William McCormick
Leidos‘ team has been selected to enter the final phase of the U.S. Special Operations Command’s Armed Overwatch aircraft prototype program.
Leidos said Friday the company, Paramount USA and Vertex Aerospace, which were among five teams awarded a total of $19.3 million for prototype demonstrations, will work to advance Bronco II aircraft to the Phase III Operational Prototype Demonstration later in June.
“Our team combines decades of experience both integrating and manufacturing cutting-edge airborne solutions for the warfighter. We are thrilled to have been selected to compete in the final phase,” commented Gerry Fasano, president of Leidos Defense Group and a 2021 Wash100 Award recipient.
The Bronco II aircraft is designed for mission flexibility and features an internal Interchangeable Multi-Mission System Bay (IMSB) that works to enable a single airframe to be easily and rapidly re-configured to perform Intelligence and surveillance; forward air controller-airborne; strike coordination and reconnaissance; and other missions.
In addition, the Bronco II incorporates high-performance sensors, network communication systems, precision weapons, an electronic self-protection suite and mission planning systems.
“Through our partnerships with Leidos, we are looking forward to building upon our 27-year legacy of designing and producing rugged technologically advanced systems. Our team has designed and developed an America-centric platform for the world market, and we are looking forward to bringing Bronco II back to America,” said Ivor Ichikowitz, chairman of Paramount Group.
“Vertex has a 50-year legacy of supporting warfighter missions,” stated Ed Boyington, president and CEO of Vertex Aerospace. “Vertex’s highly skilled employees will assemble the aircraft and provide the final systems support integration and launch the Bronco II for customer delivery from our Crestview, Florida facility. We are proud to be an integral part of this team.”
About Leidos
Leidos is a Fortune 500® information technology, engineering and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world’s toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, civil and health markets. The company’s 40,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, VaLeidos reported annual revenues of approximately $12.30 billion for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2021.
