The ARGUS-IS, or the Autonomous Real-Time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance Imaging System, is a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the development of new technology for use by the military...

 (DARPA) project contracted to BAE Systems

BAE Systems

BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...

. According to DARPA:

The contract was awarded in late 2007 with a budget of US$18.5 million and duration of 30 months. The three principal components of the ARGUS-IS are a 1.8 Gigapixels video sensor plus two processing subsystems, one in the air and the other located on the ground.

The first test flight using a UH-60 Black Hawk

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk

The UH-60 Black Hawk is a four-bladed, twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. Sikorsky submitted the S-70 design for the United States Army's Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System competition in 1972...

 was declared a success by BAE in February 2010. The Boeing A160 Hummingbird

Boeing A160 Hummingbird

The Boeing A160 Hummingbird is an unmanned aerial vehicle helicopter. Its design incorporates many new technologies never before used in helicopters, allowing for greater endurance and altitude than any helicopter currently in operation.The development of Hummingbird was begun by Frontier Aircraft...

will also eventually be used as a platform for the airborne video sensor and processor.