The U.S. Army has concluded the first agreement option period and awarded the second agreement option for the Future Tactical Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (FTUAS) Rapid Prototyping Program to Griffon Aerospace, Incorporated and Textron Systems Corporation. The second agreement option period begins on September 26, 2023, and during this period, the Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Project Management Office (UAS PMO) will continue to evaluate Project Agreement Holders’ (PAH) weapon system designs leading to a Critical Design Review (CDR), which will establish the final system design and initial product baseline. In the first agreement option period, the UAS PMO evaluated PAH submissions against requirements of performance, Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), cost, schedule, risk, and key Program Executive Office, Aviation and Army priorities.
The period culminated in a Preliminary Design Review allowing the UAS PMO to assess the weapon system designs presented by all PAHs. Following the CDR, the remaining PAHs will participate in flight demonstrations and MOSA third-party verification in the third agreement option period before delivering production representative weapon systems and support equipment for developmental testing and operational demonstrations with soldier touch points in a subsequent agreement option period. These systems will undergo numerous evaluation activities such as environmental testing, electromagnetic environmental effects testing, transportability testing, MOSA verification, flight testing, and Technical Manual verification conducted at PAH and Government facilities.
As a critical capability in the Army’s modernization strategy for Future Vertical Lift, Future Tactical Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (FTUAS) is the Army’s premier Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Uncrewed Aircraft modernization effort. Textron is offering its Aerosonde Mk. 4.8 4.8 Hybrid Quad (HQ) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) and Griffon Aerospace is offering its Valiant drone platform for the FTUAS program. FTUAS aims to replace the legacy Shadow drone, also built by Textron. The FTUAS Rapid Prototyping Program is executed under Other Transactional Authority supported by the Aviation and Missile Technology Consortium (AMTC).
The FTUAS Program of Record requirements include runway independence and a rapidly deployable UAS capability. When fielded, FTUAS will provide a distinct tactical advantage over current systems due to increased maneuverability through VTOL, improved command and control supported by the on-the-move capability, a reduced transportation and logistics footprint, as well as significantly improved survivability due to reduced noise signature. FTUAS will provide a critical capability to the Brigade Combat Team’s ability to conduct reconnaissance and surveillance operations that collect, develop, and report actionable intelligence information about the enemy in Multi-Domain Operations.
