16 Aug 2006
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin and Rafael Armament Development Authority, Ltd., have announced the arrival of the Protector Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) in the U.S. The companies will be demonstrating the USVs force protection capabilities to the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and other maritime security agencies.
Protector is a remote-controlled USV that is equipped with a stabilized mini-Typhoon weapon system (MK 49 Mod 0), cameras, radar equipment and electro optics. Highly autonomous, the Protector can successfully operate with general guidance from a commander and operator in port, riverine, harbour and coastal waterways making it an innovative solution for todays critical missions, including force protection, anti-terror, and surveillance and reconnaissance. The Protector was developed by Rafael in response to emerging terrorist threats against maritime assets, and is the only operational USV that exists today.
The Protector has performed exceptionally well in the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean, said Steve Kelly, director of BAE Systems Naval Systems in Minneapolis. This system is ready and available today to meet the needs of our maritime security and defense forces.
The Protector USV was featured at the U.S. Special Operations Command trade show in Tampa Bay, Florida in June, and will be demonstrated in Little Creek, Virginia, San Diego, California, and Washington, D.C. in the coming months. The demonstrations will highlight the systems ability to be integrated with several different mission modules, showcase the boats speed and stealthy manoeuvrability, and perform surveillance and intercept missions against realistic targets.
Were excited to introduce this unmanned system to the U.S., said Sean Patton, senior manager of Lockheed Martins LCS Business Development team. The Protector will provide Sailors with the capabilities they need to complete their missions more efficiently. The Protector can be the first line of defense, checking-out vessels of interest at arm's length, while our personnel and capital assets are held at a safe distance.
BAE Systems and Rafael are teamed for product production and all other program developments with Lockheed Martin leading the Protector team for Littoral Combat Ship and Deepwater programs and Combat System integration efforts.
For more information on the Protector USV, visit BAE Systems Protector
About BAE SYSTEMS
BAE Systems is the premier transatlantic defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With more than 100,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems sales exceeded GBP 15.4 billion (US$28 billion) in 2005.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 135,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
About Rafael Ltd.
RAFAEL designs, develops, manufactures and supplies a wide range of advanced defense systems. These leading edge products include air-to-air missiles, air defense systems, naval, air and ground precision weapons, electro-optic systems, electronic warfare (EW) systems, Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) systems, acoustic defense systems, armored protection and training systems.
For further information please contact:
Doug Coffey
BAE Systems
Tel: +1 703-612-3121
doug.coffey@baesystems.com
Diana Massing, Lockheed Martin
Tel: + 1 410-682-0986
diana.massing@lmco.com
Amit Zimmer, Rafael Ltd.
Tel: +1 972 3 572 4710
amitz@rafael.co.
www.baesystems.com
Ref: 240/2006
