Lockheed Martin Uses New Software for UAS

Photo courtesy Lockheed Martin

By Priya Potapragada



Lockheed Martin's Group 1 family of unmanned aircraft systems is switching to using its Kestrel Fly Light flight control systems and mobile Ground Control Station (mGCS) software.



The mGCS enhancements are proved to reduce operator workload through interface, touchscreen, and joystick functions and operator warnings, cautions and advisories. Lockheed Martin’s Desert Hawk III small unmanned aircraft system exhibited the benefits of the mGCS with better situational awareness to operators.



"The mGCS is a derivative of our proven VCS-4586 software that focuses on providing capabilities to the small unit level," said Kevin Westfall, director of unmanned solutions at Lockheed Martin's Mission Systems and Training business. "MGCS is a single, portable system capable of conducting missions that would typically require multiple controllers and federated software applications in order to manage the many different types of UAS."



MGCS is able to integrate with a variety of portable computers, hand controllers, autopilots, data links and sensors.