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The Coast Guard announces its intent to enter into a cooperative research and development agreement, or CRADA, with several companies to evaluate small unmanned aircraft systems, or SUAS, and their airborne sensors, to determine their potential for use in a maritime environment by a first responder and Department of Homeland Security operational components.

The Coast Guard will conduct flight testing and evaluation of SUAS under a wide variety of simulated but realistic and relevant real-world maritime operational scenarios, such as law enforcement, search and rescue and maritime environmental response.

While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with Aerovel Corporation, Aerovironment Inc., Aurora Flight Sciences, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and Mission Technology Systems LLC, it solicits public comment on the possible participation of other parties in the proposed CRADA, and the nature of that participation. The Coast Guard also invites other potential non-Federal participants, who have the interest and capability to bring similar contributions to this type of research, to consider submitting proposals for consideration in similar CRADAs.

Comments must be submitted on or before March 23, 2015.

View the Federal Register notice for full details.

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