Category Archives: MRO’s

CCA Challenge: Accommodating Sensor Processing to Meet Size, Weight, Power, Cost Goals

Pictured is the X-62A Variable Stability In-Flight Simulator Test Aircraft (VISTA) flying over Palmdale, Calif. on Aug. 26, 2022 (U.S. Air Force Photo)

The U.S. Air Force’s future Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) may need a significant amount of processing power for sensors and mission autonomy, and the service and industry thus face a challenge of ensuring that the drones meet size, weight, and power constraints at an Air Force targeted unit cost of $30 million or less.

“When you start talking about, on the sensor processing side, [the need for] 20 to 25 teraflops, each teraflop is one trillion calculations in a second, ” Mike Shortsleeve, the vice president of strategy and business development at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, said at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies’ inaugural Future of Airpower forum last Wednesday.

“That’s huge–just on the sensor side, dig through the clutter, find out what it [the object] is…a lot of compute processing power,” he said. “Things have gotten better–smaller, cheaper–to be able to do things, but, for us, the big aspect of this is on the sensing side where the bulk of that processing is gonna take place. What we have done, from a surrogate testing perspective, with this is we’ve looked at putting processing on one aircraft, and it feeds the others [aircraft]. We’ve done this in a live, virtual construct as well.”

“We’re trying to figure out different ways to make that happen,” he said of reducing SWaP-C–size, weight, power and cost–for CCA. “Processing, while the outlook is good, is still challenging.”

In April, the Air Force said that it had chosen General Atomics and another privately-held drone maker, Anduril Industries, for the first round of CCA–the so-called Increment 1. General Atomics offered its Gambit design and Anduril its Fury.

The first CCAs are to be air-to-air, but others may be those for intelligence or jamming missions. The Air Force has said that it plans to field 150 CCAs in the next five years to complement F-35s and possibly other manned fighters, including a manned Next Generation Air Dominance aircraft and the F-15EX.

The Air Force is refining its concept for CCA Increment 2 and has announced a buy of more Increment 1 CCAs.

“There is a huge opportunity to talk about data links [for CCA],” Mike Benitez, Shield AI‘s senior director of strategic product development and a former Air Force F-35 pilot, said at the Mitchell forum. “The data is so important. If you can make sense of that on something like a Wedgetail, an F-35, or an F-22, you can push that perception of the environment to the cognition core [on CCA], that is the real power of how you break the cost curve of these [CCA] platforms. Otherwise, you’re just going to have an unmanned F-35.”

Over the last four years, the Lockheed Martin X-62 Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft (VISTA)–an autonomous F-16–flew more than a dozen dog fights in tests with traditional fighters in DARPA’s Air Combat Evolution experiments, and, though the X-62 had no “perception” sensors of its own, it received situational awareness data about where the “bandits” were over a data pod on the X-62’s wing, Benitez said.

The post CCA Challenge: Accommodating Sensor Processing to Meet Size, Weight, Power, Cost Goals appeared first on Avionics International.

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Skunk Works Partnership Demonstrates Airborne Battle Management With AI-Controlled Aircraft

A battle manager sends real-time commands to AI-controlled aircraft during a flight test over Iowa. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

Lockheed Martin this year has been conducting flight-tests of artificial intelligence-controlled aircraft in air-to-air engagements, including a more recent demonstration where a human “battle manager” aboard a fighter jet trainer commanded AI-controlled aircraft using a computer touchscreen.

The testing is being done by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works unit in partnership with the company’s Demonstrations and Prototypes organization, and the University of Iowa’s Operator Performance Laboratory.

In the tests, the battle manager aboard an L-39 Albatros assigned targets to two AI-controlled L-29 Delfin military jet trainers that worked together to defeat two mock enemy jets using simulated weapons. The AI software was developed by Skunk Works.

The AI-controlled aircraft flew with human pilots for safety purposes. The adversarial aircraft were also L-29s.

