The Pentagon signed a $15 million contract with a California-based company for two drones capable of carrying bombs and other weapons after being launched from a ship.
As part of the no-bid deal made last week, Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems Inc. will provide the Navy with two XQ-58A unmanned aerial systems (UAS) with advanced sensors and weapons payloads capable of offensive strike missions.
The work will be carried out at the company’s headquarters in Sacramento, California. It is expected to be completed by September 2023, Pentagon officials said.
The Navy has been working to develop carrier-based drone systems since 2006.