18 July, 2018: Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has signed a strategic collaboration agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to support development of an innovative tactical Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) able to take off, fly and land vertically for the US market. The companies see great potential in this partnership for special mission applications in the American tactical UAS market over the next ten years as the increased use of unmanned aircraft continues to boost the operational flexibility, safety and effectiveness of US military air operations.
The VTOL UAS will give forward-positioned units the ability to deploy expeditionary wide-area UAS Intelligence, Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) assets in rigorous environments without needing access to a runway, while providing enhanced safety and reduced risk throughout the range of operations and mission locations.