# Army can't award HADES spy jet production contract under a CR, official says
The Army had planned to sign it with Sierra Nevada Corporation around the start of 2027, Breaking Defense reported. The current continuing resolution runs through Dec. 11.
Published 2026-10-14 by TGOs. Canonical: https://tgos.io/news/2026/10/14/army-cant-award-hades-spy-jet-production-contract-under/
The Army is "ready to move in on the ‘27 [plan to] award a production contract" for its High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) spy jet, Andrew Evans told Breaking Defense.[1] "We cannot do that … until we clear a CR," he said.[1] Evans, who directs the Strategy & Transformation Office under the Army's deputy chief of staff for intelligence (G-2), said the program is "completely on cost" and "completely on schedule."[1]
Lawmakers have not approved a fiscal 2027 defense spending bill, and the CR funding the government runs through Dec. 11, Breaking Defense reported.[1][2] Under a CR, the Department of War cannot begin funding new programs, known as new starts.[2] Breaking Defense's search of fiscal 2027 budget documents found two HADES new starts, including $131.7 million the Army requested for platform and system integration.[2]
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) won HADES in August 2024 with a $991.3 million multi-year contract to deliver aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance jets to the Army.[3] A team of L3Harris, Leidos and MAG Aerospace also bid to replace the Army's RC-12 Guardrail turboprops, and the Government Accountability Office denied L3Harris's protest in December 2024, Breaking Defense reported.[4] So far the Army is developing three prototypes, government-furnished Bombardier Global 6500 jets that SNC is outfitting with different tech packages.[1][3] Production aircraft were to come after those prototypes, under the deal Evans says the CR blocks, the outlet reported.[1]
## Why it matters
The first prototype is slated for delivery around January 2027, close to when the Army had planned the production deal, Breaking Defense reported.[1] If talks with lawmakers and the budget slip further into 2027, or defense leaders pull HADES funding for other priorities, that contract could be put on ice, the outlet reported.[1]
## Sources
1. Breaking Defense: Continuing resolution could 'complicate' Army's HADES spy plane production: Official (Oct. 13, 2026)
2. Breaking Defense: Can't start, won't start: Over 150 new military programs face delay under a CR (Oct. 1, 2026)
3. SNC: SNC Wins $991.3M Contract to Deliver U.S. Army HADES Jets (Aug. 26, 2024)
4. Breaking Defense: Army restarts work on new HADES spy plane program (Jan. 8, 2025)