Now Reading: Army suspends tactical drone competition with no defined strategy for the future
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Army suspends tactical drone competition with no defined strategy for the future
Army suspends tactical drone competition with no defined strategy for the future
The U.S. Army has decided to cancel development of the Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft of the Future (FTUAS) program, a project intended to replace its recently retired Shadow drones. After approximately seven years of development and just as two vendors had completed a competitive flight demonstration phase, the decision comes at a critical time for the program.
Gen. James Mingus, vice chief of staff of the Army, explained at the U.S. Army Aviation Association's annual conference that the cancellation does not mean a total abandonment of the pursuit of new unmanned systems solutions. "It's not that we don't want an FTUAS. It's simply that the one that was being developed didn't meet our needs," Mingus said.
The decision to halt FTUAS is part of a broader directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to make significant changes to the Army's structure, formations and programs. Despite the cancellation, the Army remains committed to developing unmanned systems that can perform reconnaissance, network extension and electronic operations functions, among other capabilities.
Just a year ago, the Army had approved the features it wanted in the FTUAS and had awarded contracts to two teams to compete to build the drone. However, a lack of funding made it difficult to accelerate the program, said the Army's then director of aviation at the Pentagon, Maj. Gen. Wally Rugen.
Despite setbacks, the Army had invested funds in FY2025 to purchase prototypes from Griffon Aerospace and Textron, with plans to test them in subsequent years. Key features the Army desires in an FTUAS include runway independence, command and control on the move, and Soldier-led field-level maintenance.
Lt. Gen. Karl Gringrich, Army G-8, had previously highlighted the advantages of the FTUAS, including the ability to integrate different payloads, such as net extensions and, potentially in the future, lethal payloads. It was also expected that the drone could be equipped with electro-optical infrared sensors and electronic warfare capabilities.
The road to replacing the aging Textron-built Shadow drone has been long and complex, and although the FTUAS as a specific project has been cancelled, the Army continues to explore options to advance its unmanned tactical capabilities, reaffirming its commitment to adapt to new technological and defense needs.
In a continued effort to modernize its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAS) fleet, the U.S. Army has been refining its requirements and evaluating proposals to replace the aging Shadow system. After an exhaustive process that began in 2018 and was narrowed down to four competitors in 2019-a team of Martin UAV and Northrop Grumman, Textron Systems, L3Harris Technologies and Arcturus UAV-the race to lead the Army's tactical UAS future has been intense and revealing.
Aerovironment, which acquired Arcturus UAV in 2021, and Shield AI, which purchased Martin UAV that same year, emerged as key players in this transformation. The Army evaluated proposals for these drones operationally for a year, culminating in a "rodeo" in the spring of 2021 at Fort Benning, Georgia. In August 2022, Aerovironment was selected to provide its Jump 20 UAS as an interim FTUAS capability for a brigade, with an initial $8 million contract, marking a significant step in the selection process.
The Army's original plan called for equipping the first unit with FTUAS in 2026, but technological challenges and developments have required adaptations along the way. Col. Danielle Medaglia, Army UAS project manager, recently stressed the importance of continuing developmental testing with both vendors and the need to preserve and transfer emerging technologies in the field. According to Medaglia, these technologies presented by the vendors are crucial and how they are transferred will be critical to the future of the program.
Meanwhile, companies like Griffon, which did not participate in the first round of FTUAS demonstrations, have been quietly working on their solutions, keeping in mind the Army's need for modular and adaptable systems. Jordan French, tactical UAS program manager at Griffon, explained that their focus is on building "aerial pickup trucks," where the reliability of the aerial vehicle allows operators to concentrate on the mission without distraction.
Griffon has opted for an open and modular system architecture, where any addition required by the customer can be easily integrated. In addition, they have opted for an innovative design that combines an internal combustion engine with an electric motor, and have equipped the aircraft with four tiltrotor rotors. This approach represents a departure from the hybrid quadcopter or vertical takeoff platforms typically seen in Group 3 sized UAS.
As the U.S. Army moves forward in its quest to modernize its UAS fleet, collaboration with industry and integration of new technologies will be key to ensuring that equipped units have the most advanced and adaptable tools to meet future challenges. The final decision on which systems will be deployed and how technology transfer will be managed is awaited with great anticipation by all stakeholders.
In an environment where military technology is advancing by leaps and bounds, the ability of the armed forces to adapt and modernize their arsenal is crucial. In this context, the defense industry continues to innovate, as demonstrated by the development of the Valiant unmanned aircraft system (UAS), designed by Griffon Aerospace. This system stands out for its thrust vectoring capability, which allows the aircraft to maneuver while keeping the wings level, a significant improvement over more traditional systems that rely exclusively on RPM for motion control.
Griffon Aerospace's director highlighted the advantages of the Valiant system, noting that, unlike the RQ-7b Shadow engine, whose noise resembles that of a lawnmower, the Valiant operates almost silently even at short distances. This low acoustic profile feature enhances its effectiveness in tactical operations where stealth is critical.
Separately, the U.S. Army is exploring options to expand its brigade-level capability with UAS, in line with a direct requirement signed by the Army chief of staff in October of last year. This requirement aims to implement a UAS capability in six Contact Transformation Brigades by the end of 2025. According to Micah Amman, requirements development lead for FTUAS within the cross-functional team for the Army's Future Vertical Uplift, the system's adaptability to different environments and scenarios is crucial, noting that needs can vary significantly depending on sea level, climate or geography.
Col. Nick Ryan, Army capabilities manager for UAS, emphasized that the Army chief's directed requirements document is still current and would be the basis for future acquisitions if funding were available today. This underscores the importance of having a clear, up-to-date guideline to guide the development and deployment of new technologies on the battlefield.
Griffon Aerospace has now completed all major stages of the rapid prototyping effort for the Valiant and is prepared to begin full-scale production, should the Army decide to procure additional systems. The company currently produces several hundred Group 3 aircraft monthly for various customers, demonstrating its production capability and adaptability to market demands.
In this rapidly evolving technological environment, the Army's ability to integrate new solutions that respond to specific terrain and combat needs will be critical to maintaining tactical and strategic superiority in future engagements. Innovations such as the Valiant UAS are a clear example of how technology can transform the dynamics of military operations, offering new capabilities that enhance the effectiveness and safety of troops in the field.
