HUNT VALLEY, Md., April 13 (UPI) -- U.S. Special Operations Command will receive unmanned aerial systems support under a three-year, $600 million contract.
The award to AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems, a unit of Textron Systems Corp., includes operations using AAI's Aerosonde Small Unmanned Aircraft System, a high-performance aircraft.
The Aerosonde SUAS features a single electro-optic/infrared payload for day-and-night persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The aircraft's large payload size, weight and power can accommodate another payload of choice for multi-mission flexibility.
Total initial funding for these activities under the Mid-Endurance Unmanned Aircraft Systems II award is $20 million.
"Features like payload flexibility and efficient, expeditionary operations are important when considering the special operations mission," says AAI vice president, SUAS, Stephen Flach.
"Our team focused on those unique requirements to ensure that the Aerosonde system can provide the required performance regardless of operational and environmental constraints."
"The team is galvanized and working closely with our new USSOCOM customer on this critical new activity," added Steven Reid, senior vice president and general manager of AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems. "Our hallmark is a full-service orientation -- understanding the mission, equipment, logistics and other factors behind customer requirements in order to create and execute a total solution."
