An artist’s impression of Zone 5 Technologies bid for ETV. (Image: Zone 5 Technologies)
Four companies have been selected by the US Air Force Armament Directorate (AFLCMC/EB) and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to develop prototype solutions for an ETV, an air-launched weapon or sensor.
The effort will attempt to identify and prototype commercial and dual-use technology solutions for an ETV that demonstrates modularity for subsystem upgrade testing. The technology will also serve as a foundation for affordable high-rate production.
On 4 June, the DIU said: “Initial flight demonstrations will occur within seven months from the agreement award dates, after which one or multiple of the most promising prototypes will continue development towards a production variant capable of rapidly scalable manufacture.”
Cassie Johnson, the armament directorate’s ETV programme manager, said COTS products would provide benefits in development efforts.
“We have become convinced that widening the aperture to include more non-traditional aerospace companies offers the best chance at accomplishing our cost-per-unit goals, project timeline and production quantity goals,” Johnson said.
The companies selected to develop prototype solutions for flight demonstration were Anduril Industries, Integrated Solutions for Systems, Leidos Dynetics and Zone 5 Technologies to develop prototype solutions for flight demonstration in the second half of 2024. The companies were chosen from more than 100 commercial and dual-use technology company applicants.
Additional ETV government project collaborators and evaluators include Air Force Research Laboratory, Special Operations Command, Naval Air Systems Command and US Indo-Pacific Command.
The new ‘Entente Industrielle’ will work on a range of other projects to boost the UK economy and defence industry, including joint development on new high-tech frequency weapons and extended range air-to-air missiles.
The E-7A is one of three aircraft submitted for the South Korean AEW&C II competition, which seeks to acquire four more aircraft of the type for its air force by 2028.
Tensions on the programme have long simmered, with Airbus and Dassault recently clashing over workshare in June ahead of the Paris Air Show. The sixth-generation fighter programme is due to replace Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon jets beginning in 2040.
The trainer aircraft recently completed the second round of extreme weather trials after enduring icy, windy and sunny conditions.
The contract modification, awarded to Boeing, is worth $61.2 million and will support the US Navy’s (USN's) evolution of its P-8 Poseidon aircraft as continued upgrades are made to boost its capabilities and lethality.
The UK Ministry of Defence remains resolute that the Typhoon sits at the heart of the country’s air defence capabilities and is focused on the aircraft’s potential export orders, despite its continued focus on F-35 procurement.
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