The UME will invest 12 million in the purchase of up to fifty aerial, terrestrial and underwater drones
The new unmanned systems will go to the newly created UME Drone Unit (Udrume)
The contract has a duration of two years, extendable for another two, and foresees the initial acquisition of up to 33 drones for land, sea and air operations, although the final order could reach up to fifty units when including the possible extension. The tender also includes the supply of sensors and payloads for unmanned ground vehicles (USVs) and aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The UME is initially looking for a heavy UGV vehicle, capable of incorporating chemical and radiological detectors and two small CBRN off-road UGVs. In a first phase, it also wants to incorporate eight underwater vehicles: two AUVs, two heavy ROVs and four light ROVs. Regarding unmanned aerial systems, the plan is to buy 22 Class I UAS: 14, Micro category – weighing less than two kilos; six, Mini category – weight less than 20 kg; and two, Small category – weight between 15 and up to 150 kg. In the case of Mini and Micro drones, the UME wants to buy rotary wing systems, while in the Small category it is looking for a fixed wing system with vertical take-off and landing.
A large part of the budget is allocated to sensors and UAV payloads. The UME will equip the drones with gas detectors, temperature and humidity sensors, radiological sensors, gimbal stabilizers, IMSI Carther devices and multispectral and hyperspectral cameras. The contract specifications detail the characteristics that the drones and the different equipment and sensors must meet.
If in the end the extra time goes ahead, two UGVs, two light ROVs, and 14 more UAS would arrive. Companies interested in the tender have until July 25 to submit bids to the Head of the Economic Affairs Section of the Military Emergency Unit, which manages the tender through an open procedure and ordinary processing. The economic proposals presented will open on August 5.