US Army cancels FTUAS and the MQ-1 Gray Eagle as part of the Army Transformation Initiative
The Aerosonde Mk 4.8 Hybrid Quad (HQ) FTUAS is a tactical drone purpose-built to meet the US Army's Future Vertical Lift requirements (Photo: Textron)
Last week, it was revealed that the US Army intended to cancel the long-running Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS). The revelation, no doubt part of the Army Transformation Initiative (ATI), came a week after the force highlighted that it would cancel the procurement of Gray Eagle aircraft.
FTUAS to be scrapped
Last week, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the US Senate Armed Services Committee’s ranking member, stated that the Army had announced its intent to cancel the Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) effort. The revelation came during a committee hearing to consider the nominations of Michael Obadal to be undersecretary of the Army.
The news of the planned ending of the FTUAS effort came one week after, on 1 May 2025, the US Army announced the Army Transformation Initiative (ATI). This strategy will, among other things, re-examine all requirements and eliminate waste and obsolete procurement programmes, with the Letter to the Force: Army
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Air Warfare
-
![US Navy’s FA-XX programme still an “option”, as FY2026 US defence budget outline proposed]()
US Navy’s FA-XX programme still an “option”, as FY2026 US defence budget outline proposed
The US Navy’s answer to a sixth-generation fighter has experienced a range of setbacks and delays to the programme, with only $47 million in this latest proposed budget set aside for completing the aircraft.
-
![Eurofighter eyes mid-life upgrade for Typhoon jets, with production increase underway]()
Eurofighter eyes mid-life upgrade for Typhoon jets, with production increase underway
With roughly 80% of combat missions flown by Typhoons in Europe, the Eurofighter consortium is emphasising the continued relevance of its jet and wants to ramp up production to continue to deliver combat mass in light of a shifting geo-political world order.
-
![NATO orders two more A330 MRTT aircraft, while Sweden and Denmark join programme]()
NATO orders two more A330 MRTT aircraft, while Sweden and Denmark join programme
The order for two more aircraft for the NATO Multinational Multirole Tanker Transport (MRTT) fleet comes as Airbus considers increasing A330 MRTT production to meet demand.
-
![UK to purchase 12 F-35A aircraft to strengthen nuclear deterrence]()
UK to purchase 12 F-35A aircraft to strengthen nuclear deterrence
The potential acquisition of F-35A aircraft was first mentioned in the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June.
