Insitu Inc has been awarded a firm fixed-price contract by the US Naval Air Systems Command to provide deployment services and flight hours in support of the ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).

Under the $45.9m contract the company will provide electro-optical/infrared and mid-wave infrared imagery in support of the US Marine Corps operations, as well as, for example, system pilot training.

ScanEagle, developed by Insitu and Boeing, is an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform with a cruise speed of 48kts, ceiling of 19,500ft and endurance of more than 24 hours.

Work will be carried out at the company’s facility in Washington, US, and is expected to be completed in May 2012.