Afghanistan to receive more ScanEagles
Latest FMS order will bring total fleet of ISR UAVs in Afghan service to approximately 120
Afghan National Army (ANA) ISR capabilities will be augmented with the addition of 15 ScanEagle UAVs, after manufacturer Insitu won another FMS contract modification from the US Naval Air Warfare Center.
The latest $9.77 million modification also includes nine ScanEagle EO/IR payloads and three spare UAVs. ScanEagle allows the ANA to provide real-time aerial video of battlefield operations to its forces and intelligence collection to support counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations.
Work will be performed in Bingen, Washington for completion by July 2021.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that the Afghan armed forces have acquired a large number of ScanEagle UAVs via the FMS programme. An initial order for 65 UAVs was placed in 2015 for $70.9 million, followed by subsequent orders for five in 2017 and 35 in 2018.
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