The U.S. Army received the first Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System, Increment 1 — known as FTUAS, INC 1 — system on Sept. 12, 2022. The system consists of six air vehicles, six data terminals, six control stations and associated ground support equipment. The U.S. Army awarded an $8M other transaction authority agreement for the system on August 18, 2022, to AeroVironment, Inc. The air vehicles and ground equipment will undergo numerous tests such as environmental, transportability and flight testing at Redstone Arsenal. After testing concludes, the residual system of four air vehicles, four data terminals, four control stations and associated ground support equipment will be delivered to an Army brigade combat team for an operational assessment. Based upon the results of testing and assessment, Army leadership may decide to procure and field up to seven additional INC 1 systems.
FTUAS is a vertical takeoff and landing, runway-independent, reduced acoustic signature aircraft that can be transported organically while providing commanders with on-the-move reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition capabilities. FTUAS allows rapid emplacement, in less than 45 minutes, and has a reduced size and footprint compared to the Shadow while providing comparable performance. INC 1 leverages lessons-learned from the year-long FTUAS demonstration and will field readily available mature technologies in response to a directed requirement from the Army Futures Command. It will also inform the doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership, personnel, facilities and policy requirements for the FTUAS INC 2 program. INC 2 is a separate competitive acquisition. FTUAS will be transportable by a single CH-47, provide over six hours of operating endurance, and will be capable of operating out to 100 kilometers.
The U.S. Army awarded the Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS) Increment 1 (INC 1) Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) on August 18, 2022, to AeroVironment, Inc for one (1) JUMP 20 system. The system consists of six (6) Air Vehicles, ground data terminals and ground control stations. This award has a value of $8M and is the result of a competitive evaluation. The OTA is for the purchase, testing, and delivery of one (1) system to a single Army Brigade Combat Team (BCT). Based upon the results of testing, Army leadership may decide to procure and field up to seven (7) additional INC 1 systems. INC 1 leverages lessons-learned from the year-long FTUAS demonstration and will field readily available mature technologies in response to a Directed Requirement from the Army Futures Command. INC 1 meets an immediate operational need from units for a replacement for the RQ-7B Shadow and will inform the Doctrine, Organization, Training, materiel, Leadership, Personnel, Facilities, and Policy (DOTmLPF-P) requirements for the FTUAS INC 2 program. INC 2 is a separate competitive acquisition.
The FTUAS INC 2 acquisition is continuing independently of but in parallel with the INC 1 award and testing. The Aviation and Missile Technology Consortium (AMTC) released the FTUAS INC 2 Request for White Papers on 1 October 2021. The PEO Aviation FTUAS team is conducting a technical evaluation of the submissions in preparation for the rapid prototyping effort. The U,S. Army requires replacement of the workhorse RQ-7B Shadow with a vertical takeoff and landing, runway-independent, reduced acoustic signature aircraft that can be transported organically while providing commanders with “on the move” reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition capabilities. FTUAS will allow rapid emplacement in less than 45 minutes, have a reduced size and footprint compared to the Shadow and have comparable performance. FTUAS will be transportable by a single CH-47, provide over six hours of operating endurance, and operate out to 100 kilometers.
