The replacement of the Army’s Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) through project LAND 129 Phase 3 has progressed to the tendering process.

The replacement of the Australian Army’s Shadow 200 (RQ-7B)Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) through project LAND 129 Phase 3 has progressed to the tendering process (Picture source: USMC/Wikimedia)

Four companies have been selected through an abbreviated Invitation To Register process and will be provided a detailed Request for Tender, to further explore plans and conceptual integration designs. There are Insitu Pacific Pty Ltd, Leidos Australia, Raytheon Australia Pty Ltd, Textron Systems Australia Pty Ltd.

Australian small businesses in the defence industry and participants in the Invitation To Register are thanked for their continued support of project LAND 129 Phase 3. Andrew McKinnon, Deputy Director Army UAS Projects, said there are a number of local companies already involved in the Australian Defence Force’s Unmanned Systems space: “These companies are encouraged to continue their engagement with the LAND 129 Phase 3 down-selected tenderers in order to deliver a world-class capability. Unmanned Aerial Systems are a key component of Army’s Surveillance and Reconnaissance capability, with some smaller Unmanned Systems recently being used on Operation Bushfire Assist.”

The next phase of the project will focus on a competitive evaluation of more comprehensive tendered solutions from the four Primes, prior to progressing the project to Government consideration in 2021.