L3Harris: NATO could make E-3A replacement downselects over ‘next 6 months’
Asked about the timeline floated by an L3Harris official, a NATO spokesperson told Breaking Defense the alliance is still assessing "the way ahead."
Asked about the timeline floated by an L3Harris official, a NATO spokesperson told Breaking Defense the alliance is still assessing "the way ahead."
L3 Harris could produce up to 75 AT-802U Sky Warden aircraft to replace US Special Operations Command's U-28 Draco.
While still seeking customers in the US military, General Atomics president Dave Alexander says several unnamed international parties are interested in latest deadly remotely controlled aircraft.
Each airplane will have five flights to prove its mettle, with an AFSOC pilot in the back seat for the final mission to observe the plane's flight and handling characteristics.
"The whole reason we’re doing this is because the National Defense Strategy talks about the need to do cost effective [counter-terrorism] operations, cost effective irregular warfare,” AFSOC commander Gen. Slife said.
The MQ-9 Reaper drone is the big winner in the 2021 NDAA markup by HASC Chair Adam Smith, receiving a whopping $108 million increase above the $29.5 million request.
The military space sector is evolving fast. Get the latest from Space Force and industry officials on what’s next for acquisition, policy and training in a new Breaking Defense eBook.
SOCOM has budgeted $106 million in 2021 to buy the first five of up to 75 Armed Overwatch aircraft to perform close air support for its troops on the ground, light attack and ISR missions. The planes would replace Air Force Special Operations Command current fleet of U-28 Draco aircraft.
“And so what's really important to me is what the vendor brings to the table, in terms of their ability to integrate weapons onto a non-developmental platform," said SOCOM acquisition czar Jim Smith.
Communications, survivable strike, mobility, high-speed vertical lift, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities are all on AFSOC's modernization wish list.