In cooperation with Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc, Rheinmetall Defence Electronics, Bremen, awarded a contract for phase one of the FCS Class III Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) development.

With the cooperation and licensing agreement from the beginning of 2005 Teledyne Brown adapts Rheinmetall's proven UAV system KZO as the baseline vehicle for the "Americanization" of the system under the name "Prospector". To fulfil the Class III performance requirements, Prospector is developed to be a multipurpose reconnaissance system that requires no runway launch, and provides high precision navigation.

The FCS Class III UAV effort is a multi-phase award. Phase one will last approximately 10 month and includes requirements assessment and risk reduction trade studies.

"Our partner and we are more than confident with this selection", said Hans-Georg Morawitz, member of the Management Board of Rheinmetall Defence Electronics. "Shortly before the delivery of KZO in November 2005 to the German Army this contract is a great effort and a proof for the quality and capability of our UAV system."

Rheinmetall AG
09.10.2005