SOFIC NEWS: Business, SOCOM Gearing Up for ‘Armed Overwatch’ Demo
Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine
U.S. Air Pressure photograph by Ethan D. Wagner
Particular Operations Command will quickly put 5 trade choices by their paces because it searches for a brand new “Armed Overwatch” plane to help commandos.
The command desires a brand new platform to alternative its U-28A Draco manned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft. On Might 14, SOCOM introduced that it had awarded contracts totaling $19.2 million to trade groups competing for this system.
An indication of their platforms is slated for June 14-July 23 at Eglin Air Pressure Base, Florida, SOCOM Acquisition Government Jim Smith instructed reporters Might 17 throughout a media roundtable on the Nationwide Protection Industrial Affiliation’s digital Particular Operations Forces Business Convention.
Plane that can take part within the demo embody: L3Harris’ AT-802 plane, Leidos’ Bronco II, MAG Aerospace’s MC-208, Sierra Nevada Corp.’s MC-145 and Textron’s AT-6, Smith mentioned.
SOCOM is “actually, actually happy with the progress thus far on the Armed Overwatch program and the trade companions which have dedicated to it during the last months,” Smith mentioned. “This demonstration is … for them to exhibit their {hardware}, their platforms in a practical setting.”
The command desires a manned system that could be a “close to non-developmental platform” and “primarily nearly manufacturing prepared.” SOCOM is taking a “fly-before-you-buy” method, he famous.
“This demonstration will present how actual the potential is and the way accessible we suspect it is going to be within the close to time period,” Smith mentioned.
Every of the 5 trade companions will conduct a complete of 5 flights. The plane will likely be judged primarily based on their skill to take off and land in “austere” environments; vary and endurance; weapons employment; line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight communications; full-motion video functionality; autopilot functionality; and the oxygen system, Smith mentioned.
Throughout every plane’s ultimate flight, an Air Pressure Particular Operations Command “blue go well with” official will likely be within the backseat assessing traits similar to maneuverability and dealing with, he famous.
“There are a number of … key efficiency parameters,” Smith mentioned. “Can it fly? Can it get the place it must get to, from the place it must get there? After which can it make use of weapons … successfully, does it have the correct sensors on board, and might it talk?”
SOCOM hopes to acquire as many as 75 Armed Overwatch platforms in coming years if Congress appropriates the mandatory funding.
Subjects: Particular Operations, Particular Operations, SOF Weapons Methods, Air Energy