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Textron awarded UAS contract for Littoral Combat Ships

11th August 2023 - 14:30 GMT | by Tim Fish in Auckland

RSS

The Aerosonde UAS provides mission overwatch and extended intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance services with enhanced mission payloads. (NAVAIR)

The US Navy (USN) is expanding the airborne surveillance capabilities of three of its Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) with the addition of new UAS capabilities.

Textron Systems announced on 9 August that it had received a $19.5 million contract from US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to provide its Aerosonde UAS on two Independence-class LCS and one Freedom-class LCS ship.

Wayne Prender, senior VP of Textron Systems Air Systems business told Shephard: 'The installation will begin in November 2023 with operations beginning in January 2024. Integration of the system is minimal by design, with roll-on, roll-off capability to be more easily transferred from one ship to another.'

Installation on the Littoral Combat Ships represents the smallest type of warship and third class of vessel

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