Earlier flight tests demonstrated AI-controlled air-to-ground jamming and geolocation, Lockheed Martin said on Thursday.

“The work we’re doing with the University of Iowa’s OPL is foundational for the future of air combat, where a family of crewed and uncrewed systems will work together to execute complex missions,” John Clark, vice president and general manager of Skunk Works, said in a statement.

The post Skunk Works Partnership Demonstrates Airborne Battle Management With AI-Controlled Aircraft appeared first on Avionics International.

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GA-ASI Completes Final Qualification Test For Gray Eagle’s New HFE 2.0 Engine

Gray Eagle 25M. (Photo: GA-ASI)

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) last month completed the final qualification test for its new Heavy Fuel Engine (HFE) 2.0 set to power the upgraded Gray Eagle (GE) 25M drone.

Following the three-week qualification test for the 200-horsepower HFE 2.0 engine, GA-ASI said the next step is the Army certification process to also allow use of the engine on the service’s existing fleet of Gray Eagle Extended Range drones.

“This test is the culmination of the extensive durability and flight test program for the HFE 2.0 engine,” GA-ASI President David Alexander said in a statement. “It’s been great to see the outstanding test results that have validated the design and development of the HFE 2.0 engine we have worked on so passionately for the past seven years and to bring this world-class engine to the Gray Eagle fleet.”

Last month’s culminating qualification test occurred at the GA-ASI’s flight facility in El Mirage, California and was aligned with the Federal Aviation Administration’s endurance test requirements, according to the company.

“Over the last 18 months, HFE 2.0 excelled in strenuous durability testing that included 2,450 full power cycles simulating high stress conditions during three extensive test profiles of 200, 400, and 651 hours,” the company said in a statement. “Additionally, the engine completed 50 hours of flight testing across the flight envelope.”

GA-ASI has described the HFE 2.0 engine for its modernized Gray Eagle fleet as a “highly reliable low-maintenance engine with a 40 percent increase in service life providing longer maintenance-free operational period.”

In January, GA-ASI announced the first flight of its new Gray Eagle 25M UAS, which the company has noted which features the new HFE 2.0 engine and is designed with a Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) approach to allow for rapid integration of new capabilities, advanced datalinks and an upgraded propulsion system.

The first flight test of the Gray Eagle 25M, conducted in early December 2023, focused on testing flight critical operations and assessing the new variant’s HFE 2.0 engine and power generation systems.

GA-ASI has said the Gray Eagle 25M’s power generation system was designed in coordination with the Army’s Project Manager Endurance Uncrewed Aircraft System (PM EUAS), which it added will decrease “major maintenance actions and virtually eliminates the need for overhaul.”

The Army awarded GA-ASI a production contract for Gray Eagle 25M worth up to $389 million in early December 2023 and in late May the Army National Guard placed an order for 12 of the new drones.

GA-ASI last month noted it worked with General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems to design the HFE 2.0’s dual brushless generator, which it said will deliver over 50 percent more electrical power to support new payloads, will “dramatically reduce” field maintenance, and it’s designed as a “drop-in replacement” for the Gray Eagle’s existing generator.

The post GA-ASI Completes Final Qualification Test For Gray Eagle’s New HFE 2.0 Engine appeared first on Avionics International.

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Garmin G3000 with Autoland Technology Gets an Upgrade

Global Avionics Round-Up from Aircraft Value News (AVN)

Garmin G3000 with Autoland Technology. (Image: Garmin)

Garmin in October 2024 introduced the G3000 Prime, its third-generation flight deck and its most advanced to date, with touchscreen primary displays and other features.

Garmin’s G3000 avionics suite, integrated with the new Autoland feature, is pioneering fully autonomous emergency landing capabilities. The system, designed for the Daher TBM 940 and Piper M600/SLS, allows the aircraft to land autonomously in the event of pilot incapacitation, making it a true milestone in general aviation safety.

