Mary-Louise Hoffman
The U.S. Navy cannot issue a formal solicitation for the Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike System contract until the Defense Department has completed its review of military aircraft portfolio, Reuters reported Wednesday.
Andrea Shalal writes Rear Adm. Mike Manazir, director of air warfare at the Navy, said the military service finalized UCLASS development requirements more than a year ago but the DoD review has held the project back.
Boeing, General Atomics, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman were awarded a combined $60 million last year to participate in the program.
The military service aims to deploy a carrier-based drone that can support both surveillance and strike missions by 2020, Military.com reported.
The Navy could evaluate UCLASS proposals for about two months and take another 10 months to select the winning contractor, according to the report.
