US Navy delays start of bidding for unmanned carrier-based drone

The U.S. Navy, concerned about the affordability of a new carrier-based unmanned spy plane, has delayed this month's planned kickoff of the competition to build it, officials said on Tuesday.

They said the Navy will wait to seek proposals for the contract until after the Pentagon conducts a broad review this fall of intelligence and surveillance programs.

Many large U.S. weapons makers have expressed interest in competing for the new Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance Strike (UCLASS) contract, one of few new weapons programs up for grabs in a tough budget climate.

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