Unmanned aircraft generating considerable buzz

Published: Feb 20, 2006
Source: www.dfw.com



WASHINGTON - The Pentagon's push to build up its inventory of unmanned aircraft is fanning a robust emerging market for the defense industry, and Lockheed Martin and Bell Helicopter say they plan to be in thick of the action.

In a telephone interview last week, Frank Cappuccio, head of Lockheed Martin’s fabled Skunk Works operations, adamantly countered the perception that the defense giant has been slow to embrace unmanned aircraft development, saying the corporation is vigorously forging ahead with projects that include surveillance aircraft and unmanned bombers.

Much of the research, he said, is being carried out by Skunk Works teams at Lockheed Martin’s plant in Fort Worth. Technology from the F-35 joint strike fighter, which will be assembled at the Fort Worth plant, will also be incorporated into unmanned aircraft, Cappuccio said.continue..