Orbital to develop and provide UAV engines for Lycoming
Lycoming engines power Aerosonde small UASs. (Photo: Mark Schauer/US Army)
Engine supply contract could extend to ten years, following an initial 12-month development and integration phase.
Australia-based Orbital UAV has sealed an engine development and supply agreement with Lycoming Engines, a subsidiary of US-based Textron Systems.
Orbital told the Australian Securities Exchange on 28 March that the agreement will result in a major expansion to business relationships and future revenue opportunities.
The first phase of the collaboration is a 12-month engine development and UAV integration programme. Delivery of production engines will begin ‘no earlier than quarter four of Financial Year ending 30 June 2022’, Orbital added.
Based on the success of this initial programme, the agreement will evolve into the supply of engines for up to 10 years.
Textron manufactures UAS such as the Aerosonde (pictured) and Shadow. Orbital already numbers Boeing (and its Insitu subsidiary) and Northrop Grumman in its portfolio of US customers.
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