FIRMS SIGN AIRCRAFT PACT BOEING, GENERAL ATOMICS INK DEAL.

Byline: Daily News

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Boeing signed an agreement to discuss areas of cooperation in unmanned systems, network-centric operations and other large-scale systems integration efforts.

The initial area of cooperation under the memorandum of understanding will involve integrating the command and control architecture for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' Predator unmanned aircraft into the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System airplanes and AH-64 Apache helicopters.

The ultimate goal is to increase ``interoperability'' between manned and unmanned aircraft.

``Establishment of a working relationship with Boeing and other leading companies could have significant benefits for the customer, which is our ultimate goal. Interoperability between manned and unmanned aircraft systems will be key to making 'network centric' a successful concept for the military,'' said Thomas J. Cassidy Jr., president and chief executive officer of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.

``This agreement provides two of the aerospace industry's technology leaders with an opportunity to pool their talents and play an even stronger role in the fields of unmanned systems and network-centric operations, which are so important to the transformation of the military,'' said Mike Heinz, vice president and general manager, deputy of Integrated Defense Advanced Systems, which encompasses unmanned systems. ``We plan to rapidly develop and provide new technologies and system-of-system solutions to our customers that will meet their evolving needs with currently fielded and developing systems, and lead to major increases in operational effectiveness.''

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Boeing will also consider working together to identify, develop and capture specific new business opportunities. The agreement also allows the companies to share relevant business development strategies and information to help anticipate evolving customer needs.

Founded in 1993, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems manufactures Predator remote-controlled spy planes used in Afghanistan and Iraq. Manufactured in San Diego County, the craft get their final check-out flights from a private airfield in eastern Antelope Valley.