US Army Procures Drone Targets from Griffon Aerospace for $50M

The United States Army has awarded Griffon Aerospace a contract worth $50 million to supply MQM-170 Outlaw Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPA) targets and MQM-171 Broadsword Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) targets.

“Griffon Aerospace Inc., Madison, Alabama, was awarded a $49.9 million contract to procure MQM-170 ‘Outlaw’ Remotely Piloted Vehicle Targets, MQM-171 ‘Broadsword’ Unmanned Aerial Systems – Targets,” the Pentagon said in a statement Monday.

The contract also includes depot level repair and maintenance, storage of government-furnished equipment, base operations services, field operations services, qualification training execution, and inventory and transfer support for targets management office and other Department of Defense customers.

Work is expected to be completed by February 23, 2022.

The MQM-170 Outlaw can serve as a target drone, surrogate training platform, or in a surrogate aerial reconnaissance and forward observation role. The system consists of an air vehicle and a ground control station (GCS), including an optional satellite link communication suite. It may be launched pneumatically or by runway takeoff, when equipped with landing gear.

The MQM-171 Broadsword is a much larger derivative of the MQM-170A Outlaw and is currently available for US military operations as the MQM-171A. The 400-500 lbs. gross weight aircraft was developed as a research and test vehicle to evaluate new sensors, payloads, propulsion systems and other UAV components. Broadsword is a large capable aircraft ideal for emerging sensor or payload development missions.