Home > News & Events > Press Release

Proxy Aviation Named “Most Promising Newcomer” by Unmanned Vehicles Magazine

General Atomics, The Insitu Group and Boeing also honored at the Shephard Group’s UV North America conference and exhibition

Germantown, Md. -- December 5, 2005 -- Proxy Aviation Systems, Inc., a company that develops fully autonomous, optionally piloted unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), announced that it has been named the Most Promising Newcomer of 2005 by Unmanned Vehicles Magazine for its work on SkyWatcher, an optionally piloted, unmanned aircraft (UA) designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. Winners were announced at the conclusion of the first day of the Shephard Group’s UV North America conference and exhibition, which took place in Miami on November 3-4, 2005.

David Harvey, North American Editorial Director, Unmanned Vehicles Magazine, said, “The Unmanned Vehicles Awards are designed to recognize those companies who have made a significant contribution to the development of the unmanned vehicles marketplace over the past year. With its advanced capabilities, Proxy Aviation’s SkyWatcher made an impressive debut in 2005. We believe it is the first of the next generation of fully autonomous vehicles to emerge in the unmanned aviation industry and we look forward to watching its progress in the future.”

Decided by the Unmanned Vehicles editorial team members and regular contributors, four awards were given out. Other honors included the Design and Innovation Award, given to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.; the System Integration Award, given to The Insitu Group and Boeing; and the Unmanned Systems Community Award, given jointly to John S. Walker and Michael S. Fagan.

SkyWatcher is the ISR component of SkyForce, Proxy Aviation’s comprehensive, network-centric unmanned aircraft system. It is designed to manage the cooperative flight of up to 12 unmanned aircraft in constellation formation while simultaneously distributing sensor control and viewing capability among multiple end users. The system is comprised of three main components: multiple, optionally piloted, unmanned aircraft with various quick-change payloads; a mission-management ground control station; and remote and mobile user terminals.

Don Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, Proxy Aviation, said, “We are extremely honored to be recognized by Unmanned Vehicles as the Most Promising Newcomer of 2005. Proxy Aviation is committed to closing the gap in unmanned aviation capabilities between what is needed and what is currently available within the battlefield. We are confident that our UAS will continue to support this mission and help the warfighter to more efficiently and safely execute critical missions."

About Proxy Aviation Systems

Proxy Aviation Systems designs and manufactures fully autonomous, optionally piloted unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for use in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and other special missions. Proxy Aviation’s system addresses the long endurance, medium altitude, multi-payload requirements set forth by the U.S. military and the Department of Homeland Security. Founded in 2003 as a Delaware corporation, Proxy Aviation is headquartered in Germantown, Maryland.

# # #