Autoland is revolutionary as it autonomously controls all aspects of the landing procedure, from descent to touchdown and engine shutdown, even while communicating with air traffic control. In an emergency, a passenger can simply activate Autoland, after which the system locates the nearest suitable airport and manages the landing process with no input required from the cockpit.

Autoland-equipped aircraft are seeing an increase in value and lease rates due to the unmatched safety and reliability offered by this system. Autoland not only provides peace of mind for operators but also makes these aircraft appealing to first-time buyers and leaseholders in business aviation, contributing to higher demand and residual values.

The introduction of Autoland marks a significant shift in how both manufacturers and lessors perceive value—by prioritizing pilot safety and ease of use, Garmin’s G3000 with Autoland is reshaping the standards of general aviation.

The Garmin G3000 with Autoland Technology has been integrated into a variety of aircraft, primarily enhancing high-end turboprops and light jets. Specific models equipped with this advanced avionics suite include the Cirrus Vision Jet, Piper M600, and the Daher TBM 940/960.

In regional aviation, Autoland has proven to be a pivotal safety enhancement and operational feature, increasing aircraft appeal to operators, leasing companies, and buyers alike, while positively affecting base values and lease rates.

Autoland enables autonomous landings in emergencies if the pilot is incapacitated, which significantly reduces risk. This unique safety measure attracts operators and lessors focused on reducing liability and enhancing brand reputation.

With Autoland, aircraft appeal to a broader range of buyers, including those who may be less experienced with complex avionics systems. This increased demand has led to higher base values and lease rates.

Aircraft with Autoland technology are often eligible for operations into more restrictive airfields where enhanced safety protocols are in place, allowing more route flexibility.

Regional operators benefit from the reduced need for specialized pilot training in Autoland-equipped aircraft, making it easier to bring new pilots into the cockpit, while also promoting safer operations in various weather conditions.

By improving the reliability of flight operations in regions prone to rapid weather changes or limited visibility, Autoland technology has led to lower insurance premiums, which is appealing for smaller regional carriers with leaner budgets.

Regional operators equipped with Autoland-capable aircraft have a market edge in areas where safety is a top consideration, setting them apart from competitors who may not offer similar technology.

In essence, Garmin G3000’s Autoland Technology is bolstering the financial and operational viability of regional aviation, offering both safer flights and attractive cost efficiencies.

This article also appears in the November 4 issue of our partner publication Aircraft Value News.

John Persinos is the editor-in-chief of Aircraft Value News. You can reach John at: jpersinos@accessintel.com

The post Garmin G3000 with Autoland Technology Gets an Upgrade appeared first on Avionics International.

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Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion with Synthetic Vision Starts Making Headway in Europe

Global Avionics Round-Up from Aircraft Value News (AVN)

The Collins Aerospace Systems’ Pro Line Fusion avionics system. (Photo: Collins Aerospace)

Cessna Citation CJ3s registered in Europe can now have the advanced capabilities of Collins Aerospace Systems’ Pro Line Fusion avionics, which was recently certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This offering has already seen wider prevalence in the U.S. with about 32 aircraft featuring the upgrade already in service.

The Pro Line Fusion by Collins Aerospace, with its cutting-edge Synthetic Vision System (SVS), is revolutionizing avionics by vastly improving situational awareness and safety, especially in challenging environments.

This product is currently being deployed in the cockpit of Bombardier’s Challenger 650 and Embraer Legacy 500 jets, providing operators with 3D terrain mapping, infrared vision, and interactive displays. Pro Line Fusion’s advanced visualization capabilities allow pilots to navigate with enhanced clarity, even in low visibility or night operations.

Synthetic Vision has emerged as a game-changer, particularly in enhancing safety for flights through mountainous or low-visibility regions. By creating 3D landscapes and overlaying them on cockpit displays, Pro Line Fusion enables pilots to visualize terrain, weather patterns, and runway layouts as if viewed in daylight. This minimizes risks associated with human error, enhancing the reliability of operations and passenger safety.

