ĵ��ֱ�� Introduces Low-Cost TRACER Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

The Dual Jet Engine UAV was Unveiled at AUVSI XPO 2022

Warminster, PA, April 26,2022 – ĵ��ֱ�� (ĵ��ֱ��) announced the ongoing development of a new, multirole, jet-engine, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The company developed the ĵ��ֱ�� TRACER unmanned aircraft as a low-cost, high-performance UAV designed for speed, versatility and survivability. Leveraging a custom modified version of the proven SubSonex airframe from Sonex Aircraft, the ĵ��ֱ�� Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Special Projects Team developed the new jet UAV and its new companion Mobile Operations Center simultaneously. The TRACER and Mobile Operations Center offer a unique combination of technology and performance typically found in much more expensive UAS. The TRACER itself will provide DoD and industry customers a high-speed and reliable platform for the development and testing of various technologies.

The ĵ��ֱ�� TRACER, with a wingspan of 18’ and a Gross Takeoff Weight less than 1,500 lbs., provides end users capabilities in a relatively small footprint that are traditionally found in much larger and more expensive UAS. The easily field-maintainable aircraft is intended for a wide range of operations including Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T), reconnaissance, counter UAS, communication relay, insertion into contested airspace, electronic warfare, research and development, military training activities and many other mission sets. Multiple payload locations exist within the fuselage, under the wings, on the centerline of the fuselage and within the nose radome allowing the TRACER to be configured with a wide variety of advanced payload systems.

“Developing what we at ĵ��ֱ�� consider a “Best Value, Low Risk” UAV alternative to larger and more expensive options is a proud moment for all of us at ĵ��ֱ��. Our team has truly gone above and beyond to produce a highly capable platform that answers the call for a multi-mission, jet UAS.” said Bryan Hazlett, Vice President, UAS Sector, ĵ��ֱ��.

Since 1977, ĵ��ֱ�� has provided innovative solutions to the Department of Defense, federal research institutions, and commercial industry in their quest for technologically advanced solutions to global challenges. Our specialized products, support, and services are currently being used in multiple operational environments around the world. ĵ��ֱ�� areas of expertise include Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Manufacturing and Flight Services, UAS Ground Control Systems, Advanced Maritime Patrol ASW Training, Advanced Acoustics, and Sensor Development, Persistent Surveillance Systems, Combat Systems Joint Fires Training and Doctrine, and Information Technology. ĵ��ֱ�� is a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB).

For more information, Please contact ĵ��ֱ�� Business Development via email at Busdev@nasc.com
Website: www.nasc.com

Warminster firm ĵ��ֱ�� expands its technological footprint with Ivyland drone facility

Peg Quann  Bucks County Courier Times (Published 10:01pm Dec 1 , 2021)

Warminster’s long history with aviation innovation, including preparing astronauts for trips into outer space at the former Naval Air Development Center, took a new turn recently when ĵ��ֱ�� opened its third Bucks County building dedicated to the development of unmanned aerial vehicles and their systems.

The 21,000 square-foot building in the Ivybrook Corporate Campus in neighboring Ivyland includes a suite of offices to “house the engineers and technicians that design and implement the latest ĵ��ֱ�� innovations in unmanned flight,” the company announced from its Warminster headquarters. It also has multiple work areas large enough to accommodate the ĵ��ֱ��’s Tiger Shark – XP and Teros UAVs and numerous ground control stations.

UAVs, more commonly known as drones, have increased in size, use and complexity in recent years, both for the military and commercial sectors.

The building, called the TDT Fenerty Technology Center, was dedicated recently in memory of Thomas “TJ” Fenerty and Daniel Fenerty, the late sons of company President / CEO Thomas Fenerty.  Both younger Fenertys were instrumental in the global accomplishments of ĵ��ֱ��, the company said.

Thomas Fenerty (left), president and CEO of the Navmar Applied Sciences Corp., dedicates the new TDT Fenerty Technology Center in Ivyland, as Bryan Hazlett, ĵ��ֱ�� Unmanned Aircraft Systems vice president, listens during the Nov. 18 ceremony.

“This building is an investment in ĵ��ֱ��. But even more importantly, it is an investment in the people of ĵ��ֱ��,” Thomas Fenerty said. “It is their dedication and commitment to growing our company and solidifying our future that made this substantial expansion and advancement possible.”

The center employs nearly 50 people, all focused on the ĵ��ֱ�� Unmanned Systems.

ĵ��ֱ��, which has a history in innovative solutions for the Department of Defense, now also is developing UAVs for research facilities and the commercial sector to carry a variety of payloads. Its website states it is “committed to all levels of research and development leading to the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace.”

