US Army nearing end of FTUAS assessment period

The US Army, nearing the end of its Future Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (FTUAS) assessment period, will soon conduct a capstone rodeo flight demonstration before seeking approved requirements.

Colonel Scott Anderson, the project manager for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), said on 26 January that the US Army is entering its last of five brigade combat team (BCT) demonstrations. Jim Thomson, Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Cross-Functional Team (CFT) acting deputy and senior advisor, said on 26 January that the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, is getting ready to bring the Arcturus Jump 20 small UAS to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, Louisiana, in February 2021 to wrap up its assessment. The service has been conducting the FTUAS assessments through 2020.

The last of five brigade combat teams assessing aircraft for the US Army’s Future Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (FTUAS) programme will work with the Arcturus Jump 20. (US Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team)

A capstone rodeo, where each of the four FTUAS aircraft participating in the assessment will conduct a flight demonstration, will take place at the end of February, or the beginning of March, at Leyte West Airfield in Fort Benning, Georgia. Soldiers from the five participating BCTs will be on hand with static displays to provide feedback.

The four FTUAS aircraft being assessed are the Martin UAV-Northrop Grumman Technology Services (NGTS) V-Bat vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) surveillance UAS; the Arcturus Jump 20; the Textron Systems Unmanned Systems Aerosonde Hybrid Quadrotor (HQ) small UAS; and the L3Harris FVR-90 hybrid quadcopter UAS.