Insitu’s ScanEagle will provide small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) ISR services aboard the entire U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter fleet thanks to a new USCG contract award.
The service contract is valued at approximately $117 million and covers the installation and deployment of sUAS for 200 hours per 30-day operational patrol period, whereby ScanEagle will conduct surveillance, detection, classification and identification operations.
ScanEagle will also support prosecution by providing real-time imagery, data, target illumination, communications relay and other capabilities to the fleet and other government platforms as needed.
(Learn about Maritime Capabilities of Insitu. Courtesy of Insitu and YouTube. Posted on Jun 6, 2017)
In 2016, Insitu won the contract to provide sUAS ISR services aboard one National Security Cutter, the USCGC STRATTON.
By January 2018, ScanEagle had directly assisted the ship’s crews in seizing more than $1.5 billion of cocaine and heroin, contributing to the USCG’s record-breaking year for drug busts in 2017.
“When ScanEagle initially deployed with the STRATTON, we recognized what an incredible opportunity we had to partner with the U.S. Coast Guard to bring dynamic improvements to mission effectiveness and change aviation history,” said Don Williamson, vice president and general manager, Insitu Defense.
(See the U.S. Coast Guard Intercept Submarine Carrying $181 Million In Drugs. Courtesy of Military Force and YouTube. Posted on Feb 13, 2018)
The contract award also marks a major milestone for the acquisition process.
“The sUAS has already proven itself to be a transformational technology, and the deployment of this capability to the entirety of the NSC fleet is an incredibly important first step in realizing the Coast Guard’s vision of fleet-wide UAS implementation,” said Cmdr. Daniel Broadhurst, who served as unmanned aircraft systems division chief in the Office of Aviation Forces.
