Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
U.S. Military Budgets More for Small Unmanned Aircraft Services
The Naval Air Systems Command and Special Operations Command have awarded IDIQ contracts of $1.7 billion and $475 million, respectively.
The Aerosonde is shown with Hybrid Quadrotor kit that provides vertical takeoff and landing capability. (Photo: Textron Systems)
The Aerosonde is shown with Hybrid Quadrotor kit that provides vertical takeoff and landing capability. (Photo: Textron Systems)

The U.S. military is budgeting for greater use of small unmanned aircraft systems for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) support, says one of the companies chosen to compete for tasking orders under separate programs. In June, the Naval Air Systems Command (Navair) and the Special Operations Command (Socom) awarded four total companies indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contracts with aggregate values up to $1.7 billion and $475 million, respectively.