Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles specifically focuses on the Advanced Payload Develop & Support project (11A) within the Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, Army budget activity. This project is a shared funding line between multiple payload programs and supports the Army's transformation by developing Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA) and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) payload systems for Brigade Combat Teams, Divisions, and Corps Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The project aligns with Headquarters Department of the Army (HQDA) and Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) UAS priorities and supports Future Advanced Payloads for Army UAS systems. The primary objective is to enhance the capabilities of the Common Sensor Payload (CSP) - Electro Optical / Infrared / Laser Designator (EO/IR/LD), providing High Definition (HD) Full Motion Video (FMV) with day/night capability to collect continuous imagery and designate targets for attack by laser-guided precision weapons.

The program aims to achieve this by focusing on software and hardware developments to increase lethality and usability of the CSP while reducing cognitive burden on the Warfighter. Additionally, it includes completing testing for the Target Location Accuracy (TLA) upgrade to the CSP. The program's acquisition strategy involves meeting Key Performance Parameter (KPP) requirements for the Full Motion Video (FMV) sensor on the Gray Eagle platform, including increasing detection, recognition, and identification requirements with the HD variation of CSP. The program also includes a five-year follow-on production and system support contract for integration, test, upgrade, and sustainment of enhanced capabilities. These efforts are critical in providing wide area, near real-time RSTA capabilities to support force applications, battlespace awareness, force protection, and net-centric operations across the battlefield.