Defence

Honeywell is gearing up to be able to build as many as 100 micro air vehicles a month by year-end in anticipation of production orders resulting from the in-theatre assessment of the vertical take-off and landing UAV now under way in Iraq.

"We anticipate a procurement, and are spinning up our production capability on Honeywell investment," says Vaughn Fulton, programme manager for small UAVs. MAVs purchased by the US Navy have been deployed to Iraq to help find improvised explosive devices, using the ducted-fan UAV's ability to hover close to the ground to inspect hazardous areas.

A demonstration has been conducted in France, and another is planned for the UK in August, as Honeywell begins marketing the 7.3kg (16lb) MAV. Fulton says the system price, for two air vehicles and a ground station, will be competitive with Aerovironment's hand-launched Raven mini-UAV.

Honeywell has a number of product improvements under development including a gimballed sensor to replace the fixed cameras - electro-optical for day missions or infrared for night. A heavy-fuel engine is also under development to replace the gasoline powerplant, which gives more than 50min endurance.

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