Lockheed Martin announced two major initiatives this month with implications for UAV air traffic management and battery storage technology. 

Lockheed Martin Canada CDL Systems is partnering with Canadian UAVs to provide real-time airspace situational awareness for the UAV pilots conducting beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations. Lockheed Martin Canada CDL Systems will provide integration support for the vehicle control station software called VCSi, a universal Ground Control System based on more than 1.5 million flight hours in military and commercial flight operations.

Canadian UAVs will integrate their low-cost, ground-based radar, Sparrowhawk, into VCSi to provide users with a complete airspace picture of manned and unmanned aviation tracking with collision avoidance. Sparrowhawk was a key component of the first permitted BVLOS flights outside of restricted airspace in Canada. The company will also develop hardware and artificial intelligence software as project SkySensus, funded by Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefit (ITB) Policy. “When combined, Canadian UAV’s Sparrowhawk radar and our VCSi product will offer all users this complete picture and provide the necessary situational awareness for BVLOS flights in Canada and abroad,” said Dustin Engen, Lockheed Martin Canada CDL Systems business development manager.

Separately, Lockheed Martin said it is teaming with TC Energy (Canada) to develop large-scale, long-duration energy storage based on Lockheed Martin's GridStar Flow battery technology. The system can store six to 12 hours or more of energy and dispatch it as needed. Unlike batteries, GridStar Flow allows customers to size power (megawatts) and energy (megawatt hours) independently and maintains its energy capacity without degradation throughout project life.