[Above photo courtesy U.S. Army]

10 June 2024

The Department of the Army has posted a Request for Information (RFI) for "gathering market research from industry regarding current and future Group 4 or 5 Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) designs that could provide an effective, suitable, survivable, and certifiable product to be used by the U.S. Army."

The Group 4 or 5  designation is the same category (1,320 lbs.) as the current MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1C Gray Eagle combat drones. The "jobs" proposed for the new drones include surveillance, reconnaissance, and precision strikes. The new drones should also be able to fly up to 30,000 feet, as well as integrate technology such as electronic warfare systems, electro-optical/infrared sensors, and synthetic aperture radar.

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The RFI asks that these large drones be able to operate independently or as part of a team, reduce time for deploying firepower in high-risk threat environments, land in unsurveyed areas, resist jamming by the enemy, and operate at a distance of 575 miles.

"The service may be checking off the competition box," said Teal Group UAS analyst JJ Gertier to Breaking Defense. "They might be looking for something new, but it’s about an even chance they’re just hoping to buy more of what they already have.