13 April 2023

US Army developing HADES ISR prototypes

by Carlo Munoz

A Multi-INT Special Mission aircraft, based on the Bombardier Global 6500 business jet, developed for South Korea by Raytheon. A similar variant could be used as part of the HADES prototype being sought by the US Army. (Raytheon)

The US Army's aviation directorate is soliciting industry input for prototype development of a new airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) system to support long-range precision fires operations and close “deep-sensing gaps” in the army's ISR portfolio, according to a recent service announcement.

Officials from Program Executive Office Aviation, in co-ordination with the space, missile defence, and special programmes directorate at Army Contracting Command – Redstone Arsenal, issued the 7 April request for information (RFI) for the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES). The RFI is calling on potential industry participants to provide details on possible scope of work requirements, evaluation criteria, and data rights information pertaining to the development of three HADES prototypes, the 7 April notice stated.

To this end, army programme officials are planning to hold one-on-one meetings with potential offerors in late April during the annual Army Aviation Association of America Symposium to discuss programme requirements for the draft request for proposals (RFP) for the HADES prototype effort, the notice added.

Army leaders anticipate awarding a five-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract for the three HADES prototypes, programme officials wrote in the 7 April notice, which did not include a potential contract award amount.

The US Army's aviation directorate is soliciting industry input for prototype development of a new a...

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