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US Army takes mixed-fleet FTUAS buy into consideration

3rd March 2021 - 16:30 GMT | by Tim Martin in London

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The US Army has just wrapped up almost a year's worth of FTUAS testing and is looking ahead to a formal acquisition. It could see fit to buy more than one aircraft type currently under consideration.

The US Army is not ruling out buying a variety of systems currently included in the Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) effort, that will eventually see the service’s RQ-7B Shadow replaced.

A formal acquisition has still to start but four competitors are under contract for test demonstrations, with the army open to the idea of awarding production contracts to more than one manufacturer.

‘Whether we buy one or more systems is certainly a conversation to be had and I know everyone is very anticipatory of an acquisition strategy,’ said BG Robert Barrie, PEO Aviation, US Army, during a 2 March virtual

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Tim Martin

Tim Martin is Air Editor for Shephard Media, based in Belfast.

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