Insitu Unleashes Integrator Block 2 on First Flight

The Block 1 version of Integrator. Photo courtesy Insitu Inc.

By Danielle Lucey



Insitu announced today that it has completed the first flight of its Integrator Block 2 aircraft. 



The system flew for almost two hours over the company’s Oregon test flight range using the company’s Common Open-mission Management Command and Control (ICOMC2) ground control station. The flight used the company’s Mark 4 Launcher and SkyHook recovery systems.



“We are very pleased with the successful first flight and honored to provide enhanced capabilities for our customers,” says Insitu Senior Vice President of Integrator Programs Ryan Hartman. “Insitu prides itself on continued innovation to ensure that our customers have the latest and greatest technologies available on Insitu UAS.”



The Block 2 aircraft allows for a higher temperature limit on operations, of 120 degrees. It also has an improved sensor turret that uses a mid-wave infrared sensor. The aircraft can also be optionally powered with either JP8 or JP5 fuel. 



The original Integrator platform got its first flight as a part of the Small Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems program, shared by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, in August 2012. Maj. Dave Funkhouser of the Marine Corps indicated at last week’s AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems Program Review that the services plan on renaming the STUAS Integrator.