The US Army has reported receiving a surveillance drone prototype that, when deployed, will give brigade commanders a better, integrated view of the battlefield and enable them to monitor troops’ movement.
The US Army received Textron System’s MK 4.8 HQ Aerosonde last month for its participation in the Future Tactical Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Program (FTUSAS).
FTUAS is an ambitious US Army program that seeks to provide the Brigade Combat Teams (BCT) with the capability to carry out reconnaissance and surveillance missions that gather, create, and disclose actionable intelligence. This would enable the BCT commander to maintain control during Multi-Domain Operations.
The transformational capabilities sought under the FTUAS include, soldier-led, field-level maintenance, Over-the-Move (OTM) command and control, and Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) for runway independence. The Modular Open Systems Approach of the FTUAS will allow the system to keep pace with technology through rapid capability insertions. The FTUAS will eventually replace the RQ-7 Shadow UAV.
“The goodness about FTUAS is going to be the plug-and-play things … that you can put on it,” as explained by Lt. Gen. Karl Gingrich, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8, United States Army. “The ability to put on a network extension, the ability to put a, potentially in the future, lethal payload. [Electro-Optical Infrared] sensors, [electronic warfare],” he was quoted as saying by a defense news portal.
In March 2023, the US Army chose five companies to advance to the first phase of its FTUAS contest. FTUAS Inc. awarded two contracts for US$1 million to US$25 million to each of the following companies: Sierra Nevada Corporation, Textron Systems, Northrop Grumman, Griffon Aerospace, and AeroVironment. However, by September 2023, only Griffon Aerospace and Textron Systems were selected to progress to the second phase of the Army’s FTUAS Increment 2 competition.
During the pivotal stage of the FTUAS development, Textron Systems, renowned for its cutting-edge UAV solutions, offered its Aerosonde UAV for assessment, and Griffon Aerospace demonstrated its state-of-the-art Valiant unmanned aerial vehicle.
The Aerosonde has finally been delivered to the US Army. Announcing its delivery, the US Army said: “This achievement follows a comprehensive two-year development and testing process, which included extensive technical testing, ground and flight acceptance testing, and a joint effort between the vendor and the United States Government.”
According to reports, the training on this prototype is expected to be concluded by the end of January 2025.
Once the training is complete, the US Army will review production bids for its Future Tactical Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, with awards expected by the end of 2025, according to a statement released on December 20. The US Army is interested in this prototype’s vertical take-off and landing capabilities. However, a final choice between the Textron Aerosonde UAV and the Griffon Valiant will be made sometime later this year.
The UAVs will undergo a series of tests as part of the rigorous evaluation procedure, including flight testing, environmental testing, transportability testing, electromagnetic environmental impacts testing, and technical manual verification. The purpose of these tests is to make sure that the future UAV fleet meets the Army’s exacting operational requirements and performance criteria.
This project is a major step forward for the Army’s modernization of its surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, allowing it to handle changing threats in a more complicated combat environment efficiently. A new UAV can be fielded as early as 2026. However, the US Army has not committed to that.
The development comes at a time when the Russia-Ukraine war has demonstrated the utility of drones in modern combat. The war has shown that young soldiers in small units can effectively use drones. With an array of sophisticated drones in its arsenal, the US is now considering expanding its capabilities by tapping on particular features.
Textron Aerosonde UAV
Textron Systems’ Aerosonde is a runway-independent UAV designed to meet the US Army’s Future Vertical Lift requirements. It uses Hybrid Quadrotor technology to enable vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) with increased flexibility.
While maintaining its two-soldier portability, its size, weight, and power (SWAP) profile is tailored to carry out the brigade combat team’s (BCT) airborne reconnaissance operations.
The Aerosonde uses heavy fuel engines, fast emplacement, two-soldier mobility, and minimal ground support equipment to blend in with the pre-existing battlespace. This unmanned air system does not require pre-positioned launch and landing equipment and offers enhanced capabilities with a lower footprint to support the Brigade Combat Teams’ agility.
Textron Systems equips the warfighter with the knowledge and credentials required to operate, maintain, and repair the aircraft in a contested battlespace through a condensed 6-week training program. The Aerosonde’s Modular Open System Approach (MOSA) design allows for quick payload integration, enhancing mission readiness and agility while giving the Commander more capabilities.
In addition to better interoperability, this strategy promotes competitiveness, streamlines technology updates, integrates innovation, and allows for cost savings.
The UAV can carry up to six payloads simultaneously, including EO/IR Full Motion Video, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), communications relay, LiDAR, and Wide Area Search (WAS).
The Aerosonde adapts to the evolving needs of the warfighter. Only two soldiers are required to carry cases and assemble the UAV. Additionally, two-soldier mobility adds to the BCT’s expeditionary capabilities by allowing them to complete missions quickly and efficiently.
“The rapid emplacement abilities the Aerosonde offers is crucial for success in today’s warfighting landscape, providing soldiers the support needed to remain agile,” states the manufacturer.
The system can be swiftly deployed on tactical ground and air vehicles across all terrains to assist soldiers in various tasks. It takes less than 30 minutes to assemble and launch the entire UAS, and it can land for fuel, switch payloads, and relaunch in a few minutes.
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