UK research group Qinetiq has completed the first targeting sensor flights under the BAE Systems Avionics-developed Dragonfly technology demonstrator programme (TDP) in a Hawker Siddeley Andover. Results will be fed into the France/UKJOANNATDP and the ASTRID electro-optical system development programme. Dragonfly uses a wide field of view (FoV) camera to detect targets, which are handed off to a narrow FoV system for inspection and capture. At present the images are stored on board for ground testing of automatic recognition systems. Four flights have been made and results are now being analysed.
Source: Flight International