Battalion Reconnaissance Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS)

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment 2 - System Characteristics," details the specific technical requirements and characteristics for the Battalion Reconnaissance Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) that the government is procuring. It serves as a critical reference for potential bidders to understand the system's capabilities and limitations.

• System Components: Specifies the need for two Air Vehicles (AVs), two Ground Control Stations (GCSs), batteries with charging station, and ancillary ground equipment.
• AV Capabilities: Requires Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) for confined areas, a Maximum Gross Take Off Weight (MGTOW) under 55 pounds, a minimum Line-Of-Sight (LOS) datalink range of 40 kilometers, and a minimum mission endurance of five hours with a five-pound payload.
• Payloads: Mandates the capability to carry and operate two initial Modular Mission Payloads (MMPs), with an objective for three or more. Initial payloads include EO/IR camera, Laser Pointer, provisions for lethal munitions, additional fuel/power, cargo space for blood, and communications extension. Interchangeable payloads include EO/IR Sensor, Communications Relay/Network Extension, Lethality, Electronic Warfare, and Laser Target Illuminator/Laser Designator.
• Datalink: Requires an encrypted, FIPS-140 approved datalink for SBU-E and CUI transmission.
• Transportability: System tactical transport protective cases must fit within 86" L x 56" W x 60" H and individual cases must not exceed 102 pounds.
• Operational Requirements: Includes launch/recovery without support equipment, minimal logistics and tool-less assembly/disassembly, interoperability with TAK and Net Warrior HHD, autonomous flight, object identification/classification/tracking, worldwide frequency capability, ruggedness, and all-weather capability.
• Lethal Payload Delivery: Defined as munition(s) fired, dropped, or launched from 800-1,200 feet AGL, with the AV capable of carrying a lethal payload plus EO/IR and achieving a 20-kilometer range and 120 minutes endurance.
• Survivability: Requires solutions for contested environments ensuring Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (APNT).

This document is essential for bidders to determine their capability to meet the technical specifications for the Battalion Reconnaissance UAS. It directly informs system design, component selection, payload integration, and overall proposal development. Bidders must ensure their proposed solution aligns with all listed characteristics and requirements.

Statement of Objectives (SOO)

This SOO outlines high-level objectives for a Battalion Reconnaissance solution utilizing innovative, commercially available Group 2 Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS). The government aims to acquire these solutions through the Offeror's established commercial practices for delivery, training, and support.

• The SOO applies to innovative Group 2 commercial VTOL UAS solutions for Battalion Reconnaissance.

• Solutions should be capable of performing missions such as Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA), electronic warfare, communications relay, or strike at the Battalion level.

• Hardware: UAS Air Vehicles, Ground Control Stations, and associated ancillary equipment; Mission Payloads.

• Data and Documentation: Technical Manuals (Operator and Maintainer), Interface and Integration Data (ICDs, FFF, OMIT data), Commercial Price List (valid for minimum 12 months), Supply and Inventory Data.

• Services: Logistics and Sustainment Support (commercial technical "reachback"), Training (commercial materials and qualified instructors upon request).

• Quality Assurance: Offeror relies on its existing quality assurance system; Government reserves the right to review.

• Program Management: Offeror to provide a single point of contact.

• Technology Refreshment: Offeror must have a process for introducing upgrades and notifying the Government of end-of-life components with transition plans.

• Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA): Offerors must articulate their MOSA strategy and how interoperability is achieved.

• Government Right to Repair and Modify: Government seeks enhanced data rights beyond standard commercial licenses for repair, modification, and training. Offerors must provide a plan addressing specific data rights objectives.

• Cybersecurity: Maintain a robust cybersecurity posture per DFARS 252.204-7019 and NIST SP 800-171.

• Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM): Maintain a process for managing supply chain risk for key components.

• Operations Security (OPSEC): Implement measures to safeguard unclassified but sensitive program-related information.

• Delivery and performance of services (training, repairs) will occur at CONUS and OCONUS locations as specified in individual orders.

• Conducted IAW terms specified in each individual order, potentially based on Offeror's standard commercial quality control system or certificates of conformance.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This Call for Solutions (C4S) against Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) W58RGZ-26-S-C001 seeks to competitively acquire innovative commercial, Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) for the Battalion Reconnaissance UAS effort. The goal is to provide Battalion Commanders with an organic Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA) capability, aligning with the Army's modernization priorities for Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) and achieving Drone Dominance. The Army aims to identify, assess, and procure readily available UAS to address critical capability gaps at the Battalion Level.

• Production-ready Battalion Reconnaissance UAS.

• Rapidly deployable VTOL system capable of autonomous reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, and identification.

• Secondary function: communications relay in dynamic radio spectrum environments.

• System configuration: Group 2 UAS (less than 55 lbs) with two modular mission-capable VTOL air vehicles.

• Includes Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) camera and laser pointer, two ground control stations, and ancillary equipment (batteries, cables, spare parts, manuals, packaging).

• Dynamic mission changes require a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) and a common payload interface.

• Key technical attributes include:

  • Range: > 40 km
  • Endurance: > 5 hours
  • Data Link: Hardened, secure, Assured Positioning, Navigation, & Timing (APNT) agile in contested EMI.
  • Architecture: MOSA strategy.
  • Payloads: Modular Mission Payload Capability (minimum EO/IR, can include RSTA, communications relay, target designation).
  • Interoperability: Integrated Tactical Network Interoperable (Tactical Assault Kit, Net Warrior).
  • AI-Enabled: Characteristics for target detection and recognition.

• Detailed requirements are in Attachment 1 (Statement of Objectives) and Attachment 2 (System Characteristics).

• The Government reserves the right to select multiple solutions, a single solution, or make no award.

• No guaranteed minimum order quantity.

• Procurements will be initiated by Project Manager (PM) UAS and/or Army end-users.

• Resulting award will be based on FAR Part 12.

• Whitepaper submissions are required, not to exceed ten pages (12-point Arial font), with a total email file size limit of 10MB.

• Evaluation is based on three factors: Technical Solution, Production Capability, and Price.

• Non-price factors (Technical Solution and Production Capability) are more important than Price.

• Technical Solution: Evaluated on meeting 20 system characteristics. May lead to a flight demonstration.

• Production Capability: Evaluated on the ability to meet a minimum production rate of 20 systems every 30 days.

• Price: Evaluated for reasonableness.

• Whitepaper Submission Due Date/Time: Initial Cut-off: 05 May 2026.

• Offerors must be fully compliant with Section 848 of the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2020 (prohibits UAS/components from covered foreign countries).

• Must possess a Unique Entity ID and active SAM.gov registration.

• Must possess an approved Commercial and Government Entity code.

• Must possess a current NIST SP 800-171 DoW assessment.

• Must meet cybersecurity requirements (DFARS).

• Must disclose any Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCIs).

• Must be registered in the Government invoicing system.

• The Government may use non-Government personnel (support contractors) for reviews.

• Attachments: Attachment 1 - Statement of Objectives, Attachment 2 - System Characteristics.