Intelligence Plans

The US Army intends to launch a competition for the Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance Surveillance Systems (EMARSS) intelligence-gathering aircraft, with bids likely to be submitted by Sierra Nevada, L3 Communications, EOIR and Jorge Scientific. The service hopes to purchase at least 36 EMARSS aircraft (including developmental and training platforms) to collect EO/IR, full-motion video and COMINT information to support ongoing missions. If the effort remains on target, the final RfP could be issued in 2/2010. Contract award is expected to follow after a period of about six months. The EMARSS, a product of the service's 2005 decision to descope the $879 mil Lockheed Martin Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) program, is envisioned as a more advanced variant of the MARSS aircraft now deployed to support troops fielded in Iraq and Afghanistan.