Teledyne FLIR Defense Receives DOD Contract to Enhance SkyRaider Drone for CBRN Missions

The Department of Defense has awarded Teledyne FLIR Defense a potential 33-month, $13.3 million contract to provide unmanned aerial system enhancements.

Teledyne FLIR Defense will integrate flight controls that will allow the R80D SkyRaider UAS to autonomously perform chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear reconnaissance missions, which are currently done by soldiers who carry detection sensors into hazardous areas.

The company will also build prototype chemical and radiological sensor payloads for the UAS and integrate existing detectors in the U.S. Army’s inventory.

Under the base contract, the company will deliver four SkyRaiders and six of each sensor payload. The contract also has options involving the provision of support training, documentation and additional UAS and payloads, Teledyne FLIR said Wednesday.

The DOD deal also means that SkyRaider and the prototype sensors will be designed to operate with the command and control user interface for the Army’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle Stryker platform. Teledyne FLIR Defense is the prime systems integrator for the NBCRV Stryker.

David Cullin, vice president of technology and product management at Teledyne FLIR Defense, said there is a growing demand for the use of unmanned air and ground assets for CBRN missions and weapons of mass destruction risk mitigation.

Initial drone and payload deliveries are slated for the fall of 2023.