U.S. Army Reveals Identity Of Raging Parakeet UAS

Raging Parakeet broke cover for the first time in mid-June, revealing the three-year-old, European Command-sponsored project as an 1,800-lb. uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) loaded with unidentified sensors and an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven processor.

The UAS—a Navmar Applied Sciences Corp. Teros—and payload system completed a five-day Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) at Griffiss International Airport in Rome, New York, according to a June 18 press release by the U.S. Army.

The Army’s 10th Mountain Division, based at nearby Fort Drum, conducted the JCTD, despite the project being led by the Naval Research Laboratory after being launched by the U.S. Air Force.

“Raging Parakeet is designed to speed up the kill chain. What that means is, we try to find a target, we assess the target, and we prosecute that target,” Joe Fagan, European Command’s deputy science advisor, said in the news release.

A released photo of Raging Parakeet shows the Teros UAS loaded with at least two unidentified payloads on the aircraft’s belly. The Teros can carry up to 400 lb. and remain airborne for up to 20 hr.

Advanced AI and data fusion software interpret the sensor data onboard the platform, recognizing and identifying targets, the Army press release says. That capability removes the need to transmit the data to the ground.

The UAS navigates by flying GPS waypoints provided by a human operator. As targets are identified, Raging Parakeet’s AI system adjusts the flightpath to home in on their location.

Budget documents show the Air Force launched the Raging Parakeet JCTD in 2021, but the Naval Research Laboratory took over the following year. The demonstration received less than $10 million.

The project’s code name follows a popular military nicknaming convention that matches an adjective with an animal. Other examples include the Angry Kitten electronic warfare pod and events such as Eager Lion and Bold Alligator.