USSOCOM selects Textron Systems to compete for MEUAS III Task Orders
NewsJune 15, 2017
HUNT VALLEY, Md. Textron Inc.'s subsidiary Textron Systems Unmanned Systems has been selected to compete for Mid-Endurance Unmanned Aircraft Systems (MEUAS) III task orders from the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). The contract is spans over 54-month period and has a maximum ceiling value of $475 million.
The win enables Textron Systems to be eligible to compete for opportunities to provide contractor-owned, contractor-operated operations using the Aerosonde Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS). The company is one of two companies selected with Boeing Co's Insitu as the additional company selected for the MEUAS III task order, according to a Reuters report.
MEUAS III is a follow-on contract for unmanned aircraft systems intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) services supporting Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel and operations at multiple international sites. The contract includes planning, coordination, certification, installation, pre-deployment, deployment, logistics, maintenance, flying operations and post-deployment efforts.
The Aerosonde SUAS is equipped to carry numerous payloads in a single flight that include advanced electro-optic/infrared payloads for day-and-night persistent oversight, precision survey imaging, as well as communications relay to extend the reach of communications in non-linear terrain.
Further, the system incorporates Lycoming’s EL-005 engine and with that comes Lycoming Engines’ established processes for engine development, production, services and support.
Read more on unmanned systems:
Kutta joins Dynetics team working on DARPA unmanned system project
Huntington Ingalls Industries & Boeing team up for U.S. Navy's large UUV program
NASA selects three teams to explore UAS challenges, solutions
