IBC Advanced Alloys (IBC) declared that it has entered into a Development and Technical Services accord with the Navy’s Tactical Multi-Mission Unmanned Aerial Systems Program and the US Military’s Army Research Laboratory (ARL) based in Aberdeen, Maryland to assess the use of lightweight beryllium aluminum alloys in the Beralcast series.
The accord was signed to find out suitable types of component and substructures to facilitate large-scale production opportunities and to sustain ARL’s current materials research and development excellence task.
The accord will require IBC to work closely with the ARL and NAVAIR (Naval Air Systems Command) in Patuxent River, Maryland. All three will jointly function to formulate, asses and try out the usage of lightweight Beralcast beryllium aluminum alloys for First Scout program and other types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) drone programs of the United States Armed Forces. The joint venture will concentrate on the production of precise subsystem components made of Beralcast alloys to accomplish reduced weight, better sensor efficiency and component hardness for use in select UAV programs.
The Department of Defense attaches high priority towards UAV initiatives that are fast becoming an important part of the airborne military capability in the US. The UAVs can fly without external control or can be piloted from remote with or without a payload of deadly weapons. They can be flown cost effectively without risking the life of the pilots in critical missions.