Textron Systems Drone Makes First Flight From Navy Littoral Combat Ship

The Aerosonde uncrewed aircraft system is designed to be a force multiplier for extended maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 11:29 AM ET

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Textron Systems was awarded a Naval Air Systems Command Center (NAVAIR) contract to provide UAS operational support to one Freedom Class and two Independence Class LCS variants. [Courtesy: NAVAIR]

Key Takeaways:

Textron Systems' Aerosonde uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) completed its first operational flight from a U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the USS Savannah.
This deployment is part of a $19.5 million contract awarded to Textron by NAVAIR to provide UAS operational support for three LCS variants.
The Aerosonde UAS enhances LCS missions by offering extended intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) services and maritime overwatch.
The system, described as a "force multiplier," is a rail-launched, fixed-wing drone now supporting its fifth class and seventh ship in the U.S. Navy.

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Textron Systems’ Aerosonde uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) designed to provide maritime overwatch has made its first operational flight from a U.S. Navy littoral combat ship (LCS), according to the company.

The drone demonstration from the USS Savannah comes months after the Textron subsidiary was awarded a $19.5 million contract by Naval Air Systems Command Center (NAVAIR) to provide UAS operational support to one Freedom Class and two Independence Class LCS variants.