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August 13th, 2012

U.S. Army Space & Missile Command... Looking Mighty... Different On First Flight Test.. (UAV | UAS)


[SatNews] The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command conducted the first flight test...

...of the Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle, or LEMV, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. The hybrid air vehicle was airborne for more than 90 minutes during its initial flight. The first flight primary objective was to perform a safe launch and recovery with a secondary objective to verify the flight control system operation. Additional first flight objectives included airworthiness testing and demonstration, and system level performance verification. All objectives were met during the first flight.


The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command's Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle returns from a successful first flight Aug. 7.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Army.

The LEMV is an optionally manned or unmanned air vehicle which was manned during this flight. Additional manned flights will resume following a planned and very detailed inspection of the vehicle. Northrop Grumman, the prime contractor for LEMV, is working with their international partner Hybrid Air Vehicle of the United Kingdom as a major subcontractor.