... towards the “strong option”.
It is noted
that the proposed “weak option” duplicates functions which can be fulfilled by other manned and unmanned assets of the Navy and Air Force, primarily the land-based MQ-4C reconnaissance UAVs.
The Navy notes
that the “weak option” UCLASS will be gradually strengthened and modified thanks to its “open architecture”. Some
authoritative experts challenge
this, saying that in principle the UAV, which is designed for long reconnaissance ...
... services contract, and their total number in the U.S. Navy now exceeds 120 units. It is noteworthy that the Navy does not buy the ScanEagle UAVs, and takes advantage of their services within the framework of the contract with the manufacturer.
The above UAVs preceded the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (STUAS) program to build a larger unmanned reconnaissance system RQ-21A Integrator for the Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The STUAS program contract for its Integrator UAS was awarded to ...