“ĵ��ֱ�� is at the forefront of unmanned technology.  Staying in front requires innovative thinking and the critical ability to take those ideas from concept to a successful mission,” said Bryan Hazlett, vice president for the section.  “This new facility allows us to expand our vision and put new concepts into action.”

ĵ��ֱ�� is also working with the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory at Mississippi State University, the Georgia Tech Research Institution and the University of Maryland, which are among the leading educational facilities developing UAV technology.

The ĵ��ֱ��’s TDT Fenerty Technology Center is located in the Ivybrook Corporate Campus in Ivyland.

“This is such a rapidly advancing industry,” said spokesman Kirk Zucal. “UAVs can be used for firefighting. They can deliver food, water and medicine to people who are stranded in remote locations. Emergency responders and utility companies use them to inspect buildings, power grids and infrastructure after natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes.”

The other ĵ��ֱ�� sites in Bucks are its headquarters on Street Road and a building housing the corporation’s advanced acoustics and information technology sectors, located at Louis Drive in Warminster. The corporation has eight other locations around the country and employs 200 people.

ĵ��ֱ�� has been in business since 1977.

Its products, support and services “currently are being used in multiple operational theaters around the world.”  They include UAS design, manufacture and flight services, UAS ground control systems, anti-submarine warfare technology, P-3 Orion flight training, advanced acoustics and sensor development, persistent surveillance system services, biometrics, electronics, aerodynamics, system engineering, electro-optics combat systems development and support and information technology services.

Isabella Fenerty, daughter of the late Thomas B. Fenerty III, and niece of the late Daniel Fenerty, hold a plaque honoring her father and uncle at the ceremony during which the ĵ��ֱ��’s TDT Fenerty Technology Center  was dedicated in memory of the two brothers.

SOURCE: To contact Peg Quann, email mquann@couriertimes.com

ĵ��ֱ�� Dedicates New Building for Unmanned Systems Sector

IVYLAND, PA ĵ��ֱ�� (ĵ��ֱ��) officially dedicated its newest facility on Thursday, November 18, 2021. Christened the TDT Fenerty Technology Center, the building is located in the Ivybrook Corporate Campus and serves as a state-of-the-art home for ĵ��ֱ�� to expand research and development in Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) development and systems integration has been ongoing in the new facility since August of 2020 but the dedication was postponed until recently due to the pandemic. The 21,000 square-foot center features multiple work areas large enough to accommodate the ĵ��ֱ�� TigerShark-XP and Teros UAVs as well numerous ground control stations. A large suite of offices house the engineers and technicians that design and implement the latest ĵ��ֱ�� innovations in unmanned flight.

“This building is an investment in ĵ��ֱ��. But even more importantly, it is an investment in the people of ĵ��ֱ��,” said ĵ��ֱ�� President/CEO Thomas Fenerty, “It is their dedication and commitment to growing our company and solidifying our future that made this substantial expansion and advancement possible.”

ĵ��ֱ�� currently employs nearly 50 of its personnel at The TDT Fenerty Technology Center in various positions, all focused on continuing and enhancing the success of the ĵ��ֱ�� Unmanned Systems Sector.

“ĵ��ֱ�� is at the forefront of unmanned technology. Staying in front requires innovative thinking and the critical ability to take those ideas from concept to a successful mission,” said Bryan Hazlett, ĵ��ֱ�� Unmanned Aircraft Systems Sector Vice President. “This new facility allows us to expand our vision and put new concepts into action.”

The TDT Fenerty Technology Center was dedicated in memory of Thomas “TJ” Fenerty and Daniel Fenerty, sons of President/CEO Thomas Fenerty, who were both instrumental in the global accomplishments of ĵ��ֱ��.

ĵ��ֱ�� ĵ��ֱ��

Founded in 1977, ĵ��ֱ�� has provided innovative solutions to the Department of Defense, federal research institutions, and the commercial sector. ĵ��ֱ�� specialized products, support, and services are currently being used in multiple operational theaters around the world. ĵ��ֱ�� is proud to offer the products, training, and services vital to our military and civilian customers. ĵ��ֱ�� areas of expertise include Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Design, Manufacturing and Flight Services, UAS Ground Control Systems, Anti-Submarine Warfare Technology, P-3 Orion Flight Training, Advanced Acoustics and Sensor Development, Persistent Surveillance Systems Services, Biometrics, Electronics, Aerodynamics, System Engineering, Electro-optics Combat Systems Development and Support, and Information Technology Services.

News: Pentagon Performance Oversees Impromptu Disaster Survey

News: State advances drone industry with planned testing corridor in Rome, N.Y.

