Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC
A delay in releasing the final request for proposals (RFP) for the US Army's Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) fly-off and acquisition has caused a fast-track competition for off-the-shelf close-range systems to slip by several months.
The US Army requires an electro-optical infrared payload-equipped TUAV to provide brigade commanders with near real-time reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition and battle damage assessment, at a minimum range of 50km (30nm) and to remain 4h on station. The preferred range of the brigade-level TUAV is 200km. The US Army plans to acquire 42 complete systems at less than $4 million each. A system would include at least three air vehicles and a ground-vehicle mounted tactical control station.
First phase of the competition will involve systems capabilities demonstrations (SCDs), followed by an engineering and manufacturing development and low-rate initial production phases.
Originally, the US Army was to have picked between three and five competitors by 31 May for the July-August SCDs, with the production contract to be awarded by the end of September. Bids for SCDs are due on 17 June. It is anticipated that contracts will be placed eight weeks after receipt of the Phase 1 proposals. Contenders must be ready for a fly-off 45 days after notification of selection. The US Army plans to spend no more than $250,000 for each systems demonstration.
Likely competitors include the: AAI Shadow, Alliant Techsystems Outrider, General Atomics Prowler and Mission Technologies Hellfox. The Freewing Scorpion, Northrop Grumman/TTL Spectre and TRW/S-TEC STM-5B Sentry will also probably be in the running.
• An Alliant Techsystems Outrider TUAV was destroyed during a demonstration to the US Border Patrol on 27 April.
Source: Flight International
