Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (SUAV) (6.4)

Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (SUA V) under the Army's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation budget activity aims to provide battalion and below ground maneuver elements with critical situational awareness and enhanced force protection. The program focuses on developing the Rucksack Portable Unmanned Aircraft System (RPUAS) Family of Small Unmanned Aircraft System (FoSUAS) to offer organic and responsive reconnaissance and targeting capability with real-time Full Motion Video and sensor data. The program also includes the development of three separate hand-launched mission-specific configurable aircraft, namely the Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR), Medium Range Reconnaissance (MRR), and Long Range Reconnaissance (LRR), along with ground control equipment incorporating Tactical Open Government Owned Architecture (TOGA).

The specific objectives of the program include conducting advanced component development activities for SRR and LRR prototype systems in high fidelity and realistic operating environments. Additionally, the program aims to investigate, develop, and integrate payloads and hand controllers for LRR while beginning the exploration of autonomous aerial resupply capability options in FY2024. The program also involves system engineering program management support during the development and integration of components for SRR & LRR air vehicles, as well as advanced component development efforts for SRR and LRR. Furthermore, it includes testing to evaluate components for the SRR and LRR air vehicles. The program's acquisition strategy involves utilizing the Middle Tier Acquisition pathway for rapid prototyping for Short Range Reconnaissance while planning an Acquisition Shaping Panel for Long Range Reconnaissance in FY 2023.