BAE Systems selected to join Skyborg ranks

The US Air Force has awarded BAE Systems an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract to design an attritable air vehicle for the service’s Skyborg programme.

The manufacturer is the latest in a growing number of industry competitors to be selected for the autonomous UAV effort that features a contract ceiling of up to $400 million.

Skyborg requires industry to create low-cost autonomous UAVs that will partner with manned aircraft to increase air combat power and use autonomy to disrupt and defeat enemies in contested environments.

The UAVs produced by BAE will be designed by the company’s autonomous systems division, which include sensors and payloads capable of communicating across a shared network with manned platforms.

Taking a modular and common system approach will provide the foundation for rapid updates and integration to ensure future unmanned fleets are fielding the latest capabilities to defend against emerging threats, according to the company. 

Development work has been scheduled to take place at BAE’s Endicott, New York facilities.