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US Army · US
The US Army is seeking commercial vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft systems for its Battalion Reconnaissance UAS effort, to give Battalion Commanders an organic Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA) capability. The desired platform is a rapidly deployable, production-ready VTOL system with autonomous reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition, plus a secondary communications relay function, not exceeding a Max Gross Takeoff Weight (MGTOW) of 55lbs. Systems must be National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) compliant.
AI summary of the notice · the full notice text is below
1. BACKGROUND
The U.S. Army Contracting Command – Redstone Arsenal (ACC-RSA) is issuing this Call for Solutions (abbreviated “C4S” hereafter) against Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) W58RGZ-26-S-C001-006 under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 3458. This C4S will competitively acquire innovative commercial, Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) for the Battalion Reconnaissance UAS effort described below. The Government reserves the right to alter or cancel this call at any time.
The purpose of this effort is to provide Battalion Commanders and their organizations with an organic Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA) capability. This effort aligns with the Army's modernization priorities to operate in Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) and the Department of War's (DoW) strategic objective of achieving Drone Dominance. Through this C4S, the Army ensures that industry remains informed of its changing needs, fostering ongoing investment and innovation in UAS technologies to address future opportunities.
This C4S will assess National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) compliant and viable Battalion Reconnaissance UAS candidates through a capability demonstration and Manufacturing Readiness Assessment (MRA) in support of the Army Maneuver Elements.
The Government reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to select multiple solutions, a single solution, or make no award at all as a result of this evaluation. Should the Government elect to select multiple solutions, Offerors are advised that an award does not constitute a commitment to procure any specific quantity of systems. There is no guaranteed minimum order quantity for any selected vendor. The actual number of systems procured from any awardee will be driven by evolving Army mission needs, fielding schedules, and the availability of funds.
Each Offeror shall explain how their system meets the minimum set of requirements from Attachment 2, System Characteristics.
All procurements will be initiated by Project Manager (PM) UAS and/or Army end-users based on their specific mission requirements and the availability of funds.
2. PROBLEM STATEMENT
The character and pace of modern warfare are being redefined by the rapid proliferation and innovation of UAS. Our near-peer competitors are deploying these capabilities with a speed and scale that directly threatens our technological advantage at the tactical edge. Recent DoW guidance directs a shift to a wartime footing, demanding the acceleration of acquisition timelines and scale the industrial base to meet this evolving threat.
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The facts on this page come from the official notice.
The Battalion Reconnaissance UAS system is a critical solution to close maneuver battalions' operational reconnaissance and security gaps, which severely limits a commander’s situational awareness, decision space, freedom of maneuver, and tempo during Cross Domain Maneuver Operations.
To address this urgent need, the Army must rapidly identify, assess, and procure innovative, readily available UAS that are ready to field now. This C4S seeks to fill critical UAS capability gaps at the Battalion Level. The objective is to move away from traditional, lengthy development cycles and onboard mature, effective, and immediately procurable solutions into the UAS Marketplace. This approach will empower the warfighter with the cutting-edge capability required to dominate the modern battlefield and restore decisive advantage.
3. Technical attributes
This C4S is for a production-ready Battalion Reconnaissance UAS. The desired platform must be a rapidly deployable VTOL system capable of autonomous reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, and identification. A critical secondary function is the ability to provide communications relay in dynamic radio spectrum environments.
The system configuration shall be a VTOL UAS, not to exceed a Max Gross Takeoff Weight (MGTOW) of 55lbs and include two modular mission capable VTOL air vehicles with an Electro-Optical /Infrared (EO/IR) camera and laser pointer, two ground control stations and ancillary equipment capable of operations in day, night and adverse weather conditions. Ancillary equipment is defined as batteries, cables, initial spare parts, operator/maintenance manuals, and packaging. Dynamic mission changes require a system with a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) and a common payload interface to rapidly remove and install air vehicle mission payloads.
The desired Battalion Reconnaissance UAS capabilities and characteristics are listed below and in the attached required System Characteristics (Attachment 2). These capabilities and characteristics are required in the Offerors’ responses and will be verified during the capability demonstration. It is critical that whitepaper submissions accurately reflect performance and associated assumptions.
Performance: Greater than 40 km range and greater than 5-hour endurance per AV.
Launch/Recovery: Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL).
Data Link: Hardened, secure…