REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FOR SMALL SIZE PORTABLE VTOL UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS
RFI NO 2185/2020
1. SUBJECT
The Joint Systems Centre of Finnish Defense Forces is collecting information about available small size portable VTOL Unmanned Aerial Systems (later UAS) to support possible future system and performance development. In size and performance point of view, the systems should fall in NATO UAS classification Class 1, Category “Micro” or “Mini”.
The purpose of this request is to gain an overview of the available systems and their performance for various mission profiles in urban and forest environment in Finland and in crisis management operations worldwide to support both civilian and military authorities. FDF is looking for systems in several categories of performance and a single system does not need to meet all requested details.
If the Supplier has several models or versions about the UAS each of them should be introduced separately.
Foundations have been laid by ongoing research for a portable UAS that will significantly improve units’ immediate reconnoiter capability for data collecting in all circumstances.
With respect to the construction of the capability, the Finnish Defence Forces has opened a call for requests for participation to survey system suppliers to begin the negotiated procedure. The objective is to procure altogether 1,000 – 2,000 effective UAS capable of operating throughout the year in all weather conditions. The UAS will be intended for use on intelligence, surveillance and target acquisition missions of different services’ units and service branches from the southern coast up to northernmost Lapland.
Awaiting replies by 9 May 2022, the Defence Forces’ Logistics Command opened a call for requests for participation concerning UAS procurement for system manufacturers on the portal Hankintailmoitukset.fi and on international notice boards.
Successful candidates will be selected for the negotiated procedure based on readily procurable reference products, which conform to the requirement specifications, and on the suppliers’ compatibility requirements.
According to the plan, by early 2023, the round of negotiations will be completed. As part of this consultation, the requirement specifications and tender contents will be further specified in cooperation with the candidates relating to the given system characteristics and number of equipment. By summer 2023, the system supplier and the system will be selected. In the second half of 2023, system training is expected to be underway.
The total value of the two-year procurement to start in 2023 will be circa EUR 14 million.
Das finnische Logistikkommando hat am 4. Oktober eine Option aus dem Vertrag mit Parrot ANAFI USA ausgelöst. Damit sollen weitere Drohnen im Wert von rund 3,1 Mio. EUR angeschafft werden, die ab Ende 2023 zur Lieferung anstehen. Künftig werden Wehrpflichtige aller Waffengattungen an den UAS ausgebildet.