Altavian, Inc. has been awarded a $250 million Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract with the US Army.

Altavian will support the largest small UAS program in the world, under the Program Executive Office Aviation, Products Office for Tactical Unmanned Aircraft (TUAS).

The US Army Family of Systems, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (FoSUAS) includes the RQ-11 and RQ-20 UAS, as well as supporting control and communications equipment, and other technologies to be fielded over the contract period of performance.

All systems are designed to be carried by a “single dismounted warfighter,” quickly assembled, and deployed to provide “immediate over-the-hill surveillance and reconnaissance.”

Altavian says that it supports the mission of the Army to provide “critical, real-time intelligence” for warfighter protection and extended operational reach.

“It is part of our mission to design and build incredible technology, but knowing that our technology is at work in service of the men and women who defend the United States of America is our highest honor,” says John Perry, CEO of Altavian.

“We are committed to meeting the challenges of this contract and accelerating innovation in the US Army UAS capabilities.”

Under the new contract, Altavian will compete to provide quality components to sustain the FoSUAS fleet, along with upgrading offerings to increase the “capability, resiliency, and cost-effectiveness” of the fleet. Upgraded avionics and radios with increased frequency options, along with a handheld ground control station (H-GCS), are some of the new offerings.

In addition, Altavian will continue to supply RQ-11 and RQ-20 direct replacement parts for the Government.

“We are proud to continue to bring competition to Group I [under 20 lbs] UAS,” comments Thomas Rambo, co-founder of Altavian.

“All the technologies that we are proposing for this contract embrace the US DoD’s Open Systems Architecture objectives and by adopting this technology will ensure the continued sustainment, upgradeability, and interoperability of Group I UAS for years to come.”

This contract, which is the primary acquisition method for Group I UAS in the Army, has a base award period of five years.