Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (SUAV) (6.4)

Mission — Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (SUAV) (6.4) source

The Family of Small Uncrewed Aircraft systems are critical to the Army's Transformation in Contact. These systems ensure Army formations have the best existing and emerging technology at Battalion and below to allow ground-based forces to project power from land into other domains to defeat highly capable enemies, secure terrain, and consolidate gains. The Rucksack Portable Uncrewed Aircraft System (RPUAS) Family of Small Uncrewed Aircraft System (FoSUAS) requirements are transitioning to the Joint Small Uncrewed Aircraft System sUAS Capability Development Document (J-sUAS CDD) to solve current and emergent operational gaps by incorporating Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) including swappable payloads, advanced autonomy and software scalability. These systems provide battalion and below ground maneuver elements with critical situational awareness and enhanced force protection. The systems provide an organic and responsive reconnaissance and targeting capability with real-time Full Motion Video and sensor data. Each system will include aircraft, ground support equipment, ground control station and Uncrewed Vehicle Control (UVC) software. The Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) provides organic maneuver platoons an uncrewed air vehicle designed to support Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition. The system has an aircraft weight of less than 5 lbs, a range of 3-5 km, and an endurance of 30 minutes. The system includes modular payloads, obstacle avoidance, target recognition, automated following, and networked capability. Long Range Reconnaissance (LRR) System will provide organic maneuver battalions an uncrewed air vehicle designed to support Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) efforts. The system will have an aircraft weight of less than 55 lbs., a range of 40-60 km and endurance of 5-10 hours. System will include Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing (APNT), Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR), laser targeting/designating, and kinetic architectures in a contested environment. The Joint Tactical Autonomous Aerial Resupply System (JTAARS) is an autonomous aerial cargo delivery system, organic to the maneuver commander, that provides options for rapid and agile sustainment of highly mobile tactical combat forces, operating in a widely dispersed manner in the tactical support and close areas. JTAARS enables maneuver by reducing the tactical force's dependence on ground lines of communication and sustainment, reducing threats to manned convoys and manned aerial systems, lightening Soldier load, and shrinking the supply chain. JTAARS provides a lift capability of 125 lbs. over 13 km one way (26 km round trip). FY 2026 funding to investigate GPS Denied Navigation systems, resilient APNT, advanced low probability of detect/intercept data-links for LRR, as well as, interfaces for common mission payloads (communications relay, electronic warfare payloads, and lethal munition payloads). Minimal funding for SRR to investigate SRR payload updates for SRR Next Generation.

Mission — Small Unmanned Aircraft System (6.4) source

The Family of Small Uncrewed Aircraft systems are critical to the Army's Transformation in Contact. These systems ensure Army formations have the best existing and emerging technology at Battalion and below to allow ground-based forces to project power from land into other domains to defeat highly capable enemies, secure terrain, and consolidate gains. The Rucksack Portable Uncrewed Aircraft System (RPUAS) Family of Small Uncrewed Aircraft System (FoSUAS) requirements are transitioning to the Joint Small Uncrewed Aircraft System sUAS Capability Development Document (J-sUAS CDD) to solve current and emergent operational gaps by incorporating Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) including swappable payloads, advanced autonomy and software scalability. These systems provide battalion and below ground maneuver elements with critical situational awareness and enhanced force protection. The systems provide an organic and responsive reconnaissance and targeting capability with real-time Full Motion Video and sensor data. Each system will include aircraft, ground support equipment, ground control station and Uncrewed Vehicle Control (UVC) software. The Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) provides organic maneuver platoons an uncrewed air vehicle designed to support Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition. The system has an aircraft weight of less than 5 lbs, a range of 3-5 km, and an endurance of 30 minutes. The system includes modular payloads, obstacle avoidance, target recognition, automated following, and networked capability. The Long Range Reconnaissance (LRR) System will provide organic maneuver battalions an uncrewed air vehicle designed to support Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) efforts. The system will have an aircraft weight of less than 55 lbs., a range of 40-60 km and endurance of 5-10 hours. System will include Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing (APNT), Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR), laser targeting/designating, and kinetic architectures in a contested environment. The Joint Tactical Autonomous Aerial Resupply System (JTAARS) is an autonomous aerial cargo delivery system, organic to the maneuver commander, that provides options for rapid and agile sustainment of highly mobile tactical combat forces, operating in a widely dispersed manner in the tactical support and close areas. JTAARS enables maneuver by reducing the tactical force's dependence on ground lines of communication and sustainment, reducing threats to manned convoys and manned aerial systems, lightening Soldier load, and shrinking the supply chain. JTAARS provides a lift capability of 125 lbs. over 13 km one way (26 km round trip).

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (6)