The budget-constrained US military is looking to minimize training requirements by channeling funds toward platform upgrades and autonomy. One of the biggest gainers of this change in spending trends will be the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) segment.
The US Air Force (AF) is keen to upgrade its UAS programs by deploying an open architecture, ensuring standards-based modularity to enable plug and play sensors and implementing quick hardware and software upgrades. The AF has made a case for a new MQ-X to replace the MQ-1/9 fleet but the budget will not allow for a new-start MALE UAS program.
