...It boils down to the way things fit together: a ship is the sum of its parts, from
the engine to the materials to the crew and computer system. The military has
taken it a step further and has developed a net-centric warfighting system, which
ties all the various elements of the battlespace together with advanced
communications/data transfer systems. The idea is to provide warfighters with
the ultimate in situational awareness. South Mississippi and the surrounding
region have many of the shipbuilding pieces, and are developing crucial
additional parts involved in the battlespace. To see the region's military and
aerospace activities, click here. To see how the four primary fields of aerospace
expertise found in South Mississippi fit together, click here for a simple concept
map. To find out about sample products, click on one of the fields below.
Unmanned aerial vehicles
Example: The Fire Scout helicopter UAV will be housed
aboard the new generation of surface ships and used
primarily for reconnaissance missions.
Satellites
Example: The Space Based Infrared System will be
used for a variety of military objectives, including
battlespace characterization.
Propulsion systems
Example: The RS-68 is designed for the Delta series of
missiles, but will be used to power NASA's new Cargo
Launch Vehicle.
Composites
Example: The aerospace industry is looking more and
more to lightweight composite, not only for wings but
for fuselages as well.
