RQ-11 UAV

The PE 0305232M: RQ-11 UAV program is a Navy Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) line item focused on advancing the Family of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (FoSUAS) for the United States Marine Corps (USMC). This initiative supports the Commandant of the Marine Corps Force Modernization objectives by providing scalable airborne Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) capabilities at the battalion, company, and detachment levels. The goal is to enhance situational awareness, force protection, and operational flexibility through the deployment of Short Range/Short Endurance (SR/SE), Medium Range/Medium Endurance (MR/ME), and Long Range/Long Endurance (LR/LE) SUAS platforms.

FoSUAS Program Objectives center on meeting validated operational requirements as outlined in the Operational Requirements Document (ORD), Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) Rapid Acquisition Top Level Requirements (TLR), and LR/LE TLR. SR/SE systems are designed for ranges of 5-10 kilometers and endurance up to 50 minutes, addressing urban and challenging terrain reconnaissance needs. MR/ME systems, with ranges of 10-20 kilometers and endurance up to 4 hours, provide persistent RSTA capabilities to company-level units and specialized platoons, supporting force protection, IED detection, and communication relay. LR/LE systems extend capabilities to 20-50 kilometers and up to 6 hours endurance, supporting battalion-level RSTA needs and multi-sensor operations for Marine Forces Special Operations Command.

SUAS Reusable Architecture (SRA) is a key technology improvement effort under this program. The SRA aims to reduce the size, weight, and manpower required to operate SUAS, while improving digital interoperability and cybersecurity. Objectives include establishing reference implementations and industry guidance for SUAS interfaces, enabling rapid integration of hardware and software, and supporting both open and closed-source artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) tools for autonomy and target recognition. The SRA also seeks to streamline accreditation processes by authorizing all compliant systems under a single service accreditation, thereby mitigating security vulnerabilities at the enterprise level.

Product Development activities in FY 2025 and FY 2026 focus on designing engineering solutions for mandatory SUAS cybersecurity assessments, system interoperability, modularity, and integration of SRA. Efforts also include investigating swarming technology and developing solutions for dropped payloads. The reduction in funding from FY 2025 to FY 2026 reflects the transition from development and integration to implementation of SRA across existing FoSUAS platforms.

Support efforts involve ongoing research and engineering analysis of commercial UAS systems, market research to inform future technology demonstrations, and recurring engineering assessments for cybersecurity, airworthiness, flight clearances, and battery certification. These activities ensure that FoSUAS platforms remain compliant with evolving standards and can rapidly incorporate commercial innovations. The decrease in support funding aligns with reduced product development and engineering assessment requirements as SRA matures.

Test and Evaluation priorities include continued integration and operational assessment of SRA for FoSUAS platforms, compliance testing with National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requirements, and assessment of UAS software, payloads, and ancillary components. Cybersecurity and NDAA compliance testing are performed by third-party vendors to ensure robust data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and risk management. The reduction in test and evaluation funding for FY 2026 corresponds to fewer compliance tests as SRA implementation progresses.

The program's Acquisition Strategy emphasizes rapid fielding of new technologies and capabilities to meet USMC requirements and Force Design Modernization objectives. By leveraging industry, government, and academic collaboration, the program aims to accelerate technology insertion, reduce duplicative efforts, and maintain cost efficiency. The PE 0305232M: RQ-11 UAV line item supports the modernization and operational effectiveness of Marine Corps units through targeted research, development, and integration of advanced SUAS technologies.