lighter-than-air vehicles - Defense Innovation Marketplace

would otherwise lack organic surveillancecapabilities.Silicis Technologies is working with theDoD to provide two Altus systems. The twoAltus systems are being acquired for testingand forward operational assessment. System1 has been delivered and is currently beingtested at the Electronic Proving Ground,Fort Huachuca, Arizona to obtain a safetyconfirmation and verify performancecapabilities. First flight has been completed.A CONUS user evaluation is planned at theManeuver Battle Lab, Fort Benning,Georgia to obtain soldier feedback on thesystem. Following the user evaluation, onesystem is tentatively planned to participatein NIE 13.1 and the other will be deployedin OEF to begin the operational assessment.Altus has also been accepted forparticipation in the upcoming ArmyExpeditionary Warrior Experiment Spiral H,to take place at Fort Benning, Georgia,January through February of 2013. Altus is18, 19currently at a TRL 6.Altus began in FY12 with funding fromArmy REF. Current plans are to evaluatesystem performance before any additionalprocurement actions.17