A Department of Defense (DoD) technology transfer program will help breathe new life into legacy Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS) and provide cost avoidance to the Navy and Coast Guard.

During a demonstration Oct. 23 at Webster Field Annex, the Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (PMA-263) Group 1 team demonstrated its systems to Coast Guard science and technology representatives, giving the team a first-hand look at the systems it will be receiving. Group 1 SUAS are unmanned aircraft weighing less than 20 pounds.

“This was an excellent opportunity to experience what capabilities Group 1 SUAS bring to Navy and Marine Corps forces while discussing how to map those capabilities to the Coast Guard mission sets with UAS experts,” said Dr. Andrew Niccolai, Director of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Technology Projects, Coast Guard Research and Development Center in Groton, Conn.

Niccolai and his team will be receiving 20 Wasp III systems through the Domestic Preparedness Support Initiative (DPSI) and Department of Navy Technology Transfer program, which works with military services to identify surplus equipment available for transfer to the Department of Homeland Security community, including state and local first responders.

Niccolai said this transfer will enable them to demonstrate the potential benefits of SUAS to a broader Coast Guard fleet outside of their largest, Legend-class National Security Cutter ships, which has worked with larger UAS technologies.

“This technology transfer is a fantastic opportunity for the Coast Guard Research and Development Center to develop ‘in-house’ UAS capabilities,” he said.

Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Vajda, UAS platform manager with Aviation Forces in Groton, Conn., said unlike the larger, more complex systems that are familiar to the Coast Guard, Group 1 SUAS can provide small surface and shore-side units with an easily deployable capability for tactical surveillance and situational awareness.

PMA-263 will reap benefits as well, saving an estimated $30,000 expense by not demilitarizing the 20 systems.

“This is really a win-win situation,” said Marine Corps Maj. Gary Shill, PMA-263 Gr