GA-ASI awarded UCLASS study contract

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) today announced that the US Navy recently awarded the company a study contract to support pre-Milestone A activities for the service’s Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) programme. This study contract supports the UCLASS programme’s pre-Milestone A programme activities.

'We’re pleased with this first stage award and remain committed to providing the Navy with timely delivery of a robust, affordable, and versatile aircraft carrier-based UAS that delivers superior ISR and strike capabilities satisfying the Navy’s future needs,' said Frank Pace, president, Aircraft Systems Group, GA-ASI.

The navy’s UCLASS study calls for an open, adaptive architecture and disciplined systems engineering approach in order to identify and assess potential trade space. In response, GA-ASI plans to capitalise on this and its parallel engineering assessments to develop an affordable, low-risk, high-technology solution that leverages nearly 20 years of Predator/Gray Eagle-series UAS development, manufacturing, system support, and 1.5 million flight hours of operational experience to date. Many GA-ASI aircraft elements, components, and subsystems already provide the mature, proven, and reliable mission capabilities desired by the Navy. The UCLASS programme is also expected to leverage existing, deployed DOD systems to launch, recover, and control the UAS autonomously, transfer UAS data in support of persistent ISR operations and time-critical strike.

Awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), the eight-month study contract calls for development of a Concept of Operations (CONOPS), and support for analysis of alternative activities. In addition, it requires analysis of the relative maturity and near-term availability of UCLASS-relevant technologies and identifying ways to shorten key development, test, and certification timelines.

Source: GA-ASI