Potential new start for maritime search and rescue UAS in 2023

The Navy is looking for a maritime search and rescue unmanned aircraft system to potentially begin program procurement in fiscal year 2023.

Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division AIRWorks wants to accelerate the identification and evaluation of unmanned aircraft systems that could perform wide-area MSAR from a surface vessel.

The program office is looking to source technology to industry and move quickly, said Michael Stewart, deputy director for integrated warfare.

Fifth Fleet’s International Maritime Exercise 2022, which began at the end of January, and Pacific Fleet’s Exercise Valiant Shield, taking place this summer, will help accelerate the unmanned effort, Stewart said at the Jan. 26 industry day.

“The idea is, source technology, see if it's applicable to a warfighter problem in the Navy, and then go as quickly as possible,” Stewart said.

The unmanned aircraft should perform at long ranges while relaying data back to command and control in a potentially comms-denied environment, according to the Navy.

This system could potentially be a new start in FY-23 and the program is currently working on funding, according to an updated question and answer document released Feb. 10.

“The Unmanned Task Force is working along with stakeholders to identify funding inside the normal budgetary process to get the down-selected capability(s) in the hands of the warfighter,” the document states.

NAWCD will sponsor an at-sea technology demonstration this summer, part of a multiphased, merit-based selection process for the potential award of an Other Transaction prototype project, said Christa Rodewald-Franz, deputy director of AIRWorks, at the industry day.

The demonstration will be used to evaluate relevant technologies and inform future acquisition strategies, Rodewald-Franz said.

“Any awarded OTs have the potential to become a part of a feature program of record,” Rodewald-Franz said.