The US Army has awarded RTX, until recently known as Raytheon Technologies, a $118-million contract to deliver a Common Sensor Payload (CSP) for the MQ-1C Gray Eagle drone.
The CSP is an “electro-optical/infrared/laser designator sensor,” providing “battlespace awareness, force protection, and net-centric operations.”
The CSP version 3 will come equipped with a target location accuracy (TLA) capability.
Targeting Sensor
The TLA enables near real-time deployment of coordinate-seeking weapons, reducing the sensor-to-shooter process from minutes to seconds, according to the army.
“In addition to the TLA capability, the updated CSP will have several enhancements over the previous version,” Sensors-Aerial Intelligence project director Dennis Teefy said.
“It will have an improved camera with short-wave infrared capabilities, which will enable better resolution in low-light scenarios. It also addresses hardware obsolescence in the current CSP version 2 to ensure sustainment can continue well into the future.”
The payload’s fielding is expected to start in 2027.
