Air Force awards $89M contract to Black River Systems for C-UAS

The Air Force this week awarded an $89 million cost plus fixed fee contract to Black River Systems for operational counter-small unmanned aerial systems open architecture software and hardware.

A May 2 Defense Department notice gives further details, stating, “This contract provides for system analysis, simulation and modeling, technique development, hardware and software rapid prototyping, integration, test, demonstration, data analysis, transition, operational assessment, and hardware and software enhancement relative to the objective.”

At the time of award, about $15 million is being obligated using fiscal year 2018 and FY-19 research, development test and evaluation and procurement funds. The award is the result of a small business innovation research contract. Work is expected to be complete by May 2022 and will be performed in Utica, NY.

In a reprogramming request submitted to Congress last month, the Air Force sought $12 million to purchase C-UASs for physical security of “priority sites.”