Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS)

Abstract

The Future Unmanned Aircraft System (FUAS) is a critical system in the multi-domain battle concept that will employ cross-domain capabilities at all echelons and allow ground based forces to project power from land into other domains to defeat highly capable enemies, secure terrain, and consolidate gains. FUAS encompasses an array of capabilities from platoon soldiers to Division Commanders. Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS) is a new start program. To fully enable these desired cross-domain capabilities, FTUAS will leverage universal and scalable control interfaces and plug-and-play, advanced payloads to optimize manned-unmanned teaming for air and ground maneuver units across all environments. These systems will employ multi-domain capabilities increasing the Army's ability to generate overmatch, provide the ground commander with multiple options, and enable joint force freedom of maneuver. Key attributes of the FTUAS include: (1) Reach: Expeditionary maneuver and mobility through increased speed, range, endurance, and payload capacity; (2) Protection: The capability and capacity to operate across a wider depth and breadth of domains, including high threat and denied environments, with assured communications, navigation, and reduced visual, electronic, and audio signatures able to overcome enemy countermeasures in high threat, anti-access and area denial (A2AD) environments; and (3) Lethality: A broad range of sensors and cross-domain fires that increase the speed of detecting, acquiring, identifying, and prioritizing targets to suppress, neutralize, and destroy enemy forces. FTUAS will consist of an aircraft subsystem that will include the airframe, propulsion, avionics, communications, navigation, and software systems; aircraft-specific ground support equipment including take-off and landing systems, power generation, transportation, or unique command and control equipment; aircraft software; and required engineering, logistics, and programmatic support. The Material Development Decision (MDD) for FTUAS is planned for FY21 followed by a 12 month Analysis of Alternatives (AoA). At the end of the AoA phase TRAC Leavenworth will present findings and conclusions based on the collected and analyzed data. FTUAS will be prepared to proceed to the appropriate acquisition milestone based on Army's decision.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2019
• Source ID: 0604113A_4_2040_PB_2019
• Change Summary Explanation: Addition of $12.393 will provide required support for FTUAS pre-milestone decision requirements such as: MDTF Experimentation, market research, Validated On-line Threat (VOLT) Assessment, Analysis of Alternatives (AoA), independent cost estimates and other required milestone documents.
• Service Agency Name: Army

Entities

Organizations

• United States Army

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms
• Autonomy
• Energy and Power Technologies
• Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Acquisition
• Aircraft Equipment
• Aircrafts
• Airframes
• Area Denial
• Command And Control
• Cost Estimates
• Cross Domain
• Engineering
• Ground Based
• Ground Support
• Ground Support Equipment
• Navigation
• Program Management
• Unmanned Aerial Systems
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
• Unmanned Systems

Readers

• Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
• Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.
• Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

• Autonomy
• Autonomy - UAVs
• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Microelectronics
• Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems