Aurora awarded Navy drone contract

The Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency (DARPA) has awarded Aurora Flight Sciences, which operates a production facility in Tupelo, Miss., with a $2,811,232 contract to design, develop, and demonstrate an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for technologies to enable future launch, recovery, and operations from small Navy ships. The Tactically Exploited Reconnaissance Node program is to provide war-fighters an affordable solution allowing fixed-wing drones, with surveillance and communications capabilities, to routinely operate from aboard ships, and extending range and operational capabilities. AFS designs and builds aerospace vehicles for commercial and military applications; and is headquartered in Manassas, Va. Source: WVTA-TV Tupelo, Oct. 24, 2013.