The introduction of SVS-equipped Pro Line Fusion has been shown to positively impact aircraft values and lease rates, as carriers and lessors seek reliable, high-safety aircraft. Aircraft equipped with Fusion SVS are in demand for missions that involve complex navigation, making them more attractive in both the commercial and business aviation sectors. This increased desirability enhances residual values and lease terms, particularly for operators prioritizing advanced safety and navigation capabilities.

The Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion with Synthetic Vision is widely integrated across various aircraft categories, including business jets, turboprops, and some regional airliners. Notable aircraft models featuring this advanced avionics suite include:

• Bombardier Challenger 350/650
• Embraer Legacy 450/500 and Praetor 500/600
• Textron Aviation’s Cessna Citation CJ3+ and CJ4
• King Air 250 and 350 turboprops
• ATR 42-600 and 72-600 (regional turboprops)

The Pro Line Fusion’s SVS has enhanced the demand for these aircraft by offering improved situational awareness, especially in challenging weather and low-visibility environments.

The fusion of SVS with 3D terrain mapping and other intuitive displays has increased pilot confidence and safety, particularly in business jets and regional aircraft that frequently operate in remote or regional airports with less advanced ground infrastructure.

This technology has attracted operators focused on safety and advanced operational capabilities, driving a demand surge for new aircraft outfitted with these systems and increasing retrofit interest in existing models.

The Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion with SVS is providing OEMs like Embraer a significant competitive edge against larger players like Airbus and Boeing by enhancing operational flexibility, safety, and pilot confidence in smaller, highly capable jets.

The Pro Line Fusion’s SVS displays intuitive 3D terrain and landmark visuals, offering real-time environmental awareness even in poor weather. For OEMs like Embraer, this feature resonates strongly in business jets (e.g., Legacy and Praetor series), as they often serve corporate clients who value safety and operational flexibility over traditional large-aircraft offerings from Airbus and Boeing.

While Airbus and Boeing dominate the large commercial aircraft market, Pro Line Fusion’s advanced avionics have allowed Embraer to carve out a niche in the regional and business jet segments. This suite brings capabilities typically found in larger jets to smaller platforms, helping Embraer position itself as a leader in these specialized segments. The system’s ease of use and seamless integration help Embraer attract operators who seek advanced technology without the scale requirements of an Airbus or Boeing model.

This article also appears in the November 4 issue of our partner publication Aircraft Value News.

John Persinos is the editor-in-chief of Aircraft Value News. You can reach John at: jpersinos@accessintel.com

The post Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion with Synthetic Vision Starts Making Headway in Europe appeared first on Avionics International.

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Honeywell’s AI-Enabled Forge Flight Performance+ Gaining Traction With Customers

Global Avionics Round-Up from Aircraft Value News (AVN)

Honeywell in the second quarter of 2024 launched Honeywell Forge Performance+ for Aerospace, a cloud-based platform employing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). This AI-enhanced software suite is gaining traction with customers, with an order book that’s expected to accelerate in 2025.

Honeywell Forge Flight Performance+ is an improved version of Honeywell’s Forge Flight Efficiency, first introduced in 2019, which is a next-generation avionics platform that focuses on reducing fuel consumption and boosting operational performance.

Integrated into popular aircraft manufactured by Airbus and Boeing, the Forge product utilizes advanced algorithms, real-time data analytics, and cloud computing to deliver comprehensive insights into flight paths, fuel use, and environmental conditions.

This software not only monitors fuel consumption patterns but actively suggests optimal routes and speed adjustments in-flight, which directly impacts fuel efficiency.

The game-changing nature of Forge lies in its predictive capabilities. By analyzing historical data and current flight conditions, it forecasts the most efficient flight paths and altitudes, considering variables such as weather, air traffic, and even airport congestion. This predictive intelligence enables airlines to streamline fuel usage, reduce emissions, and improve on-time performance.

