Insitu Highlights Combat-proven ISR Technologies at the 2011 Army Aviation Association of America Exposition

BINGEN, Wash., April 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Insitu will showcase its combat-proven tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) products, services and capabilities, at the 2011 Army Aviation Association of America Exposition April 17-20 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.

Media representatives are invited to visit Insitu's exhibit (booth 2502) to view Insitu systems and to learn about key technologies being delivered to the warfighter, including:

Combat-proven ISR

Insitu's unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have accumulated 456,000 combat flight hours and 57,000 sorties to date. Insitu field service representatives (FSR) have delivered ISR services with 99 percent mission-readiness with as little as 30 minutes' notice since they first deployed with the U.S. Marines in 2004.

Persistence, retasking, responding to the unexpected

Insitu systems can remain covert and on target for 24 hours or more. This endurance is twice as long as the typical 12-hour mission, so Insitu aircraft have fuel reserves and can be retasked to respond to the unexpected. At any given time, 18 Insitu unmanned aircraft are in flight globally.

Services and rapid technology upgrades

Whether using government-owned or contractor-owned equipment, contractor services can expedite deployment of new technology. Insitu has provided contractor services since 2004, building a massive, highly trained force of FSRs and mobile training teams to deliver mission-critical, in-theater technology upgrades. Technologies developed at the request of the warfighter and inserted in theater since 2004 include a mid-wave infrared payload for improved infrared imagery, a heavy fuel engine for increased endurance, a muffled engine for reduced acoustic signature, a mode C transponder for aircraft deconfliction and a digital data link that is compatible with remote video terminals like ROVER 4, ROVER 5, OSRVT and VideoScout for improved operations security.

Minimal personnel and operational footprint

A single Insitu UAS requires only two to four FSRs for operation and maintenance for a given sortie. These modular systems can be reconfigured to suit any mission. Integrator, designed for rapid, seamless custom payload integration, carries payloads totaling up to 37 1/2 pounds across multiple payload bays.

Runway-independence

Insitu systems move with the mission. Insitu's interoperable catapult launcher and patented SkyHook retrieval system allow any Insitu aircraft to deploy from rough terrain without runways, like forward fields, mobile vehicles or small ships.

Superior ISR imagery

ScanEagle provides best-in-class imagery using either an electro-optic (EO) or an infrared imager (IR). For daylight-quality imagery at night and in moisture-laden, hazy environments, ScanEagle can be reconfigured rapidly in the field as NightEagle with the mid-wave infrared imager. Adapting to changing missions is even easier with Integrator's multi-function, multi-spectral imaging payload carried in the nose.

Insitu Inc., located in Bingen, Wash., is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company. Insitu designs, develops and manufactures UAS and provides associated services for commercial and military applications. With a small footprint and expeditionary focus for both land and sea operations, the company's family of UAS solutions serves the needs of the global defense community. To date, these systems have accumulated 456,000 combat flight hours and 57,000 sorties. For more information, visit www.insitu.com.

SOURCE Insitu