Orbital UAV signs engine supplier agreement with Insitu

Orbital UAV’s test cell (Photo: Orbital UAV) Perth’s Orbital Corporation Ltd has announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Boeing subsidiary Insitu designating Orbital UAV as the primary supplier of two Insitu designed engines. The two engine models form part of Orbital UAV’s current long term agreement with Insitu and were previously part of a multi-source award announced in October 2018). As the primary supplier, Orbital UAV will be the supplier of both engines, one of which is currently in development, to Insitu unless Orbital is unable to totally meet the demand. According to a news release by Orbital UAV, the award will support its decision to locate Orbital UAV’s new production facility in Hood River, Oregon and provides incentive for further investment in production capacity. “Over the past two years, we have continued our accretive growth strategy within the UAV industry and our long term agreement with Insitu represents a key aspect of that growth. We are delighted to now be awarded primary supplier status in the delivery of these two Insitu designed engines,” said Todd Alder, CEO and Managing Director of Orbital UAV. Alder adds that “the MoU represents further confidence in our capability as both a leading manufacturer and designer of the world’s best propulsion solutions for tactical UAVs,” Insitu is most famous for its ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system, which has found wide use with militaries worldwide for tactical operations from both land and out at sea. This includes Australia, which has trialled the UAS from on board RAN ships and also from land.