The UK Ministry of Defence is to award 12-month assessment contracts for its Sender unit-level unmanned air vehicle (UAV) requirement next year.
Sender is one of two emerging tactical UAV requirements that specify systems to enter British Army service in around 2008. It will have a range of 30km (16nm) and will require imaging sensors that allow detection, recognition, identification and situational awareness of targets. A larger UAV with 150km range is required to fulfil the Spectator requirement.
The MoD will specify overall system performance rather than restricting competition to a specific sensor type - electro-optical, photographic or synthetic aperture radar. "There are a number of ways of providing timely images," says an MoD source.
Companies must register their interest by 2 August. Invitations to tender will be issued after that date. Contract signing is expected in the first half of 2000. Assessment will include design, definition, costing and comparison of solutions.
Following evaluation of results, the MoD expects to issue 18-month contracts for greater definition of selected systems and the technical demonstration of high risk areas. The MoD says it does not know how many assessment contracts will be let until it has seen industry responses. Last month, it briefed 70 companies on its UAV requirements. It is seeking prime contractors with experience of integrating similar systems.
Source: Flight International
