June 27, 2024 —
The Coast Guard awarded a contract on June 26, 2024, to Shield AI Inc. of San Diego for unmanned aircraft system (UAS) capability that can be deployed from Coast Guard cutters. The indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity firm fixed-price contract runs through 2029 and is structured as five one-year ordering periods.
This contractor-owned, contractor-operated service will be used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of Coast Guard missions. Requirements for the cutter-based UAS capability – which the Coast Guard will term as maritime UAS or MUAS in the future – included fully automated flight operations, minimum endurance of 12 hours of flight time daily and the ability to provide services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The payload will include electro-optical and infrared sensors and communications relays and be capable of providing surveillance, detection, classification and identification for all of the host cutter’s operational missions.
The contract has a total potential value of $198.1 million and includes installation and deinstallation of the UAS capability and pilot and mission training. Shield AI will deploy its V-BAT, which is a vertical take-off and landing UAS.
Initially, the contract will be used to continue UAS capability on the national security cutter class; however, the contract can be used to support additional cutter classes in the future.
For more information: Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program page