US Army officials say they will purchase a handful of Boeing A160T Hummingbird unmanned rotorcraft "within the next couple of years" to experiment with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in theatre.
"Our main interest is in quick reaction capability, not a program of record," says Col. Gregory Gonzalez, program manager for Army unmanned aircraft systems. "In particular, our G2 [intelligence arm] is interested in having us procure A160s for quick reaction with a variety of payloads for ISR," says Gonzalez, adding that the Army would procure "under 10" Hummingbirds within the "next couple of years." He says the vertical takeoff and landing UAV would potentially be a fit for battalion-level UAS.