US Army wants new UAS and wants them small.

Eric Bedel, NDIA reports from AUSA 2011

The Army is seeking funds to procure a family of small unmanned air systems, or UAS, but approval has been delayed due to funding uncertainties, the Army’s requirements chief for unmanned systems Col. Robert Sova said Oct. 11 at the Association of the United States Army’s annual exposition in Washington, D.C.

The family of systems could include an improved hand-launched Raven system, as well as the Puma. The Army already has bought more than 100 of the 13-ponud Puma aircraft.

A new Army “capability production document” lays out the need for an unmanned aircraft for small infantry teams. They need a “micro capability,” a 1 to 2-pound UAS, Sova said.

“This is a tough time with funding. We know that the force wants a toolkit for small [UAS], not just the Raven,” he said. “It really is a money issue right now.”