Blue sUAS manufacturer Skydio to supply short-range recon drones to the US Army
The Skydio X2D drone from Blue sUAS manufacturer Skydio was one of six SRR prototypes the military evaluated against its requirements.
The US Army selected two systems to undergo a limited user test at the Army Test and Evaluation Command, after a competitive downselect, reports Defense News.
“Based on data from this [limited user test] event, and previous milestone evaluations, the Army selected the Skydio system to remain in the prototyping phase,” an Army spokesman said.
The Army will now conduct the follow-on evaluation of its final prototype, which is expected to begin in early April.
The Army's program office for unmanned aircraft systems will request permission from the Program Executive Office Aviation to start production with the Skydio system for the first tranche of systems after successful completion of the evaluation.
“The selection of the U.S. Army's short-range reconnaissance provider for tranche 1 is a significant milestone for the Army, our strategic partners, and the domestic industrial base. The future for our Soldiers is now,” said Col.Joseph Anderson, Project Manager for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. “The relationships we have formed with industry demonstrate our commitment to compete and our ability to lead and innovate advanced technology in unmanned systems.”
The army spokesperson continued to say that if the Skydio drone is approved, the service will begin fielding within 90 days.
Blue sUAS manufacturer Skydio
“This is an exciting milestone for Skydio, the Army, and most importantly the men and women who serve our country. For drones under 20 pounds, civilian Drone Technology has raced ahead of traditional defense systems. With the SRR program, our Soldiers will now have access to the most advanced capabilities in the world in this class,” said Skydio CEO, Adam Bry in a statement. “Skydio drones deliver unparalleled situational awareness and ease of use in the most demanding situations thanks to Skydio Autonomy. We are proud to work with the Army and look forward to fielding these units while continuing to pioneer the capabilities that provide our troops with the real-time data needed to successfully and safely complete their missions.”
The Skydio X2D has FLIR thermal sensor and GPS-based night flight capability, as well as strobe lights. It can fly for up to 35 minutes on a single battery, according to the manufacturer.
The Department of Defense's Defense Innovation Unit in August 2020 designated five American-made drone firms as trusted small UAS suppliers. Altavian, Parrot, Skydio, Teal, and Vantage Robotics are the Blue sUAS drone makers that were selected.
The drones that the Pentagon can procure through this initiative must be ready in two minutes or less, have a flight duration of more than 30 minutes, and can fly through dust, rain, and in other harsh conditions.
What do you think about Blue sUAS manufacture of Skydio and the drone that they are going to supply the US Army with? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below as we are curious to hear what you have to say.
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