Northrop Grumman selected for TERN Phase II
Northrop Grumman has been awarded a Phase II contract for the DARPA-Office of Naval Research (ONR) Tactical Exploited Reconnaissance Node (TERN) programme. The company will now proceed with its work to support the development of new UAS capabilities for maritime missions.
The TERN programme aims to explore new concepts for a long-endurance and long-range aircraft that would operate from a variety of US Navy ships. With current long-endurance UAS, manned aircraft and helicopters requiring aircraft carriers or large, fixed land bases for takeoff and landing, TERN envisions using smaller ships as mobile launch and recovery sites for medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAS.
With the goal being to provide long-range ISR and other capabilities from the decks of forward-deployed small ships, TERN will advance technology to enable a full-scale, at-sea demonstration of an R&D prototype UAS from a vessel with the same deck size as an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.
Chris Hernandez, vice president, advanced systems, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, said: ‘Being competitively selected to execute Phase II of the TERN programme allows us to further demonstrate how our system could advance the navy's mission. Our TERN solution taps into the company's proven expertise and experience in developing and deploying operational unmanned systems in harsh and challenging environments at sea.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments]()
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]()
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 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]()
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]()
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]()
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.