This innovation is positively impacting the values and lease rates of aircraft equipped with Forge, especially amid rising fuel costs and regulatory pressures for carbon emissions reductions. Lessors find Forge-equipped aircraft to be a valuable asset due to the efficiency benefits. Aircraft outfitted with Forge command higher lease rates and values as airlines look for ways to meet fuel economy targets while cutting operational costs.

As Forge integrates with more aircraft models, Honeywell’s solution is set to become a key driver of value in the aviation leasing market.

The Honeywell Forge Flight Efficiency software suite has been integrated primarily in major commercial aircraft models like the Airbus A320, A330, and A350 families, as well as the Boeing 737, 777, and 787 families. These aircraft benefit significantly from Forge’s suite, which helps optimize fuel use, streamline flight planning, and improve real-time decision-making. Boeing, in particular, is emphasizing every possible advantage it has, as the once-mighty aerospace manufacturer grapples with a litany of legal and regulatory woes due to safety lapses.

Data has shown that avionics directly affect values and lease pricing; the newer and more capable the avionics, the more valuable the aircraft in which it is embedded. This avionics-related metric has been given short shrift by the valuation industry in the past, but that myopia is quickly changing as avionics technology rapidly advances.

Aircraft OEMs, operators, and lessors are including new avionics products such as the Honeywell Forge Flight Efficiency software in their algorithms that assess an aircraft model’s intrinsic worth.

Demand for aircraft equipped with Honeywell Forge has increased as airlines prioritize fuel efficiency and sustainability. The software helps operators reduce operating costs by improving fuel management and optimizing routes.

This capability has been particularly attractive as fuel prices fluctuate and environmental regulations tighten, positioning these models as more cost-effective and environmentally conscious choices in the fleet.

This article also appears in the November 4 issue of our partner publication Aircraft Value News.

John Persinos is the editor-in-chief of Aircraft Value News. You can reach John at: jpersinos@accessintel.com

The post Honeywell’s AI-Enabled Forge Flight Performance+ Gaining Traction With Customers appeared first on Avionics International.

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Navy Works With General Atomics And Lockheed Martin To Demonstrate Drone Control Station

MQ-25 Air Vehicle Pilots Lt. Matt Pence (forward) and Lt. Steven Wilster conduct a test run to monitor the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System ground control station, located at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., as the system commands the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) MQ-20 Avenger surrogate, located at the company’s test facility in California, in preparation for demonstration event in November 2024. (Photo: U.S. Navy)

The Navy tested command and control of an unmanned aircraft using its Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control Station (UMCS) for the first time this week in a demo using the  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) MQ-20 Avenger and Lockheed Martin software.

Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) said GA-ASI initiated this joint demonstration that on Nov. 5 had the Unmanned Carrier Aviation program office PMA-268 use its UMCS with the MD-5 Ground Control Station (GCS), loaded with the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works MDCX platform, command and control the GA MQ-20 Avenger.

GA said the MQ-20 technology demonstrator acted as a surrogate to demonstrate how the Navy’s Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control Station (UMCS) can command various unmanned aircraft with autonomous maneuvers. The Navy noted this proves the UMCS can command other aircraft beyond the under-development MQ-25 carrier-based unmanned tanker aircraft.

Navy operators used an MD-5 Ground Control Station (GCS) out of the Navy’s Patuxent River, Md., test facility to command and control the MQ-20 flown out of GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon flight operations facility in El Mirage, Calif.

The team was able to operate over this large distance by using an unspecified proliferated Low Earth Orbit (pLEO) satellite constellation datalink. 

NAVAIR said it will use the data from this demonstration to refine program requirements and develop more key technologies. The team plans to conduct more digital and live surrogate test flights to demonstrate various aspects of CCAs including autonomy, mission systems, crewed-uncrewed teaming, advanced communications and more command and control development.

