Northrop Grumman has introduced a new “low-cost” video information system for unmanned aerial vehicles that will provide data on enemy positions to US military commanders, states a company release. Called HURT, or heterogeneous urban RSTA (reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition) team, the system controls a small network of low-flying UAVs to send video images in real time to commanders, a capability they currently lack, says Northrop, which is working with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Air Force Research Lab on the project. Ground forces can view HURT images and request specific information about an enemy position by using a simple touch screen. The system prioritizes requests and sends the appropriate UAV to go capture additional imagery. Northrop has tested HURT with smaller UAVs, most recently earlier this month, but says it eventually could be integrated on larger UAVs.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
