The U.S. Military acquired the primary Future Tactical Unmanned Plane System, Increment 1 — referred to as FTUAS, INC 1 — system on Sept. 12, 2022. The system consists of six air autos, six information terminals, six management stations and related floor assist gear. The U.S. Military awarded an $8M different transaction authority settlement for the system on August 18, 2022, to AeroVironment, Inc. The air autos and floor gear will endure quite a few exams comparable to environmental, transportability and flight testing at Redstone Arsenal. After testing concludes, the residual system of 4 air autos, 4 information terminals, 4 management stations and related floor assist gear might be delivered to an Military brigade fight group for an operational evaluation. Primarily based upon the outcomes of testing and evaluation, Military management might resolve to acquire and area as much as seven further INC 1 methods.
FTUAS is a vertical takeoff and touchdown, runway-independent, decreased acoustic signature plane that may be transported organically whereas offering commanders with on-the-move reconnaissance, surveillance and goal acquisition capabilities. FTUAS permits speedy emplacement, in lower than 45 minutes, and has a decreased dimension and footprint in comparison with the Shadow whereas offering comparable efficiency. INC 1 leverages lessons-learned from the year-long FTUAS demonstration and can area available mature applied sciences in response to a directed requirement from the Military Futures Command. It’s going to additionally inform the doctrine, group, coaching, materiel, management, personnel, amenities and coverage necessities for the FTUAS INC 2 program. INC 2 is a separate aggressive acquisition. FTUAS might be transportable by a single CH-47, present over six hours of working endurance, and might be able to working out to 100 kilometers.
Commercial
The U.S. Military awarded the Future Tactical Unmanned Plane System (FTUAS) Increment 1 (INC 1) Different Transaction Settlement (OTA) on August 18, 2022, to AeroVironment, Inc for one (1) JUMP 20 system. The system consists of six (6) Air Autos, floor information terminals and floor management stations. This award has a price of $8M and is the results of a aggressive analysis. The OTA is for the acquisition, testing, and supply of 1 (1) system to a single Military Brigade Fight Group (BCT). Primarily based upon the outcomes of testing, Military management might resolve to acquire and area as much as seven (7) further INC 1 methods. INC 1 leverages lessons-learned from the year-long FTUAS demonstration and can area available mature applied sciences in response to a Directed Requirement from the Military Futures Command. INC 1 meets a right away operational want from models for a alternative for the RQ-7B Shadow and can inform the Doctrine, Group, Coaching, materiel, Management, Personnel, Amenities, and Coverage (DOTmLPF-P) necessities for the FTUAS INC 2 program. INC 2 is a separate aggressive acquisition.
The FTUAS INC 2 acquisition is continuous independently of however in parallel with the INC 1 award and testing. The Aviation and Missile Expertise Consortium (AMTC) launched the FTUAS INC 2 Request for White Papers on 1 October 2021. The PEO Aviation FTUAS group is conducting a technical analysis of the submissions in preparation for the speedy prototyping effort. The U,S. Military requires alternative of the workhorse RQ-7B Shadow with a vertical takeoff and touchdown, runway-independent, decreased acoustic signature plane that may be transported organically whereas offering commanders with “on the transfer” reconnaissance, surveillance, and goal acquisition capabilities. FTUAS will enable speedy emplacement in lower than 45 minutes, have a decreased dimension and footprint in comparison with the Shadow and have comparable efficiency. FTUAS might be transportable by a single CH-47, present over six hours of working endurance, and function out to 100 kilometers.
