US Army to Hold Industry Day for UAS Marketplace
Imagine being at a unit and having the ability to purchase a multitude of vetted Uncrewed Aircraft Systems on a marketplace similar to Amazon. That’s just what the Army aims to do in order to get small drones into the hands of every squad by 2026 as well as manage the voracious appetite DoD will have for this game changing technology.
The U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office for Aviation (PEO Aviation), in collaboration with the Project Management Office for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (PM UAS) and Army Contracting Command Redstone (ACC-RSA), has announced an Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Industry Day, scheduled for 16 through 18 September 2025 in Huntsville, AL.
This event aims to foster collaboration between the Army and industry stakeholders to advance the development, integration, and sustainment of UAS capabilities.
In an effort to accelerate its modernization and transform how it acquire UAS, the Army is introducing the UAS marketplace concept which aims to create an environment of continuous competition across multiple domains, increasing opportunities for a wide range of companies and organizations with the end goal of accelerating capability to Soldiers.
Unlike traditional, long-term contracts with limited vendors and costly upgrades, the UAS Marketplace fosters open innovation and innovative business approaches by allowing any qualified industry partner to contribute.
Areas of Interest
Air Vehicles
- Design and development of fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and hybrid UAS platforms.
- Autonomy levels, endurance, payload capacity, and launch/recovery methods.
Payloads
- Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR): EO/IR sensors, synthetic aperture radar, signals intelligence.
- Lethal and Non-Lethal Effects: Munitions, electronic warfare payloads, decoys.
- Other Subcomponents (may be grouped or separate): Batteries, motors, landing gear, and other integral components.
Software
- Mission planning and control software compatible with the Army’s Uncrewed Vehicle Control (UVC) system and Software Product Development Services (SPDS) initiatives.
- Autonomy algorithms, data processing, and user interface design.
Integration
- Methods and standards for integrating payloads into air vehicles.
- Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) compliance and interoperability considerations.
Manufacturing
- 3D Printing: Additive manufacturing techniques for UAS components.
- Large-Scale Manufacturing: Capability to produce UAS platforms given a Technical Data Package (TDP).
Architecture
- System architecture supports scalability, redundancy, and resilience.
- Network integration and communication protocols.
Repairs and Sustainment
- Maintenance strategies, supply chain management, and lifecycle support.
- Field repair capabilities and turnaround times.
Technical Data
- Level of technical data available for government use, including Software Specially Negotiated License Rights – (SNLR).
- Willingness to provide detailed technical documentation beyond generic statements.
- Right to repair.
- Production Facility Information
- ISO certifications, current production throughput, lead times.
- Capacity to scale production in response to increased demand.
Design and Manufacturing Roles
- Indicate whether your company is interested in:
- Design only
- Manufacturing only
- Both design and manufacturing
Additional Services
- Any other services or capabilities relevant to UAS development and deployment.
- Participation in UVC Software Factory/SPDS
- Interest and capability to participate in the Army’s UVC Software Factory and SPDS initiatives.
The hosts invite industry to participate in this groundbreaking concept by registering for the event.
Full details are available at sam.gov.
Photo by SPC Breanna Bradford
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Read the full article here