fistful of announcements ready for this year's big event. In existing
product news, Hughes claimed three combat victories for its AMRAAM missile:
two from the Gulf conflict and a third victory in Bosnia. The Advanced Medium
Range Air-to-Air Missile can be launched at any enemy aircraft beyond visual
range, day or night in any Hughes revealed a new contract as well, announcing plans to work together with Shorts Missile Systems Ltd (SMS) to bid for all potential Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile programs in international markets. The agreement may also provide Shorts with access to the U.S. market. In another team effort, Hughes announced that Diehl GmbH & Co has joined the Hughes/Aerospatiale/Shorts joint effort in pursuing the BVRAAM United Kingdom Defense contract. In continuing its barrage of press announcements, Hughes began promoting
the company's latest advancement, a powerful new integrated surveillance
Hughes also brought both its Sentry and Guardian systems to the show
this year. The Sentry is an off-the-shelf technology-based airspace and
defense system that Hughes boasts, "can be fielded in one-half to one-third
the time of conventional airspace management and defense systems."
The Guardian is the company's premier Air Traffic Control System designed
to offer controllers tools to handle increased air traffic control loads
with improved safety. |
Hughes chose the
Paris Air Show as its forum of choice to announce future plans, agreements,
and new product offerings.
weather
conditions. Hughes also took the opportunity to showcase its AGM-65 Maverick,
a versatile stand-off, rocket-propelled air-to-surface weapon.
and reconnaissance system.
Hughes' HISAR now offers a full, powerful range of sensor packages that
can be integrated aboard a variety of aircraft for use by international
customers. Concerning the new system, Hughes noted, "In working with
potential international customers, we learned they wanted more than a ground
mapping radar, so we have put together a suite of complementary sensors
that can be customized to fill a variety of missions, from remote sensing
and maritime patrol border surveillance and military reconnaissance."
The company has planned a world tour for the system in conjunction with
Raytheon Aircraft Company. The two companies will conduct demonstrations
of HISAR at various locations aboard a Beech King Air B200T.