Aurora awarded SideArm pact

MANASSAS, Va. - Aurora Flight Sciences announced Oct. 7 it has been awarded a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) contract for accelerated development of its SideArm launch technology and recovery system. Demonstration of SideArm technology was a key to Aurora's work on the Tactically Enhanced Reconnaissance Node (Tern) program. Phase 1 results indicated SideArm could fulfill the needs for aircraft launch and recovery technology goals enabling small ships to serve as mobile launch and recovery sites for medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial systems (UAS). AFS is a leader in the development and manufacturing of advanced aerospace vehicles with headquarters in Manassas and production plants in Columbus, Miss., and Bridgeport, W.Va. (Source: Aurora Flight Sciences 10/07/14)