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Two UAVs cut from FCS

The Army has begun realigning its suite of unmanned aerial vehicles, cutting two of four classes of unmanned aerial vehicles intended as part of Future Combat Systems program. The realignment is being conducted to keep costs in check while still modernizing for future joint-force requirements.

The Army announced Jan. 9 that it will continue to improve the Raven and Shadow UAVs and field the Extended Range/Multi-Purpose Unmanned Aerial Systems.

“The lessons our Army learned after five years of war helped to form our future force requirements,” said Brig. Gen. Stephen D. Mundt, director of Army Aviation, G-3, according to an Army press release. “Army modernization is dynamic, not static, and that’s why we’re making these necessary adjustments.”

Training and Doctrine Command and various Army staffs spearheaded a 13-month study, which assessed the Army’s unmanned aerial systems capabilities, the release said.

When the study started in 2005, the Army had three UAV systems — the small Raven, the tactical Shadow, and the extended-range, multipurpose Warrior.

The Army also had in development four UAVs for its Future Combat Systems brigade combat teams.

According to the press release, the Army will continue to develop the FCS Class I and Class IV UAVs , while deferring development of the FCS Class II and Class III systems.

In accordance with its aerial systems mix analysis, the press release said, the Army also will look at opportunities to make the Class IV unmanned aerial systems compatible with other aviation brigade systems.

The Army is also looking at how to equip its forward-deployed manned and unmanned aviation units with FCS technology for joint-service operations and will consider including the FCS Class I and Class IV unmanned aerial systems in technologies or platforms that spin off of the development of FCS.