Future Combat System (FCS) integrators Boeing and SAIC have launched the competitive phase of a new effort to develop micro-unmanned air vehicles for small US Army ground units by issuing requests for proposals for two separate vehicle requirements, writes Stephen Trimble.
The FCS Class II UAV is described as a company-level asset to be used to identify targets and relay communications. The vehicle will weigh less than 50.7kg (112lb) and have a 2h endurance. The service's larger Class III UAV will be a battalion-owned vehicle weighing 136-227kg and providing an endurance of 6h.
Both programmes were originally launched in 2003 but were aborted ahead of a $6.3 billion shake-up of the FCS development effort in mid-2004, which included a requirement to restart the Class II and Class III UAV programmes. Boeing and SAIC plan to downselect to one or more bidders by mid-year for a 12-month risk reduction effort.
A follow-on second phase will be used to develop prototype vehicles for a final downselect in fiscal year 2007. The US Army has a requirement for 540 Class II UAVs and 180 Class III systems in its FCS Increment 1 production plans.
The Boeing and SAIC bidding phase is restricted to non-ducted fan vehicle technology, which is the focus of a separate organic air vehicle (OAV) development effort sponsored by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
OAV Phase 1 contracts have been awarded to Aurora Flight Sciences, BAE Systems and Honeywell, with the winner of the development effort to potentially enter a contest against the final vehicle selected for the FCS Class II UAV requirement.
Source: Flight International
