US Army Seeks Prototype Drones for Blood Transport

The United States Army issued a sources sought notice to acquire two prototype unmanned aerial vehicles for the Army Blood Link project. The drones are intended to transport up to 20 units of blood products, weighing between 35 and 50 pounds, with a one-way transport radius of 30 kilometers and a maximum range of 100 kilometers.

Technical specifications require the UAVs to fly at altitudes up to 18,000 feet and maintain a 30-minute launch response time. The aircraft must utilize temperature-controlled cargo containers capable of maintaining stability for three hours in extreme environments. The systems must be semi-autonomous and capable of delivering cargo within 10 meters of a target.

To meet a compressed timeline, the Army recommends adapting existing commercial off-the-shelf solutions. Responses to the notice are due by September 21, and the military requires prototypes within three months of the contract award.