Defence

The US Coast Guard has resumed a process to buy a ship-based unmanned aircraft system for the first time since the cancellation of the Bell TR918 Eagle Eye tiltrotor.

A newly released request for information asks industry to submit packages with details about potential aircraft, payloads and ground control systems that can operate from the USCG's new national security cutter fleet. Responses will be analysed to determine the "state of the technology", and will lead to identifying systems for advanced technology demonstrations scheduled for mid-2009, the agency says.

The most vocal contender for the potential order is Northrop Grumman with its RQ-8B Fire Scout, a converted Schweizer 330 helicopter already ordered by the US Navy and US Army.

In September, Northrop flew Telephonics' RDR-1700 maritime radar on its P6 Fire Scout testbed, demonstrating the USCG's only requirement that the RQ-8B lacked.

The USN is buying the RQ-8B to operate from ships, but initially with only an electro-optical/infrared sensor. However, the service plans to introduce a maritime radar as part of its first spiral upgrade for the type, Northrop says.

Perhaps importantly, the USCG's RFI does not specify a requirement for a vertical take-off and landing aircraft, leaving the option to operate a mixed fleet of ship-based VTOL and land-based, fixed-wing aircraft. The USCG earlier this year teamed with the US Customs and Border Patrol to demonstrate a maritime radar flying on a General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (Predator B) UAS.

The RFI says that the ship-based UAS fleet will help the national security cutter fleet keep track of maritime targets by loitering over them. Payloads should include radars, EO/IR sensors, automatic identification systems and directional finders, plus control and communications equipment.