Leidos announced on Thursday that the company secured a contract in the next phase of the U.S. Special Operations Command's (USSOCOM) Armed Overwatch aircraft prototype program. The company’s team will include Paramount Group USA and Vertex Aerospace. The team will advance its new aircraft, referred to as Bronco II, to the Phase III Operational Prototype Demonstration fly-off.
"Superior technology is critical to USSOCOM's mission and we are proud to support them through Bronco II," said Gerry Fasano, president of the Leidos Defense Group and a 2021 Wash100 Award recipient.
"This advanced aircraft is designed to usher SOCOM into the next generation of tactical warfare and deliver mission-critical tools to the warfighter. The Leidos team is excited to enter Phase III of the competition and proud to support SOCOM as it defends our nation across the world," Fasano added.
Leidos was recently selected by USSOCOM as the prime contractor to compete for the final phase of the Armed Overwatch contract. The contract requires the company to demonstrate a new prototype system judged against well-defined criteria.
The Bronco II is a durable, affordable and sustainable multi-purpose aircraft built for U.S. special operation forces’ specific needs. The craft is designed to ‘roll-on, roll-off' standards and can be rapidly disassembled, transported and reassembled in the field by a small crew.
The aircraft’s modular mission systems facilitate rapid system changes, updates, additions, integration and removal. The Bronco II aircraft will be manufactured in Crestview, Florida.
Leidos partnered with Paramount Group USA and Vertex Aerospace last year to pursue the Armed Overwatch program. The team’s combined experience spans decades of integrating and manufacturing cutting-edge airborne solutions for warfighters.
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, Va., Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $12.30 billion for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2021.
