PAE ISR has announced that on Nov. 13, it received a Group 3 Interim Flight Clearance for its Resolute Eagle vertical takeoff and landing UAS from the Naval Air System Command in Maryland.

PAE ISR was one of four prime awards on the five-year, $1.73 billion NAVAIR indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support services for land and maritime-based UAS.

The company notes that the IFC verifies the Resolute Eagle's airworthiness in accordance with the NAVAIR IDIQ requirements.

“The granting of the Cat 3 IFC for the Resolute Eagle vertical takeoff and landing UAS is a significant milestone for the PAE ISR team and recognizes the safety of flight and airworthiness of the Resolute Eagle in the VTOL configuration,” says Jake Jacobs, PAE ISR chief technology officer. 

“The granting of this IFC required many hours of work between PAE ISR staff and NAVAIR engineers. The IFC process, dictated by NAVAIRINST 13034.1D and administered by NAVAIR AIR-4.0P ensures the Resolute Eagle VTOL UAS can safely operate down range supporting our men and women in uniform.”

PAE ISR describes the Resolute Eagle as a “multi-intelligence capable,” Group III UAS in a single, reconfigurable platform. Designed for reliable landing and recovery independent of a runway, the UAS has long-range capabilities that gives operators flexibility of configurations, launch environments and mission profiles.

The Resolute Eagle comes in two configurations—standard and vertical takeoff and landing. Depending on the configuration, it has a flight endurance of 12 to 18 hours plus. Runway independent, the UAS offers the VTOL configuration necessary for deployment and recovery in difficult conditions, including maritime operations.

Additionally, the UAS has a payload capacity of more than 75 pounds. Some of its other features include a very low acoustic signature at mission altitudes, small logistical footprint, and significant power onboard for multi-intelligence payload integration.