ROME, N.Y. >> Envisioning a day when millions of drones will buzz around delivering packages, watching crops or inspecting pipelines, a coalition is creating an airspace corridor in upstate New York where traffic management systems will be developed and unmanned aircraft can undergo safety and performance testing.

The unmanned aircraft traffic management corridor, jump-started by a $30 million state investment, will extend 50 miles west over mostly rural farmland from Griffiss International Airport, a former Air Force base in Rome that is already home to NASA-affiliated drone testing.

It will be equipped with radar and ground-based sensors to enable what Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo boasted would be “the most advanced drone testing in the country.”

The first segment of the corridor was launched last month by the Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance, a coalition of private and public entities and academic institutions in New York and Massachusetts created to establish Griffiss as a drone industry incubator.

The airport is one of seven places around the country designated by the Federal Aviation Administration as an unmanned aircraft systems test site. Other sites are in Virginia, North Dakota, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada and Alaska.

Testing at the airport now is restricted to a five-mile radius, in part because of Federal Aviation Administration rules that normally limit flying beyond the operator’s line of sight, except in special circumstances, such as disaster area surveys. That keeps companies like Amazon and Walmart from using drones for package delivery.

Companies will be able to use the corridor to test hardware in airspace where manned aircraft also fly. Part of the concept is to help NASA to test technology that will allow the FAA to create regulations opening the national airspace to a commercial drone industry.

“Clients will eventually be able to fly beyond the visual line of sight in the corridor testing their technology,” said Tony Basile, NUAIR’s vice president for operations.

In addition to supporting development of drone air traffic control rules and systems, NUAIR helps unmanned aircraft service companies demonstrate their wares to clients and provides drone pilot training to state forest rangers, law enforcement and others.

“We’re evaluating aircraft today, but the ultimate goal is, how do we operate in a beyond-line-of-sight capability,” said Glen Davis, safety director of AIROS, a General Electric venture company that was at Griffiss this week to test a 6-foot-long unmanned helicopter for pipeline and refinery inspections.

New York officials expect the Griffiss drone research initiative to help lure tech companies to central New York, which has suffered economically with the decline of manufacturing.

Cuomo has pledged up to $250 million under his Upstate Revitalization Initiative to foster growth of the unmanned aerial vehicle industry.

A key player in that initiative is Syracuse-based Gryphon Sensors, which used $5 million in state funding to develop a van equipped with radar to spot drones up to six miles away. Gryphon developed ground-based sensors and radars that track aircraft at the NUAIR test site.

Like self-driving cars, unmanned aircraft will ultimately need onboard sensors allowing them to detect and avoid obstacles including other aircraft, Basile said.

“Once technology has gotten to that point, the sensor systems used in this corridor will be repurposed to give additional coverage around airports or other places,” he said.

Basile said it will take about a year to design the corridor, install sensor equipment and begin flight testing.

By Mary Esch Associated Press

News: New TigerShark unmanned aircraft expands capabilities of MSU’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory is expanding it’s vast unmanned aerial systems research and support capabilities with the acquisition of two of the latest TigerShark XP3 aircraft.

Raspet’s purchase of the two aircraft—built by NAVMAR Applied Sciences Corporation—along with associated radio and computer equipment, represents a total investment of approximately $2 million, and will substantially increase Raspet’s UAS core flight research capabilities. The TigerShark’s cost is covered in part by grant funding from federal research projects aimed at making UAS safer.

According to Raspet Lab Director Dallas Brooks, these UAS will “allow our team to carry more equipment, fly at higher altitudes and for a longer period of time, which increases our ability to meet the needs of our federal research partners, as well as to directly support Mississippians in times of emergency.”

“Our previous aircraft were good for three to four hours in the air of uninterrupted flight,” Brooks said. “These TigerSharks are capable of sustained flight for 8-12 hours without refueling. When we’re doing work like disaster relief support, those hours become critical. Every minute in the air is a minute you might be able to find someone that needs medical assistance or evacuation.”

Brooks said the TigerSharks can direct crews to repair downed power lines, broken levees, or other critical infrastructure.

“Having aerial imagery over a scene is absolutely invaluable to the first responder community. So we are always prepared to support in times like this. These new aircraft allow us to do so much more to support these and a host of other public service operations,” he said.

The TigerShark can carry nearly 100 pounds of payload, or equipment, almost tripling Raspet’s capacity to carry specialized devices such as sophisticated sensors that can, for example, examine agricultural crop health or the status of critical infrastructures such as bridges and levees. The added capacity also allows the aircraft to carry multiple pieces of equipment at the same time, dramatically increasing the effectiveness of each flight. Brooks said his team now can use one UAS to monitor erosion and, at the same time, test the ability of a UAS to orbit over a disaster area and function as a temporary cell tower.

