{"id":33878,"date":"2018-09-17T18:24:31","date_gmt":"2018-09-17T18:24:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/09\/17\/insitu-unveils-new-integrator-extended-range-unmanned-system\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:50:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:50:53","slug":"insitu-unveils-new-integrator-extended-range-unmanned-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/air-force-association\/2018\/09\/17\/insitu-unveils-new-integrator-extended-range-unmanned-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Insitu unveils new extended range unmanned system"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Check out one of AFA 2018’s big reveals.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md \u2013 Insitu, a Boeing subsidiary, today unveiled a new extended-range drone that it claims can hit previously unattainable distances for small unmanned systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company\u2019s Integrator Extended Range design has a 200-nautical mile radius with 10 hours on station, or 300 miles with six hours on station, according to company officials. The 145-pound system was unveiled at the annual Air Force Association conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those ranges improve on current capabilities for unmanned systems of that size, which traditionally have been limited to around 50-70 miles distance and line-of-sight tethering. The increased distance and time comes from advances in satcom technology that have made it possible to shrink down the needed components to useable size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here for more news from the Air Force Association\u2019s annual conference! <\/b><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esina Alic, Insitu CEO, made it clear the company is targeting the Integrator-ER for the Air Force, saying bluntly during her presentation, \u201cAir Force customer, we have heard you. We are giving you a theater range platform, at a fraction of cost, at a fraction of a footprint compared to today\u2019s ISR asset in the field.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifically, Alic and Don Williamson, vice president and general manager for defense with the company, positioned the system as giving the Air Force an option to stop using high end systems for surveillance missions. Buying a lower-cost system like the Integrator would allow higher-capability MALE systems, like the MQ-9, to focus on higher-stakes opportunities or strike missions, while also allowing those systems to pick up missions currently tasked to top-end fighter jets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo one in the air force has specifically evaluated this capability,\u201d Williamson said. \u201cOne of the purposes of being able to show here is, to be able to reveal this with our Air Force customer. We have a number of engagements coming up over the next couple of days.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t