The U.S. Army is preparing to procure special-purpose, single-use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for use on future battlefields and is nearing the final stages of defining a set of critical requirements for these “kamikaze” drones.
The Army’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Project Manager, Col. Danielle Medaglia, announced at the annual conference of the U.S. Army Aviation Association (AAAA) that market research for these systems, called PBAS (Purpose-Built, Wearable Systems), has recently been completed. Medaglia noted that an Army Requirements Control Board (ARCB) meeting in June will take a detailed look at the requirements for these innovative UASs.
It was noted that PM UAS, within the Program Executive Office Aviation (PEO Aviation), worked closely with the Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCoE) to shape the final requirements for PBAS. This joint effort aims to ensure that future disposable UAVs can effectively perform a variety of battlefield missions.
More Than FPV Drones: Multifunctional Detachable Systems
While the initial phase of the program focused on first-person-view (FPV) drones, which have proven popular on the battlefield in the Ukraine war, the U.S. Army envisions these wearable drones could have a much broader range of capabilities and control mechanisms. PBAS will be a “multi-role capability,” said Col. Nick Ryan, UAS capability manager in the service’s Capability Development and Integration Directorate (CDID).
Ryan explained this versatility: “It could be FPV, it could be first-person view control like you saw in Ukraine, like shaking the sticks, or it could be more like [Short-Range Reconnaissance], where you control it a little bit easier, you push a few buttons, you give it a few waypoints, and it moves and flies on its own.” This means that PBAS can not only handle direct manual control, but also perform pre-programmed autonomous missions.
Ryan also added that these drones can be controlled using a physical connection such as a fiber optic cable, or they can operate completely autonomously, with a flight plan and mission pre-loaded. In autonomous mode, they will be able to aim at the target and complete the mission without the need for operator intervention. Ryan summarized this situation as, “Your target is clear, I won’t talk to you anymore, go away.”
Swarm Flight and Integration with Manned Helicopters
Colonel Ryan noted that in the future, the Army also envisions these single-use UAVs flying in swarms and working in coordination with manned aircraft, such as the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. This could allow manned and unmanned systems to work together to execute more complex and effective tactics against the enemy. UAV swarms could support manned platforms in missions such as reconnaissance, target acquisition or suppression of enemy air defenses.
Another potential use case could be defense against enemy drones. “PBAS is a great thing to use as an autonomous air-to-air combatant,” Ryan said. “You just tell it, throw it, and say, ‘Hey, go kill things in the air. Robot to robot,’” he said, indicating that PBAS could have autonomous air-to-air combat capabilities that could detect and neutralize enemy UAVs. This suggests that future air warfare could also include an unmanned combat dimension.
Expectation of Strong Interest and Rapid Prototyping from the Industry
The call for solutions, published approximately two weeks ago and directed to the sector, received over 60 responses from potential suppliers. This intense interest shows how much the defence industry values the potential of this new generation of single-use UAVs.
Colonel Medaglia said the committee that will evaluate these bids will begin its work this week. The evaluation process includes a comprehensive process that includes reviewing paper bids and inviting selected vendors to airshows, and it was stated that the necessary funding for this process has been provided.
The Army plans to award multiple suppliers following these flight demonstrations, according to Medaglia. The service will focus specifically on companies that have the capacity to rapidly produce these systems. “We need to scale,” Medaglia said, emphasizing that being able to produce these next-generation UAVs in large quantities and rapidly is critical to the success of the program. “We want to get this out, learn, iterate quickly. We’re moving incredibly, incredibly fast in this space. It’s funded. We have the answers, and we’re ready to go,” he said, clearly indicating the Army’s commitment to this area and its expectation of rapid progress. This rapid prototyping and iteration approach can allow the Army to quickly adapt to changing battlefield requirements.
