Capabilities by the hour?

The Army’s lease agreement with Boeing/ Insitu for ScanEagle unmanned aerial system (UAS) services at Tarin Kowt offers an interesting model upon which to base some future acquisitions.

The ‘power by the hour’ agreement for the ScanEagle sees Insitu provide and maintain the air vehicles, conduct launch and recovery operations, and fit and maintain sensor payloads to order. While the Army has increased its ScanEagle operator numbers to more than 150 and has taken responsibility for the interpretation and dissemination of information gleaned by the aircraft’s sensors, the Commonwealth only retains ownership of the basing infrastructure and of the sensor ‘take’.