DefenseNews.com - King=92s Interest in Robots Links = U.S. to KADDB

Posted 03/29/06 11:25

King=92s Interest = in Robots Links=20 U.S. to KADDB

By KELLY KENNEDY, AMMAN, Jordan

Standing near a booth watching an exhibit at = SOFEX the=20 morning of March 28, a Jordanian soldier looked down in surprise as a = robot=20 reached a mechanical arm past his knee.

He might be more surprised to hear his = government is in=20 negotiations with Northrop Grumman to have some part in producing or = maintaining=20 the explosives-sniffing, bomb-disposing ANDROS F6A unmanned = vehicle.

Northrop Grumman began talks with Jordan=92s = King Abdullah=20 II Design and Development Bureau representatives last year to try to = promote and=20 support robotics in the region. However, the talks have moved past = promotion to=20 having KABDD either assemble parts from kits or maintain the vehicles in = the=20 Middle East.

=93Both countries have agreed there is = interest,=94 said Mark=20 Kauchak, Northrop Grumman=92s director of government business. =93It=92s = just working=20 out the details. They certainly have the technical capabilities, and = they know=20 the market.=94

Kauchak said he met Jordan=92s King Abdullah II = on the night=20 of March 27, and he was surprised how knowledgeable he was about = robotics.

=93I=92d heard he=92s a strong supporter of = robotics,=94 he said,=20 =93but he confirmed it for me last night.=94

Kauchak said the F6A is particularly popular in = the Middle=20 East for the same reasons the U.S. military uses 500 of them: They can = sense and=20 detonate explosives without putting humans in danger. They can climb = stairs. And=20 they=92re light enough to transport easily.

Kauchak demonstrated the machine for = international troops=20 streaming through his booth picking up brochures. He operated it = remotely using=20 a computer screen to =93see=94 what the robot saw, and levers to move = arms up and=20 down, as well as to drive it. It moves on four wheels and two tracks, = and has=20 accessories for detonating and sensing.

Kauchak said 40 countries, including several in = the Middle=20 East, use the robot.

Northrop Grumman got its start developing = robotics for=20 nuclear operations with areas too dangerous for humans to enter, Kauchak = said.=20 With KADBB, they hope to move toward border patrol in Middle Eastern = countries=20 with larger versions of the remote robot.

The F6A costs between $80,000 and $220,000, = depending on=20 accessories and size. The accessories are interchangeable among the F6A = and its=20 three sister unmanned robots, which come in varying sizes. The F6A was = developed=20 in the early 1990s.

The team effort with KADBB came about because = Northrop=20 Grumman already had a team in Jordan, but decided it wanted to expand = its=20 presence.

=93The king had a lot of interest, so he = facilitated getting=20 things moving,=94 Kauchak said. =93This week will be our second round of = talks.=20 We=92ll see what happens after that.=94

More Defense News coverage from the SOFEX = 2006=20 Exhibition:

March 29

=95 Sofex=20 2006 Opens With A Bang

=95 Canine=20 Company Sniffs Out IED Opportunities

=95 Denel=20 Redesigns NTW20 For Popular Ammunition

=95 = French=20 Firm Sounds Out Sniper Market

=95 USAF Uses=20 Fighter Jets to Support Spec Ops

=95 Interview:=20 Haitham Mufti

=95 = JCB Digs=20 For Middle East Sales

=95 = Joint=20 Venture For Kamov

=95 Jordan=20 Trains For Counterterror Lead

=95 KADDB=20 Closes on Falcon Decision

=95 King=92s=20 Interest in Robots Links U.S. to KADDB

=95 = Stability=20 Quest Drives Polish Company

=95 = Stretcher=20 Parachutes In

=95 Oshkosh=20 Signs Support Deal

=95 SOFEX=20 Briefs

March 28

=95 = Gear=20 Improves Spec Ops

=95 = UK Close=20 to Chinook Fix

=95 = Mini-Sub=20 Has Special Appeal

=95 Mobility=20 Displays Latest Ratel

=95 Jordan=20 Boosts Spec Ops Capabilities

=95 JARS=20 Unveils UAVs

=95 Iraqi=20 Insurgents Pursue Public Relations Strategy

=95 Gecko=20 Boasts Smooth Ride

=95 Kamov To=20 Sign Ka-226 Assembly Deal

=95 Jordan=20 Stays Pragmatic on Terrorism

=95 Brig.=20 Gen. Jamal Al-Shawabkeh: Interview