Two VTOL Platforms To Compete for Shadow Replacement | Aviation International News

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Two VTOL Platforms To Compete for Shadow Replacement

The U.S. Army wants to replace its Shadow tactical unmanned air systems, and has narrowed the search to two runway-independent proposals.

Martin UAV's V-BAT launches and recovers vertically from and to a tail-sitting position. The company has demonstrated the ability to autonomously land on the flatbed of a moving truck. (Photo: Martin UAV)

By Beth Stevenson

April 2, 2019

Textron and Martin UAV have been down-selected by the U.S. Army to provide their respective vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) systems for a brigade combat team (BCT) evaluation for the service’s Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS) program.

FTUAS will lead to the procurement of a replacement for the army’s in-service Textron Shadow UAV, and a March 28 contract announcement from the U.S. government revealed that both Textron and Martin UAV would compete for task orders under a firm fixed-price procurement contract, with an available $99.5 million of funding, selected from 11 bids that the army received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, the government notes, and the contract is expected to complete by March 27, 2022.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

U.S. Navy Tests Autonomy Integration With MQ-20 Drone

Adaptive autonomy elements can modify a mission plan in real-time

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

drone in flight above desert

Northrop Grumman Starts Flying Talon Blue Combat Drone

Autonomous vehicle could compete for U.S. Air Force collaborative combat aircraft program

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Uncrewed aircraft getting airborne from runway, hangar in background

Joby’s Autonomous Caravan Completes Coast-to-coast Trip

On-board safety pilot made no control inputs over 3,199 miles

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Joby’s autonomous Cessna Grand Caravan flies past Bodie Island Lighthouse

Bristow Triples Early-delivery Chaparral Reservations

Helicopter operator has reserved 15 of the hybrid-electric cargo drones

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Elroy Air’s hybrid-electric Chaparral cargo drone is parked beside a helicopter from Bristow

Beamed Power Could Keep Solar Aircraft Aloft in Winter

BAE Systems unit gets $21.2 million to test the idea with PHASA-35

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

PHASA-35

Textron, Merlin Unveil Uncrewed SkyCourier Concept

Design study swaps the cockpit for a nose cargo door

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Cessna SkyCourier UX Render

Lockheed Martin Will Build Four Vectis Drone Prototypes

The U.S. defense group displayed a UAS model at the Air & Space Forces Association conference

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Lockheed Martin Vectis UAS

Swarm Pitches Gamera for New U.S. Drone Requirements

U.S. Air Force is seeking a more affordable replacement for MQ-9A Reapers

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Swarm Aero Gamera drone