Future Combat Systems Unmanned Vehicles Complete Preliminary Design Reviews
Boeing and Science Applications International together the Lead Systems Integrator for the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) modernization program, today announced that the program has successfully completed preliminary design reviews (PDR) for all its unmanned vehicle systems (UVS).
The UVS Integrated Product Team (IPT) completed the five PDRs ahead of the FCS System-of-Systems (SoS) PDR scheduled for later this spring. The SoS PDR will assess the integration of the program's individual platforms into a complete SoS architecture and help establish baselines for developing prototypes.
"The FCS One Team and our Army partners have taken a big step toward a successful System of Systems review this spring," said Gregg Martin, Boeing vice president and FCS program manager. "Each of these unmanned systems plays a critical role in providing soldiers with greater surveillance, reconnaissance and logistical capabilities to increase their effectiveness and survivability on the battlefield."
The FCS platforms reviewed in the PDRs were the Multifunctional Utility/Logistics Equipment (MULE) family of vehicles and its Autonomous Navigation System (ANS); the Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV); the Class I Unmanned Aerial System (UAS); and the Class IV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
The MULE and ANS reviews were completed in fiscal year 2008 and included all three MULE variants: the MULE-Transport, the MULE-Countermine and the Armed Robotic Vehicle-Assault (Light).
The UVS IPT and partner iRobot conducted the SUGV PDR at the iRobot facility in Bedford, Mass., in October.
"The combined government and industry team has done an excellent job in developing a design that meets our requirements and has produced the supporting evidence needed to make this a successful review," said Alan Walls, director for Unmanned Vehicle Systems. "With the completion of this event, we have taken another important step in getting the advanced capability of the SUGV into the hands of our soldiers."
The UVS IPT and partner Honeywell International conducted the Class I UAS PDR at the Boeing facility in St. Louis in late November.
"I am pleased with the progress we have made in the Class I UAS," said Glenn Morris, LSI program manager for Class I. "The system's laser target designator will provide a tremendous capability to the soldier, and the team did a great job of preparing for this review."
Finally, the UVS team and Northrop Grumman Corp. Unmanned Systems successfully conducted the Class IV UAV PDR at the Boeing facility in St. Louis in December.
"The Class IV PDR review is the culmination of a great deal of hard work by the team and the whole FCS program," said Doug Jaspering, LSI team lead for UAV. "We are in really good shape as we move into the detailed design phase, and fully expect to have our prototypes ready for qualification testing on schedule in fiscal year 2011."
More information on the Future Combat Systems program is available at https://www.fcs.army.mil/.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments
Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.
-
US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS
The service has been using a Directed Requirement (DR) approach to speed up the deployment of a Medium Range Reconnaissance capability.
-
AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024
AeroVironment’s portfolio will grow thanks to the eVTOL P550 aimed at battalion-level tactical forces.
-
Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards
The Royal Australian Air Force is advancing its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities across three key programmes as it works with the likes of Boeing and Northrop Grumman to reshape Australia’s defence strategy.
-
FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official
Prototypes from Griffon Aerospace and Textron Systems recently passed through MOSA conformance trials and flight tests.
-
Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities
Funds for the second phase of this effort will be allocated in the US Department of Defense (DoD) FY2026 budget request.