Raspet pilots have spent weeks training on the new UAS, which weighs approximately 500 pounds. Although it is unmanned, the TigerShark is equipped like traditional aircraft with radios, transponders and lighting. Like all of Raspet’s manned and unmanned aircrafts, the TigerShark fully complies with Federal Aviation Administration guidelines when flying.

“We’re very fortunate to have fantastic partners across the state where we can fly our unmanned aircraft in support of that region’s needs,” Brooks said. “A great example of that is the Greenwood-Leflore County Airport, which has hosted our acceptance flights for the TigerShark. We could not ask for a more welcoming facility, stronger community support or higher quality air traffic services. They have been stellar throughout this acceptance period, and we very much look forward to the next chapter in working with them.”

Raspet has established relationships with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency to study the best ways to integrate UAS in disaster response scenarios. The research center is also establishing relationships with local governments in the Mississippi Delta to support their civic and public safety functions, in addition to the agricultural and environmental work Raspet does in the region.

“Our partnership with MSU’s Geosystems Research Institute supports UAS-based research that monitors crop health, monitors trends and looks at broad areas of crop distress and potential causes,” Brooks said. “It can also look at changes to the environment, things like beach erosion and infestation of invasive species. So much that we do here is focused on the core needs of Mississippi and that is where we are at our best. We tend to be very application-focused here at Raspet Flight Research Laboratory.”

MSU is the lead university for the FAA Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE). The university also leads the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Common UAS Test Site. Additionally, MSU works with Mississippi economic development officials to support the state’s growing aerospace industry.

Founded in 1948, Raspet Flight Research Laboratory is a nationally recognized leader in the field of experimental aviation research. For more, visit .

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at .

News: Why The Air Force Needs A Cheaper Reaper

Last week the Air Force released a request for information for a next-generation drone to replace the MQ-9 Reaper. The new unmanned aircraft, which should enter service in 2031, will have built-in AI to . However, the Air Force also wants a leap forward in another, more crucial area: cost. Because what they really need is a cheaper Reaper.

 is the mainstay of the Air Force’s drone force. Launched from air bases close in the theater of operations, it can cruise for ,�� by relays of pilots. The Reaper carries a  for a close-up view from 10,000 feet, and a mix of Hellfire missiles and laser- and GPS-guided bomb to attack targets. Iranian Quds Force General Soleimani was , showing they are employed against the very highest-value targets.

The problem is the price. In 2008 they  apiece, but the Air Force’s latest budget figures shows each . That makes them even more expensive than the pricey, top-end  attack helicopter. It is a lot for what is, at heart, supposed to be an expendable drone.

The Reaper or Predator-B, is an upgrade of the original  which was retired  by the USAF. This original Predator was designed in the 90’s as a low-cost sensor platforms, with a simple airframe and repurposed engine – the Rotax powering the Predator  – and cost around $4m each. This rose to about . At least five were lost in Balkans campaign in the ‘90s, either to mechanical failure or , but this was considered good value for the intelligence they gathered.

When pilot Scott O’Grady was  in 1995, a huge rescue mission was mounted with . When an unmanned Predator was lost, the Air Force simply bombed the wreckage to prevent the enemy gaining intelligence, and wheeled out the next replacement. It barely merited a paragraph in the newspapers. Their expendability, going places too risky for manned aircraft, made drones useful.

Things changed when the Predator was replaced by Predator B. The Reaper is twice as fast as the original and carries five times the payload, making it more like a traditional Air Force plane…though it has less endurance than  which was arguably the rationale for a drone loitering above enemy territory.

The price inflation from $4m to $7m to 14m to the current $32m is no great surprise. Increased performance always has a disproportionate effect on cost, and continual upgrades mean continual price hikes. Military aircraft are notorious for following . These are a set of semi-satirical observations formulated by a defense industry procurement executive in the 1980s that predict that by 2054 the Air Force and Navy will only be able to afford a single aircraft between them.

But that $32m price tag means that the Reaper could not be bought in large numbers. It also means the Reaper is not as expendable as the Predator, and losses cannot not be ignored.

For years Reapers operated with relative impunity over Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, but  by Houthi rebels last year. Reapers operate at medium altitude; other planes stay safe by flying at extreme altitude like the , or by keeping down in the weeds. At medium altitude an aircraft is liable to be seen and shot at, and while Reaper operations generally avoid ‘defended airspace,’ as events in Yemen show, some losses are to be expected.

