Goodrich ISR Systems has been on the acquisition trail and some of the resulting technology is on display here at the Dubai Airshow (Stand W360). Best known for the DB-110 aerial sensor it has sold to six countries, the Goodrich unit is now marketing additional aerial sensors after buying Recon/Optical Inc. (ROI) last year. More recently, Goodrich ISR Systems bought Cloud Cap Technology, maker of stabilized gimbals for the small aerial cameras commonly found on UAVs.
During its long history, the U.S. based Recon/Optical supplied more than 3,000 airborne tactical reconnaissance cameras to U.S. and foreign air forces, and for more than 40 years it was owned by the Bourns Corp., a diversified family-owned business. According to ROI veteran Rich Zacaroli, Bourns was moving in a different strategic direction, which prompted the sale of ROI’s core business. “We have brought to Goodrich our strong capability in low-medium altitude aerial sensors and our newly developed focus on persistent surveillance,” he told AIN. Zacaroli is now general manager of Goodrich ISR Systems–Barrington (the former ROI headquarters, located in a suburb of Chicago).
