General Atomics climbs aboard OBSS
General Atomics already manufactures the MQ-20 Avenger UAV, pictured here at El Mirage Airfield in California in June 2021. (Photo: USAF/Staff Sgt Tabatha Arellano)
GA-ASI joins Kratos in R&D effort for the Off-Board Sensing Station programme.
The USAF has selected another industry partner to join the R&D phase for the Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) programme, after General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) received a $17.79 million baseline contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) on 26 October.
The value and completion date of the contract are identical to the OBSS R&D award announced on 25 October for Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems.
Both GA-ASI and Kratos will design and develop a manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T). The USAF will then select one or potentially both companies to advance to a follow-on flight demonstration phase.
If this development programme results in a procurement contract, Shephard Defence Insight forecasts the USAF could award a $267 million contract in 2024 for 82 units delivered between 2025 and 2031.
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