Northrop Grumman, IAI, Aurora Join Forces; Eying Strike Heron for U.S. Competition
UAV powerhouses Northrop Grumman, Israel Aircraft Industries and Aurora Flight Sciences are joining forces to pursue future business.
Although the details of the cooperation will emerge only in coming weeks, the three partners have already decided to pursue the U.S. Army Extended Range Multipurpose UAV program. It would be based on the IAI Heron. Northrop Grumman would act as the prime contractor for what is being called the Strike Heron.
The partnership is seen as Northrop Grumman's strongest attempt yet to take on General Atomics. Scott J. Seymour, president of Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, noted that it makes more sense to fill the company's hole in the UAV portfolio through the teaming, rather than trying to devise new systems.
Aurora's president John S. Langford notes that this creates "the first global UAV alliance." The agreement coves UAVs from a weight of 700 lb. up to 12,000 lb. It would cover systems with an endurance of up to 30 hours, adds Bob Mitchell, who runs Northrop Grumman's UAV operations.
Under the arrangement, IAI has taken a 14% stake in Aurora Flight Sciences. Northrop Grumman may follow, but hasn't yet. Aurora would act as the sole licensee for IAI UAVs in the tactical and medium-range endurance class.
The deal also reestablishes IAI as a firm player in the U.S. UAV market, a position it ceased about a decade ago when the Army terminated the Hunter UAV procurement. IAI president and CEO Moshe Keret views this alliance as "a long-term commitment to develop and produce innovative tactical UAVs that will benefit the companies' customers."
