Raytheon has received a $29.68 million contract from the Office of Naval Research to develop a Low Cost UAV Swarming Technology (LOCUST) prototype.

The LOCUST programme aims to develop a system capable of launching multiple swarming UAVs to autonomously overcome threats.

The LOCUST concept includes a tube-based launcher that can launch UAVs into the air in rapid succession. The system then utilises information-sharing between the UAVs, enabling autonomous collaborative behaviour in either defensive or offensive missions.

Work on the contract is expected to be completed by January 2020.