The United States has approved a new contract for the delivery of the ScanEagle unmanned aerial systems, drones, to the Afghan military.

AVA- The Department of Defense, Pentagon, said the Washington-based Insitu Inc. has been awarded a contract worth $47 million for the delivery of the drones.
“Insitu Inc., Bingen, Washington, is being awarded a $47,037,076 firm-fixed-price delivery order (N6833518F0050) to a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N68335-16-G-0046).  This order provides for the procurement of eight ScanEagle unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), spares, support equipment, one logistician field service representative (FSR); 16 FSR operators to provide ScanEagle UAS technical services; two site surveys and site activation teams; and program management to sustain and operate the ScanEagle UAS in support of the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan under a Building Partnership Capacity case,” according to a statement by Pentagon.
The source further adds that the work will be performed in Afghanistan (95 percent); and Bingen, Washington (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2019.
This comes as the Afghan government and the international allies of Afghanistan including US and NATO have stepped up efforts to boost the capabilities of the Afghan national defense and security forces.
President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said earlier this month that the Afghan forces’ capabilities will be further bolstered within the next two years.