AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems is exploring on the payload capacities of UAVs. It has entered into a five-year research and development deal with the US Army to explore what “payloads,” such as cameras or radar systems, can be used on unmanned aircraft. The aircraft systems are used for ground-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

According to reports, both sides fund their own work and AAI will provide the army with an Aerosonde Mark 4.7 unmanned aircraft. Under the agreement, AAI, an operating unit of Textron Systems, will bring its engineers together with army engineers to work on integration of different equipment on the aircraft systems.