Demonstrations test the case for naval resupply UAS
Blue Water UAS technology demonstration on USS Gerald R. Ford in January 2021. (Photo: Skyways)
The Blue Water UAS could be on track to become a USN programme of record.
Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is optimistic that the Blue Water naval logistics UAS will become a programme of record with the USN, following successful technology demonstrations in recent months.
In February 2021, a few days later than scheduled, the Blue Water system was flight tested by UX-24 (the UAS test and evaluation unit within NAVAIR). The UAV — carrying a payload of logistics equipment — landed on the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford.
More recently, in July, the Blue Water system successfully carried out a two-week experiment flying between the flight decks of a supply ship (
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