Unmanned Aerial System
Abstract
Project 3448 - The first Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Expeditionary (MUX) Family of Systems (FoS) element is Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE), a land-based Group 5 UAS based on the MQ-9A weapon system. MALE provides Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) in support of Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO), Littoral Operations in Contested Environments (LOCE), and Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) and an advanced, unmanned, multi-mission capability for the MAGTF and Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR). MALE will award contracts for initial MQ-9A mission capabilities (payloads/sensors) design, development and integration with payloads supporting Tier 1 mission capabilities. Payload/sensor capabilities consists of Common Operating and Intelligence Picture (COP/CIP) development and integration, Detect And Avoid System (DAAS), Airborne Network Extension (ANE)/ SkyTower II, Electronic Warfare (EW), Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), and Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO). The USMC MALE program will be supported by UX-24 as the primary test activity/squadron for capability development as well as system modification validation efforts. UX-24 will provide direct support of testing associated with payloads/sensors in support of USMC requirements. The payloads/sensors which undergo testing may require or drive hardware and software modifications during testing to satisfy system, subsystem and component level test parameters.
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2025
- Source ID
- 0603128N_4_1319_PB_2025
- Change Summary Explanation
- FY 2025 decrease of $11.758M is a net result of program phasing adjustments in support of hardware development efforts and reductions to support higher USMC priorities. Schedule: DAAS development timeline extended from quarter one (Q1) FY 2025 to quarter one (Q1) FY 2026 due to additional time associated with airworthiness and certification. SkyTower II extended to from quarter one (Q1) FY 2025 to quarter three (Q3) FY 2025 due to increased scope to develop two additional SkyTower II developmental pods to help meet objectives in INDOPACOM on required timeline. MDA development timeline extended from quarter two (Q2) to quarter one (Q1) FY 2026 due to schedule refinement with OEM. Payload modernization capability improvement is required to improve capabilities to match the pacing threat and realized full capability of MUX/MALE. Production quantities updated for all capabilities per current procurement plan.
- Service Agency Name
- Navy
Entities
Organizations
- United States Navy
Related Documents
- Child Project: Marine Group 5 UAS Development
- Child Accomplishment: MALE Primary Hardware/Software Development/Integration
- Child Accomplishment: MALE Program Support
- Child Accomplishment: MALE Developmental and Operational Test
- Child Cost Item: 2092b1649f235e94aaa0ba24ec0b5c29
- Child Cost Item: 115e664683fb782beecd0be97d27169e
- Child Cost Item: e67fdaba9a0da8b494ab1cee8117958f
- Child Cost Item: 85e180a6f656347e10720b6a388fa2b5
- Child Cost Item: 0024158fa020d52ff3891b11503643fe
- Child Cost Item: fbb1edd8a0636ac82e7559d9e8527cfd
- Child Cost Item: ef01585b9a6dc760f9f35e554f880108
- Child Cost Item: 19b790b8b80bdaf2064d88738bafaba4
- Child Cost Item: 4af8a5c6f70d01e573924887a173d8a5
- Child Cost Item: 03bc80998bd995649c00db54d530059e
- Child Cost Item: 821f071797fa7b233cae4770196f33ab
- Child Cost Item: 67dc0fffeacd359bee4be7eab8767cbd
- Child Cost Item: 64931cbc8e11ae4f9c2f23cc24437b44
- Child Cost Item: 34eb90bfea51f4c720685811d6f1360f
- Child Cost Item: c232398b877ef4fe36fb33d60579f4fa
- Child Cost Item: 9390a4123f95bcd52c88e42ad3edca07
- Child Project: Congressional Adds
- Child Cost Item: 551340e5c595747aaad057a1bee90ba6
- Child Cost Item: de1a07fe9c075d3e29e1c2abce32a65c