The U.S. Army canceled its plans to further a technology demonstrator program focusing on designing, building and flying next-generation unmanned aerial system capabilities, Defense News reported Friday.Â
The service branch is set to conclude the program’s first phase, revolving around producing UAS technology concepts, and shift the focus on future vertical lift operations to support the procurement of advanced manned helicopters.
Layne Merritt, director of the Aviation Development Directorate under the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Aviation and Missile Center, said the military branch will concentrate on wargaming activities to develop collaborative operations between manned and unmanned aircraft.
He noted the effort will help the Army model tools identify potential issues and performance requirements. According to Merritt, another major acquisition under the demonstrator program is “probably too much for the Army at one time.”