The U.S. Army Contracting Command has awarded Kraus Hamdani Aerospace a $14.9 million firm-fixed-price contract to procure **Battalion Reconnaissance Unmanned Aircraft Systems (BRUAS)**.
Selected from a competitive field of 11 bidders via the Army’s streamlined UAS Marketplace framework, the contract values the procurement of the solar-electric K1000ULE (K1000 Ultra Long Endurance) platform. The acquisition runs parallel to the service’s existing AeroVironment P550 battalion reconnaissance program, filling the critical tactical surveillance and targeting gap left by the retirement of the RQ-7 Shadow.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: KRAUS HAMDANI AEROSPACE K1000ULE
Airframe Architecture, Powerplant & Flight Performance
⚡ Prime Contractor & Developer: Kraus Hamdani Aerospace (Hayward, California)
⚡ Classification: Group 2 Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) weighing between 21 and 55 lbs (approx. 10–25 kg)
⚡ Propulsion & Energy Harvesting: Fully electric power plant utilizing high-efficiency solar cells integrated across the wing surfaces to recharge onboard batteries during flight
⚡ Takeoff & Flight Mechanics: Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) capability requiring no runways, catapults, or specialized launchers; transitions seamlessly into fixed-wing gliding flight
⚡ Endurance Metrics: Demonstrated record-breaking endurance of over 75 hours in optimal configurations (though mission profiles vary based on payload and operating environment) compared to standard 5-hour battery limits on competing Group 2 platforms 
Payload Versatility & Tactical Applications
💥 Multi-Mission Payloads: Modular internal and external bays capable of carrying high-resolution electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras, tactical radio relay communication packages, and electronic warfare (EW) payloads
💥 Operational Deployment History: Extensively tested across Indo-Pacific exercises by U.S. Army Pacific (Philippines, Guam, Saipan, Hawaii) and deployed by the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force, JSOC, and U.S. Air Forces Central
