Textron Systems receives new SUAS task order

Textron Systems Unmanned Systems announced on 19 May that it had received a new task order under the US Navy Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Services programme that is expected to reach full operational capability by the end of May.

Award of this new task order is in addition to the extension of existing task orders, bringing the total monthly mission hours provided under the contract to 4,500 across all international sites.

Under the ISR Services indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity programme, the company provides end-to-end, turnkey mission support with its Aerosonde Small UAS — delivered by the company’s own operators and supported by its field service specialists.

‘This fee-for-service [FFS] structure brings tremendous customer value — ramp-up time is minimised, and concerns such as training, logistics and sustainment are handled by our team,’ said David Phillips, vice president, Small/Medium Endurance Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Textron Systems Unmanned Systems. ‘Our customers — in this case, the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Army — simply concentrate on the mission with a reliable, high-performance asset continuously at the ready.’

The company is maintaining operational readiness rates over 98 percent for its navy ISR Services customers, delivering multi-mission flexibility with the Aerosonde SUAS, which is equipped for simultaneous electro-optical, infrared and communications relay within a single aircraft.

According to the company, the system is designed for expeditionary operations under the most austere conditions. The recent addition of the new EL-005 engine designed and manufactured by manned aviation engine expert Lycoming Engines has improved both reliability and performance. 

‘With benchmark-setting reliability and proven multi-mission capability, our Aerosonde SUAS provides customers with outstanding value and performance,’ Phillips concluded. ‘Equally important, it maintains a small, expeditionary footprint ideal for persistent ISR, border patrol, critical infrastructure protection, and so many other military and commercial mission sets.’

Related Equipment in Defence Insight

Aerosonde Mk 4.7