DoD Mulls Options for Future Spy Plane

Posted on: Aug. 15th, 2006 || Source: military.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

A Pentagon-wide study probing the use of current and future intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets has identified several avenues for proceeding with development of a new spy-plane fleet that was halted -- one of which involves relying solely on an unmanned aircraft, according to Col. Robert Carpenter, the project manager for Aerial Common Sensors.

Following the ACS contract termination earlier this year, officials from the Army, Navy and Air Force set out to conduct a “Joint ISR Study” examining how currently fielded assets, as well as a future spy-plane, could better cover the ISR spectrum, Carpenter told Inside the Army Aug. 8.

To date, the study has been completed, but the findings have not been publicly released because the Defense Department is still vetting them, Carpenter said, adding that recommendations should emerge this fall.

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