Demand for spy drones stretches army budget.

• Author: Beidel, Eric
• Position: Training and Simulation

* Soldiers have been clamoring for more unmanned air systems, and they want them to be small.

The Army is seeking funds to procure a family of small unmanned air systems, or UAS, but approval has been delayed due to funding uncertainties, the Army's requirements chief for unmanned systems Col. Robert Sova said.

The family of systems could include an improved hand-launched Raven system, as well as the Puma. The Army already has bought more than 100 of the 13-pound Puma aircraft.

A new Army "capability production document" lays out the need for an unmanned aircraft for small infantry teams. They need a "micro capability" a 1- to 2-pound UAS, Sova said.

"This is a tough time with funding. We know that the force wants a toolkit for small [UAS], not just the Raven," he said. "It really is a money issue right now."

The Army is keeping an eye on the lethal miniature aerial munitions program that seeks to provide special operators with hand-and tube-launched UAS that are outfitted with warheads. These devices, which weigh...