Textron Competing With Griffon For Contract

The U.S. Army is testing drones for use by brigade-level commanders that will provide high-altitude views of the battlefield terrain where their soldiers are maneuvering. Recently, the Army took delivery of a Textron-made MK 4.8HQ Aerosonde prototype and will be trained on its deployment for about a month.

The UAS was delivered after two years of development, and the Army said it is also considering a similar drone made by Griffon Aerospace. The service will evaluate production proposals for its Future Tactical Uncrewed Aircraft Systems and anticipates contracts to be awarded by the end of 2025.

In a statement, the Army said the program “will provide brigade combat teams with an organic capability for reconnaissance and surveillance operations, enabling them to collect, develop, and report actionable intelligence.”

While the Army has been using sophisticated drones for several decades and soldiers have been using both hand-held drones and more advance systems in training scenarios, it says the Russia-Ukraine war has highlighted how simple UASes can be used effectively by junior soldiers in small units.

In November 2024, U.S. troops training in Romania tried out two drone systems designed for infantry and scout platoons on dismounted patrols, and the drones gave the ground troops a better view of the surrounding area.

The Army said the MK 4.8 HQ Aerosonde is designed for the bigger picture to enable commanders to “maintain dominance during multi-domain operations.” If the Army’s timeline is accurate, it will make a decision on which model to produce by the end of 2025.

FMI:  www.textronsystems.com/