General Atomics Joins With Army In Development Of Long-Range Weapon Technologies

San Diego CA

20 September, 2021

5:43 PM

Description

By Editor, Times of San Diego September 20, 2021 General Atomics has announced that it will partner with the U.S. Army to develop advanced sensors for weapons to meet anti-access and area-denial needs. The agreement is with the Army's Combat Capabilities Development Command's Aviation & Missile Center. The work will take place in San Diego and four other sites across the country. The company's Electromagnetic Systems group and the center will develop "target acquisition and tracking sensors and algorithms" to advance technologies needed for missile and weapon systems to operate at extended ranges. "Target acquisition and tracking are paramount to enabling advanced weapon systems and technologies that support the Army's modernization efforts," said Scott Forney, who heads the systems group. The Center for a New American Security defines anti-access and area denial as "approaches that seek to prevent U.S. forces from gaining or using access to overseas bases or critical locations, such as ports and airfields, while denying U.S. forces the ability to maneuver within striking distance of their territory." General Atomics' electromagnetic systems group specializes in a host of advanced weapon systems and supporting technologies, including missiles, precision munitions, hypersonic weapons, laser weapons, and intelligence and surveillance capabilities. Under the research agreement, the group also will conduct research and development activities at facilities in Boston, Huntsville, Ala., Allen, Tex, and Fredericksburg, Vir. Nick Bucci, vice president of missile defense and space systems at the systems group, said the partnership "will expedite delivering these critical weapon systems" to the Army. Times of San Diego is an independent online news site covering the San Diego metropolitan area. Our journalists report on politics, crime, business, sports, education, arts, the military and everyday life in San Diego. No subscription is required, and you can sign up for a free daily newsletter with a summary of the latest news.