Army reviewing future UAS proposals

The Army is starting to review proposals for non-developmental unmanned aircraft systems to demonstrate as part of its Future Vertical Lift effort.

Interested vendors are competing for the service's Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System program, a new start in fiscal year 2019.

The contractors will have one year after the award date to provide fully operational aircraft that will ultimately go to Army Forces Command brigade combat teams, according to a performance work statement the Army released in September. The service intends to award multiple indefinite-delivery, indefinite quantity contracts for the effort.

FTUAS is to be used by BCTs for reconnaissance, surveillance and targeting assistance.

The system must be able to provide these capabilities 24 hours a day for at least the first four days of operation.

To ensure it is rapidly deployable in the field, the Army also requires the UAS to be operated and transported off the back of a humvee by only four soldiers.

The system will not carry any weapons but will instead be outfitted with a laser illuminator or pointing device that can be seen while wearing night vision goggles.