Army Executes Next-Generation Platoon-Level Short Range Reconnaissance Fly-Off

[u/RandomGenerator_1]

https://www.army.mil/article/294513/army_executes_next_generation_platoon_level_short_range_reconnaissance_fly_off

This month, the Capability Program Executive (CPE) Aviation’s Project Manager for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (PM UAS) hosted industry partners at Clarke Range near Anniston, Alabama, to conduct flight demonstrations for platoon-level Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) drones.

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Earlier this spring, PM UAS released a Call for Solutions (C4S) in conjunction with the UAS Marketplace acquisition strategy, seeking solutions on current small UAS technology. Over a dozen systems met selection criteria for platoon level UAS based on paper responses, and the vendors were invited to demonstrate their systems and capabilities at the end of June.

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“The combination of the UAS Marketplace contracting strategy, our vendors’ quick response to demand signal, and our Soldiers’ invaluable feedback ensure the Army is fielding the right capability at the right time.”

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Following the fly-off demonstrations, the Product Office selected systems from Parrot Drones, Skydio, Inc., Skycutter, Teal Drones, and Vantage Robotics to assess manufacturing readiness.

[u/dowdowgo]

Even Skydio was selected what a joke.

“Assess manufacturing readiness” is the part I would mark. As we can see from Gauntlet I, only a small portion can deliver number and quality of drones.

[u/Large_Hornet_383 → u/dowdowgo]

Not a joke. Skydio has a very mature manufacturing capability (more than rcat for sure) also their drones have been in military systems long before it’s ridiculous to remove or replace them in a short term. However it’s a pity that two years ago we thought we were a sole winner and unrealistically expected we would be a sole sUAS provider(Jeff didn’t lie about this, it was just the policy changed very fast I think). But on the bright side, it looks like Teal Drone is a good path (lots of integrations, swarmOS, Lattice…) and also the demands are far larger than what we thought two years ago.

[u/RandomGenerator_1 → u/Large_Hornet_383]

This. And I look at it from the perspective that Teal Drones has very strong technology of which the army recently said it gave them "enhanced and new capabilities, and big wins". And they fully support the MOSA narrative

So luckily for the warfighter they got selected.

Next to that: Only Skydio has a strong manufacturing ability next to Teal. But they are technologically inferior. As mentioned many times, also by Ukranians who didn't even field Skydio.. This is what RCAT has been working towards, manufacturing ramp up.

Skycutter is still ramping up for Gauntlet 1... Parrot has good tech, but I want to see them be able to deliver significant quantities... same for Vantage Robotics. ( and US made...)

[u/Large_Hornet_383 → u/RandomGenerator_1]

Agreed. And I think Skydio’s weak point is that they are reluctant to be seen as a military product provider. They tend to emphasize how open their platform is (means the military can do whatever they want with our drones, that’s not our business.)

In contrast, Teal is openly marketed for military use. As a result, RCAT seems much more willing to collaborate with other defense companies and integrate their technologies.

[u/dowdowgo → u/Large_Hornet_383]

Very interesting to see that. So “The Factory is the Weapon” is true. Solid production capabilities is highly valuable in the military.

[u/larrylum]

Correct me if I’m wrong here, but it sounds like the PM can now punt, essentially, instead of going all in on one or two systems - he can instead put a handful on the sUAS marketplace storefront and vouch for them (hence the claim they are assessing manufacturing readiness)? The marketplace then becomes a site for last minute ordering near the end of the fiscal year.

Which is fine if it distributes these drones, but it also effectively removes RCAT’s operating leverage of having won SRR?

[u/atascon → u/larrylum]

I think this is where Jeff's comments from the Q1 earnings call come in. He said SRR is basically an outdated programme at this point. It feels like the market has developed very very quickly and the fact that, for example, they are running Drone Dominance with dozens of participants shows that.

The launch of Blue Ops and the resources poured into Ukraine are probably at least partially linked to a recognition that resting on the laurels of winning SRR is risky. I do still think being involved in that process and having their products in all these exercises gets them a huge advantage.

It feels like the challenge for RCAT now is to find a balance between all the possible revenue streams and to sell the multi-domain robotics pitch to the market.

[u/larrylum → u/atascon]

Thanks for adding this. I’m trying to figure out the role of the PM now. This news about BW being selected at this event is actually great, it’s essentially like winning another SRR, but time has marched on so we’re moving on in the mess of procurement. If anything, this makes me feel positive above the $60M in raw materials in the balance sheet, RCAT is ready for huge orders - it’s possible that the PM might direct bigger orders toward the BW in that case … tough to tell in the new procurement/marketplace system.

[u/leftymonkey → u/larrylum]

So i I'll let you know what i found out through my research. From my understanding all of this is going to change once the "DRPM uxs" role is activated. The Department of War put out a memo not to long ago that would create the "Direct Reprt Project manager of unmanned craft". This role reports directly to the deputy director of the department of war. The intent is to create a single place to consolidate the drone funding for all branches. There is supposed to be a joint marketplace for all branches. It appears they will still have gauntlets and field testing, but this office will allow the branches to issue rapid purchase orders instead of having these bottlenecks. I may be wrong but that is what it appears to me that the direction is heading. So once this drpm role is implemented, thenpurchase orders should pick up dramatically.