General Atomics, maker of the Predator and Reaper, rolled out the , a sleek, stealthy version of the drone designed to cope with air defenses. However, the Avenger had reduced endurance and payload and likely increased cost, and the Air Force were clearly not convinced,�� In 2012 the Air Force effectively  for an MQ-9 Reaper replacement, known as MQ-X, in favor of Reaper upgrades. However, this February, the Air Force announced it was .

The Air Force’s new request for information aims to find out about potential replacements, to carry out the “Hunter-Killer ISR [Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance] Mission” at medium altitude. This specifies a need for a ‘reduced lifecycle cost’ and mentions the need for ‘Attritable Technology’ – in other words, drones they can afford to lose.

Even before the new request, the Air Force was looking at low-cost commercial drones to fill the gap. Not everyone has the military’s millions for drone acquisition, and there are a variety of MALE (Medium Altitude, long Endurance) drones that might be adapted to their needs.

“We also see a lot of opportunity to bring in commercial technology, push the price point down, have systems that … we can take more loss with.” Dr. Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics,��.

They will be looking in particular at modern drones like TEROS made by NavMar. This is in the same weight class as the original Predator, with an endurance of 23 hours, and carries a 600-pound payload. It is designed for rapid servicing and autonomous flight operations with minimal ground crew. It exploits the use of a proven airframe and off-the-shelf commercial components rather than the custom-made electronics of military drones. TEROS successfully completed , and it builds on NavMar’s long experience with the smaller TigerShark drone supplied to the U.S. Navy (supplied at m each).

Drones like TEROS carry less than the Reaper’s 3,800-pound payload, but it is doubtful whether the mission still needs that sort of weight. The  developed for the Predator was an amazing feat of miniaturization in the late ‘90s, cramming a high-resolution ground surveillance radar into just 120 pounds. More recent developments have seen this type of synthetic aperture radar  Similarly, the hefty, 100-pound  missile is overkill, causing too much collateral damage for many missions, hence the development of a bizarre non-explosive  with pop-out ‘sword blades’ for some targets. Something like the five-pound SwitchBlade precision munition, well proven in Afghanistan and elsewhere against vehicles and individuals, might be an effective lightweight alternative.

The Predator, originally little more than a powered glider with a camera, morphed into something closer to a standard Air Force plane in terms of performance and cost – making it hopeless for the mission it was supposed to perform. Perhaps, given a clean sheet, the Air Force will succeed in procuring a smarter, high-tech, low-cost, long-endurance drone it can buy in large numbers and afford to lose, a cheaper Reaper to get the job done.

ĵ��ֱ�� TigerShark-XP Featured in NASA Documentary Video

ĵ��ֱ�� engineers and flight crew were recently featured in NASA’s “Making Skies Safe for Unmanned Aircraft”. This video provides a look into how NASA and its industry partners are moving unmanned aircraft closer to operating in the national airspace and debuted in honor of International Drone Day (May 2). ĵ��ֱ�� employees and the Group 3 TigerShark-XP Unmanned Aerial Vehicle were shown performing flight maneuvers and procedures. NASA highlighted the work that ĵ��ֱ�� Unmanned Systems Flight Team performed for the project and included exclusive ground and inflight video of TigerShark-XP as well as an interview with Bryan Hazlett, Vice President of the ĵ��ֱ�� Unmanned Aircraft Systems Sector.

Making Skies Safe for Unmanned Aircraft:

NASA.gov Website:
NASA Armstrong webpage:

The technology and procedures developed during a nearly decade-long program have been assisting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop the rules for certification of unmanned aircraft to safely coexist with other air traffic. The goal is to enable new commercial and public service opportunities, such as real-time surveillance of fires, infrastructure inspections for pipelines, and medical transportation in the future.

NASA began its Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration in the National Airspace System (NAS) Project in 2011. Work since then has included multiple simulation efforts and six specific flight test series that focused on validating these simulations and supporting the development of minimum operational performance standards (MOPS) for Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems.

Since 1977, ĵ��ֱ�� has provided innovative solutions to the Department of Defense, federal research institutions, and commercial industry in their quest for technologically advanced solutions to global challenges. Our specialized products, support, and services are currently being used in multiple operational environments around the world. ĵ��ֱ�� areas of expertise include Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Manufacturing and Flight Services, UAS Ground Control Systems, Advanced Maritime Patrol ASW Training, Advanced Acoustics, and Sensor Development, Persistent Surveillance Systems, Combat Systems Joint Fires Training and Doctrine, and Information Technology.

Teresa Whiting
NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center

Last Updated: May 8, 2020
Editor: Monroe Conner

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