– Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., a Technology Company in the Defense, National Security and Global Markets, and industry-leading provider of high-performance, jet-powered unmanned aerial systems, announced that Kratos has received $59,338,010 for an additional 70 BQM-177A Subsonic Aerial Target (SSAT) aircraft through the exercise of the contract option for Full Rate Production (FRP) Lot 6.
In 2021, Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems (KUAS), a division of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, was awarded a sole-source contract worth $50m for the acquisition of 65 BQM-177A SSATs.
The company secured a $49m FRP contract for Lot 4 of the BQM-177A SSAT in 2023, which included the procurement of 55 aircraft, mission kits, flight consumables, and technical data.
2024 saw Kratos win a contract for Lot 5 of the BQM-177A SSAT, which involved the production and delivery of another 70 units.
The cumulative value of FRP Lots 4 through 6, including the base award and the exercised option for Lot 5, now stands at $177.7m.
Total contract value if the remaining option for Lot 7 is exercised at the maximum production quantity will be $227,647,890.
Steve Fendley, President of Kratos Unmanned Systems Division, said,
“Since the first Full Rate Production contract award in October 2020, the world has undergone impactful economic and political shifts creating significant production challenges across our industry and increased need for development, test, and training associated with our country’s current and upcoming weapons systems. On behalf of all the dedicated men and women at Kratos, we will collectively continue to do our utmost to support our warfighters with this high-fidelity threat surrogate.”
The majority of the work under this contract will be conducted in Kratos facilities in Sacramento, Californi, and Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
Photo:BQM-177A Subsonic Aerial Target System
Sources: Naval Technology; Kratos