The US Army is using a hybrid-type acquisition approach to develop a helicopter-like, vertical-take-off and landing unmanned aerial system (VTOL-UAS) with ARGUS wide-area surveillance sensor suite designed to beam back information and images of the surrounding terrain.

“Beginning in May or June of 2012, the Army will deploy three Boeingbuilt A160 Hummingbird, to Afghanistan as part of a quick reaction capability, an acquisition approach aimed at delivering cutting-edge and emerging technologies to theatre to add capability and inform requirements while simultaneously developing a formal programme of record approach, said Lt Colonel Matthew Munster, Product Manager, UAS Modernization.

“These aircraft will deploy for up to one full year as a way to harness lessons learned and funnel them into a programme of record,” Munster said.