Unmanned aerial system (UAS) manufacturer Insitu Pacific has been announced as preferred supplier by the Australian Government to provide the new Tactical Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) to the Australian Army under the LAND129 Phase 3 programme.
Insitu, a division of the Boeing company, will initially deliver and provide support of its Integrator UAS (pictured) as well as associated ground systems and services, with the majority of manufacture and all assembly to be completed in Australia.
Insitu works with a team of more than 20 Australian suppliers including Ascent Vision Technologies Australia, Orbital UAV which supplies engines, Nova Systems Australia, LSM Advanced Composites and Jayben Group.
Insitu Pacific managing director Andrew Duggan said: “The introduction of Integrator’s surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities will be a significant force multiplier for the complex challenges (the) army faces today and in the future.”
The company’s ScanEagle system was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, is in service in the Royal Australian Navy’s 822X Squadron.
The Integrator is a proven UAS system providing 24/7 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability, supporting modular and field-swappable payloads.
Duggan said: “Our suppliers bring home-grown, Australian innovation and ingenuity to the programme.
“The delivery of the Integrator system to (the) army will be underpinned by our shared commitment to further develop sovereign capability and supports the growth of businesses directly on our team, as well as their respective ecosystems of Australian suppliers.”
Australian suppliers will directly support critical capabilities including sensing and software, advanced materials and propulsion, and seamless integration with existing and planned Australian Defence Force systems.
Under the contract, production is scheduled to begin in early 2022 with delivery expected through 2023 and 2024.
Picture: Insitu Pacific/Integrator UAS
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