
The Coast Guard last week issued a draft request for proposal (RFP) for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that would be operated by contractors aboard some of its cutters, moving a step closer toward a new procurement. The draft solicitation is for Group II and III UAS, the former having a gross take-off weight between 21 and 55 pounds and the latter weighing less than 1,320 pounds. Currently, the Coast Guard’s high-endurance national security cutters (NSCs) operate with Group II ScanEagle…