Lockheed Martin [LMT] said it delivered the initial ground station for its Dragon Shield intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform (ISR) to the Finnish Air Force.
The ground station, which company spokeswoman Suzanne Smith said was delivered in June, will support a CASA C-295 aircraft Lockheed Martin is modifying to accommodate an advanced surveillance system for the Finnish Air Command. The CASA C-295 is a twin-turboprop tactical military transport aircraft manufactured by European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS)-subsidiary Airbus Military.
Smith said the ground station is a separate trailer-like shelter that corresponds with the aircraft. Smith said ground systems are one of the options Lockheed Martin offers through its Dragon family of ISR platforms.
“These six innovative airborne and ground system configurations offer customers a unique approach to match sensor requirements to their budget and airframe needs,” Smith said in an email.
Work continues on the C-295 modification and integration of the airborne mission payload is targeted for late 2012, Lockheed Martin said in a statement. After delivery of the aircraft and payload, the team will begin flight testing and full system integration and test activities.
Lockheed Martin completed initial integration, including preliminary functional checks and calibrations, on the ground elements of the system for the Finnish Air Command. These ground components are completing final acceptance for delivery to customer locations. Smith said Lockheed Martin will deliver the total ground system with the aircraft and payload in late 2013 after full system integration and test activities.
Smith said the Dragon Shield Roll-On/Roll-Off (RO/RO) mission suite is ideal for those who need an aircraft that can perform multiple operational missions, such as airlift and reconnaissance. Smith said the system Lockheed Martin developed for the Finnish Air Force is configured onto standard sized cargo pallets, which can be rolled into the aircraft with standard cargo handling equipment. The full capability of the system is integrated onto the pallets, she added.
Lockheed Martin’s team on the Dragon Shield for the Finnish Air Force includes Patria Oyj, a Finnish contractor co-owned by Finland and EADS; Rockwell Collins [COL]; Adam Works; DRS Technologies, a division of Finmeccanica; Applied Signal Technology, a division of Raytheon [RTN], and L-3 [LLL].