Boeing says it plans to explore proposals for the U.S. Air Force’s forthcoming Next-Generation Unmanned Aerial System (NG-UAS) program, which aims to field a new combat drone by 2015.

Once a competition begins, bids are likely to also come from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Northrop Grumman.

In an announcement earlier this month, the Air Force said it planned to release a request for information soon. Responses are expected by mid-July. Citing limitations with the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper fleets (made by General Atomics), the service says it is looking for something that is faster -- capable of a "high subsonic dash" -- and more maneuverable. The system must consist of technologies that have been demonstrated in an operationally relevant environment by 2010.

The NG-UAS also must be capable of carrying and employing intelligence collection systems and weapons in an electronic attack environment, where GPS and satellite communications may be blocked.

What is unclear now is whether Lockheed Martin will join the would-be candidates and, if so, whether Boeing and Lockheed Martin would extend their next-generation bomber partnership to the NG-UAS project.

Lockheed Martin also is teamed as a prime contractor with General Atomics for its Predator-based Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) system for the U.S. Navy. The team is in the midst of a protest of Northrop Grumman’s win on that front with a Global Hawk design.