Thursday, April 18, 2024
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Unmanned systems news highlights this Monday INSIDER Daily Digest.
The Air Force will be buying more Reaper unmanned aircraft than originally projected:
Air Force doubles MQ-9 procurement expectations for next five years
The Air Force last week revealed plans to buy about 100 MQ-9 Reapers in the next five fiscal years, nearly double the number it projected in budget documents published earlier this year.
Related recent Reaper coverage:
MQ-9 capability study expected to move forward this summer as ACC mulls fleet balance
A team analyzing the future of the MQ-9 Reaper will present its final results to the Air Force Capability Development Working Group in July, according to a service spokeswoman.
House lawmakers urge Air Force to rethink Reaper procurement plan
House appropriators are pushing back on the Air Force's request to buy 29 MQ-9 Reapers in fiscal year 2019, arguing the service's procurement plans don't properly address its future aircraft needs.
AFSOC to stand up new MQ-9 squadron as Shaw AFB ramps up Reaper operations
Hurlburt Field, FL, is expanding its active-duty MQ-9 Reaper pilot workforce to allow for a second combat line under Air Force Special Operations Command.
Pilot Training Next initiative to inform enlisted pilot pipeline for MQ-9
Air Force Air Education and Training Command is gathering data that will shape whether and how the service allows enlisted airmen to fly MQ-9 Reapers, according to the command's top general.
House's defense policy bill would add two MQ-9s, require briefing on using Reaper for missile defense
House lawmakers propose giving the Air Force money to buy two more MQ-9 Reapers in their version of the fiscal year 2019 defense policy bill, which passed to the full chamber May 10.
The Navy will stick with two contractors for its XLUUV program:
Senate appropriators: Navy will retain both contractors for XLUUV phase 2
The Navy appears to have quietly decided to retain both contractors for the second phase of a large unmanned underwater vehicle program, according to Senate appropriators.
Related XLUUV coverage over the past year:
Navy will use Orca XLUUV acquisition strategy as model for future programs
The Navy will use a rapid acquisition strategy for the Orca Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle as a model for other acquisition programs.
Navy awards two contracts for Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle
The Navy awarded contracts worth $42 million and $43 million respectively to a Boeing-Huntington Ingalls team and Lockheed Martin for the next stage of the Orca Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle program.
Boeing, HII team up for Navy XLUUV competition
Boeing and Huntington Ingalls Industries recently announced they are teaming on design and production of an offering for the Navy's Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle competition.
DARPA releases BAA for program that would deliver payloads from XLUUV
The Pentagon's advanced research arm is seeking industry's input for a program designed to deliver undersea payloads from a large unmanned underwater vehicle.
The immigration policy debate has now reached the Pentagon:
Pentagon to be reimbursed for housing undocumented immigrants
The Pentagon is working with the Homeland Security and Health and Human Services departments to begin housing thousands of undocumented immigrants at two Texas military bases in the coming weeks and expects to be reimbursed for the cost.