USMC MARV-EL Inc 2 OTA to Near Earth Autonomy/Bell Textron for autonomous logistics drone
Key Questions
Who was awarded the USMC MARV-EL Inc 2 OTA?
Near Earth Autonomy, in partnership with Bell Textron, Moog, and XP, was awarded the MARV-EL Inc 2 OTA by Naval Air Systems Command. This is for developing an uncrewed Bell 505 logistics drone. Competitors included Sikorsky and Robinson.
What are the key specifications of the MARV-EL drone?
The uncrewed Bell 505 drone features a 1300 lbs payload capacity and 100 nm range. It incorporates Captain MOSA autonomy for GPS-denied operations. Prototypes are planned over 36 months to support distributed operations.
What is the purpose of the MARV-EL Inc 2 program?
The program develops autonomous logistics drones for Marine Corps uncrewed operations in national security contexts. It enables surge capabilities via OTA for prototypes fitting distributed ops. Tracking includes flights, tasks, and supply chain developments.
Near Earth Autonomy/Bell Textron/Moog/XP awarded MARV-EL Inc 2 OTA for uncrewed Bell 505 (1300lbs/100nm, Captain MOSA autonomy GPS-denied); vs Sikorsky/Robinson. 36mo prototypes fit distributed ops/natsec OTA surge. Track flights/tasks/subs/chains/emergents.