The Textron’s Aerosonde Mk. 4.8 HQ UAS features optimised size, weight and power (SWAP) profile. Credit: Textron Inc.

The US Army has chosen Textron Systems for Option 3 and 4 award of the Future Tactical Uncrewed Aircraft System (FTUAS) programme.

Under the award, Textron will carry out a flight demonstration, a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) demonstration.

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It will also deliver the Aerosonde Mk. 4.8 Hybrid Quad (HQ) uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) for testing and evaluation purpose.

The Aerosonde Mk. 4.8 HQ UAS, built for the brigade combat team (BCT), features optimised size, weight and power (SWAP) profile.

It is engineered to operate both day and night missions with multi-intelligence (multi-INT) payloads, enhancing its operational flexibility.

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The multi-payload capability of the Aerosonde HQ allows for the use of various sensors tailored to the mission’s environmental needs.

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Textron Systems Air Systems business senior vice president Wayne Prender said: “The FTUAS capability will be transformative for the BCTs.

“Textron Systems has decades of experience in UAS manufacturing and systems integration, which puts us in a position to produce at any pace the customer wants.

“We know how to provide full life cycle support, from production to training, spares, repairs, logistics and continuous technology modernization – all of which are critical to supporting our soldiers.”

The Textron’s Aerosonde systems have collectively accumulated over 650,000 flight hours.

In October 2023, the US Army selected Textron Systems the FTUAS Program of Record Option 2 award.

Under the Option 2, Textron is responsible for refining its proposed design based on the Army’s Modular Open System Approach (MOSA) requirements, concluding with a critical design review.