Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC
Bombardier Services has withdrawn from the race to win a US Navy contest to supply a vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicle (VTOL UAV). The Canadian company was considered a leading contender for the multi-million dollar programme.
The decision to drop out of the contest came as the Canadian manufacturer was preparing for shipborne flight operations later this month. Concern over the CL-327 Guardian's ability to meet speed, payload and endurance criteria prompted the firm's decision, say industry sources. The sea trials of the co-axial rotor CL-327 and Bell's Eagle Eye tilt-rotor (scheduled for tests next February) follow a USN VTOL UAV land demonstration last year.
The sea trials were scheduled as programme officials launched a contest designed to pick a VTOL UAV for engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) and production. The goal is to make the source selection decision and award the EMD contract award in February. At stake is a production contract for 23 UAV systems for the USN and Marine Corps.
Bombardier was expected to notify USN programme officials of the company's decision as Flight International went to press, when both sides were scheduled to meet to discuss the CL-327's readiness to conduct sea trials.
Bombardier's exit leaves Bell's Eagle Eye, Science Applications International's (SAIC) Vigilante demonstrator (built around the US SportCopter Ultrasport 496 design, a small kit-built helicopter) and a team of Northrop Grumman and Schweizer Aircraft competing for the deal.
SAIC, which must decide by 7 October whether to bid, may team with Sikorsky Aircraft and General Dynamics. Meanwhile the Northrop Grumman/Schweizer team is not offering an unmanned derivative of the Schweizer 300CB or turbine-powered 330 light helicopter, but instead a specially designed helicopter-like air vehicle under development for the past year by the rotorcraft maker.
Source: Flight International
