Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (SUAV) (6.5)

Mission — Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (SUAV) (6.5) 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 Medium Range Reconnaissance (MRR) System will be informed by the Company Level Directed Requirement and provides Company level Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability within the Brigade Combat Teams. The systems will have a 10km range and 8-hour endurance. System will include Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing (APNT), Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR), laser targeting, and kinetic architectures in a contested environment. 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, 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). Purpose Built Attritable System (PBAS) provides organic maneuver platoons an uncrewed air vehicle designed to support the ability to achieve lethal effects. PBAS shall have a range of at least 2 km and 15 minutes of endurance. The PBAS system consists of First Person Viewer (FPV) goggles, controller, leader display, two 10" air vehicles and four 5" air vehicles with modular payload(s) to include ability to integrate and employ a variety of lethal/non-lethal armaments and munitions. SRR funding will be used for system integration, testing and evaluation for SRR Next Generation. MRR funding will be used for system interface architecture to fully develop and employ modular mission payload in concert with targeting and intelligence identification and classification. Funding will also develop Type-1 encryption and survivability. LRR funding will be used for system development and test of critical components such as APNT, Type 1 encryption, and survivability. Funding will also be utilized for integration of modular mission payloads (communication relay, electronic warfare payloads and lethal munitions payloads). JTAARS funding in FY2026 to develop technical data, finalization of assessment tasks, evaluation and resolution of technology gaps, UVC software integration, range and battery power improvements, and C5ISR/EW Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS) compliance. PBAS funding will be used for system integration, testing and evaluation.

Mission — Small Unmanned Aircraft System (6.5) source

This funding is realigned to 0609345A - Unmanned Aerial Systems Launched Effects Agile Systems Development 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 Medium Range Reconnaissance (MRR) System will be informed by the Company Level Directed Requirement and provides Company level ISR capability within the Brigade Combat Teams. The systems will have a 10km range and 8 hour endurance. System will include Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing (APNT), Electro- Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR), laser targeting, and kinetic architectures in a contested environment. 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, 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). Purpose Built Attritable System (PBAS) provides organic maneuver platoons an uncrewed air vehicle designed to support the ability to achieve lethal effects. PBAS shall have a range of at least 2 km and 15 minutes of endurance. The PBAS system consists of First Person Viewer (FPV) goggles, controller, leader display, two 10" air vehicles and four 5" air vehicles with modular payload(s) to include ability to integrate and employ a variety of lethal/non-lethal armaments and munitions. SRR funding will be used for system integration, testing and evaluation for SRR Next Generation. FPV/PBAS funding will be used for system integration, testing and evaluation. MRR funding will be used for system interface architecture to fully develop and employ modular mission payload in concert with targeting and intelligence identification and classification. Funding will also develop Type-1 encryption and survivability. LRR funding will be used for system development and test of critical components such as APNT, Type 1 encryption, and survivability. Funding will also be utilized for integration of modular mission payloads (communication relay, electronic warfare payloads and lethal munitions payloads).

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (6)