Scion UAS wins NRL contract

Scion UAS takes off with a win of a Naval Research Laboratory contract for Unmanned Helicopter Systems to be utilized in development and demonstration of emerging sensor systems. Fort Collins, CO – October 8, 2012

Scion UAS announced today that the Naval Research Laboratory awarded a contract valued at up to $3 million for the delivery of multiple SA-400 Jackal unmanned helicopter systems. Scion UAS was selected as the supplier for the unmanned helicopter systems after a competitive evaluation of several companies. The contract includes delivery of multiple vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicles that are capable of autonomous launch and recovery from a moving ship. The vehicles will be utilized in the development and demonstration of emerging sensor systems.

The SA-400 Jackal is a turbine powered VTOL optionally-piloted vehicle (OPV) that can carry a 100 lb payload for more than 5 hours. Founded in 2011, Scion UAS, LLC offers a product family of unmanned helicopter systems that range in size from car-transportable to optionally-piloted helicopters. The VTOL UAS provides a simple to use aerial surveillance platform targeted at a wide variety of civilian and military applications including mining, agriculture, and aerial