TRW, S-TEC and IAI are working together to market Sentry and Sentry HP UAV systems for worldwide applications to customers with requirements for low cost, easily transportable, and rapidly deployable UAVs.

The Sentry HP is an enhanced version of the existing Sentry UAV, providing more capability and flexibility in payload, range, and endurance characteristics.

During the initial flight testing performed in Mineral Wells, Texas, the HP air vehicle demonstrated a maximum takeoff and landing weight of 325 pounds; useful payload capacity of more than 70 pounds with a full fuel load; and an increase of internal payload volume of 250 percent. An enhanced version of the Herbrandson 290 engine, used on the current Sentry air vehicle, was used for these Sentry HP flights.

This enhanced engine retains the lightweight and efficient specific fuel consumption features that now exist on the Sentry air vehicle, and is noticeably quieter than the current version. Additional candidate engines will be tested and evaluated for compatibility with heavy fuel.

S-TEC Unmanned Technologies, Inc., Mineral Wells, Texas, is an industry leader in the manufacture of small, lightweight, low-cost UAVs for the tactical UAV market. More than 125 Sentry UAVs have been produced and delivered to customers around the world. For more information, see www.sentryuav.com.

IAI-MALAT, Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel, is a world leader in the design, development, and production of UAV systems covering the full spectrum of mission requirements. IAI-MALAT has delivered more than 600 air vehicles to customers worldwide, and these UAV systems have accumulated over 70,000 flight hours.