Under this contract, Textron Systems will provide mission overwatch and long-range intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) services. Enhanced mission payloads will allow the Navy to extend its operational capabilities. The company has also recently been contracted to support three additional Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), further demonstrating the Navy’s reliance on the Aerosonde UAS platform.
David Phillips, Senior Vice President of Air, Land, and Sea Systems at Textron Systems, emphasised the importance of this partnership. “Textron Systems is committed to enhancing the Navy’s mission sets. The continued use of ISR support demonstrates the benefit of the COCO model and the services our Aerosonde UAS provides to the sailor,” he stated.
The Contractor-Owned, Contractor-Operated (COCO) model allows Textron Systems to manage the entire lifecycle of the UAS, ensuring operational efficiency and reliability. “The flexibility in a COCO mission allows the Navy to extend their capabilities while we as the contractor manage the full life cycle of the system, ultimately resulting in greater efficiency and reliability,” Phillips explained.
The Aerosonde UAS boasts over 700,000 flight hours accumulated over more than a decade. The platform is known for its multi-mission capability and versatile payload configurations, offering both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and fixed-wing options. This adaptability makes it a key component of the Navy’s ISR operations.
