ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD – The U.S. Army awarded a new delivery order with Raytheon Technologies, on June 20, to procure Common Sensor Payload (CSP) version 3 (v3) systems for the U.S. Army and National Guard, which will include a Target Location Accuracy (TLA) capability. The contract was awarded as an Undefinitized Contract Action (UCA) with a $118 million ceiling through an existing indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract.

            The CSP is an electro-optical/infrared/laser designator sensor for battlefield commanders, which supports force application, battlespace awareness, Force Protection, and net-centric operations across the battlefield and operates on the MQ-1C Gray Eagle uncrewed aircraft system (UAS).

            The TLA capability enables precision, near-real time engagements with coordinate seeking weapons by reducing the sensor-to-shooter process from minutes to seconds. This will provide the division commander joint fires engagement options for coordinate seeking weapons.

            “In addition to the TLA capability, the updated CSP will have several enhancements over the previous version,” said Dennis Teefy, PD Sensors Aerial Intelligence. “It will have an improved camera with short-wave infrared capabilities, which will enable better resolution in low light scenarios. It also addresses hardware obsolescence in the current CSP version 2 to ensure sustainment can continue well into the future.”

            The Army pursued a UCA for the CSP v3 procurement to meet the urgency of the MQ-1C Gray Eagle UAS production line and fielding schedule. PD SAI is a partner with Project Manager Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (PM UAS) who is the Office of Primary Responsibility for the MQ-1C Gray Eagle UAS. PM UAS leverages PD SAI sensor expertise across multiple systems within their portfolio.

            “The current lead time for the Gray Eagle is less than the CSP lead time,” Teefy said. “By awarding the contract through an UCA, the Army will be able to get the new CSPs onto the Gray Eagle aircraft and field the complete system sooner.”

Fielding is expected to initiate in Fiscal Year 2027.