Lockheed Martin boasted its Skunk Works MDCX autonomy platform enabled the Navy air vehicle pilots to control the MQ-20 during its California flight.

NAVAIR describes the UMCS as a system-of-systems required for MQ-25 command and control that should apply to other Navy unmanned aircraft control in the future. 

GA underscored this was the first time any General Atomics UAS conducted bi-directional communications using the UMCS operation codes while also performing autonomous behavior, using the pLEO datalink.

“UMCS is laying a foundation that will enable control of all unmanned carrier aircraft, starting with the MQ-25 aircraft. The UMCS opens the door for efficiently introducing future unmanned systems into the complex carrier command and control architecture,” Capt. Daniel Fucito, PMA-268 program manager, said in a statement.

“This was a huge step for unmanned naval aviation. This demo showcased UMCS’s first live control of an unmanned air vehicle, and it was great to be part of history in the making. The team is paving the way for integrating critical unmanned capability across the joint force to combat the high-end threat our warfighters face today and in the future,” Lt. Steven Wilster, MQ-25 AVP, added.

General Atomics characterized this demonstration as part of the overall effort to move technology forward for the future Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), for which the Navy and Air Force intend future manned fighters to command several unmanned wingmen to perform missions. 

The Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force are collaborating under a Tri-service Memorandum of Understanding for critical subsystems for CCAs, with the Navy leading development of a common control architecture and GCS, in collaboration with Lockheed Martin.

GA-ASI said the MQ-20 is being used “extensively” as a surrogate CCA testbed for autonomous technology development.

In April, the Air Force downselected to GA and Anduril for CCA testing, with them both set to move forward on detailed designs, manufacture and testing of production-representative test articles for the CCA program.

“This effort was a prime example of industry partners and government agencies working together to perform important new capabilities. The team efficiently and safely demonstrated aircraft flight control from another government agency’s control station. Using GA-ASI’s Tactical Autonomy Core Ecosystem (TacACE) software, the team not only executed airborne commands, but did so in a safe, controlled environment,” GA-ASI president David Alexander, said in a statement.

John Clark, vice president and general manager at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, said they are happy to collaborate with the Navy to help move toward its air wing of the future vision.

“The MDCX made it possible to rapidly integrate the MQ-20 ‘autonomy core’ with the UMCS, demonstrating common control capability and third-party platform integration,” Clark said in a statement.

A version of this story originally appeared in affiliate publication Defense Daily.

The post Navy Works With General Atomics And Lockheed Martin To Demonstrate Drone Control Station appeared first on Avionics International.

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Autonomous KC-135 Flight Testing May Begin Next Year

The U.S. Air Force and Merlin Labs may begin autonomous KC-135 flight testing next year, the company said (Merlin Photo)

Flight testing of an autonomous KC-135 Stratotanker may begin next year.

Boston’s Merlin Labs, Inc. and the U.S. Air Force’s 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill AFB, Fla., have been testing the Merlin Pilot system to provide autonomy and automation for the KC-135 tanker to reduce aircrew and allow crew members to focus on critical mission tasks.

In February, Merlin said that it had signed a multi-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Air Mobility Command (AMC) and Air Force Materiel Command to develop and integrate the Merlin Pilot on the KC-135 to inform the Next Generation Air Refueling System and “pave the way for autonomous uncrewed operations of the KC-135–an unprecedented new capability for AMC and the USAF.”

Merlin said on Monday that its “airworthiness plan for the Merlin Pilot KC-135 testing has been accepted by the United States Air Force.”

“This joint USAF and Merlin project will evaluate the viability of scaling the Merlin Pilot to large transport aircraft, especially its innovative AI capabilities,” the company said. “Achieving this milestone demonstrates that Merlin’s system engineering processes are consistent with the airworthiness standards set by the USAF, and allows Merlin to progress towards aircraft integration, design completion, and testing operations.”

Air Force acceptance of the Merlin Pilot KC-135 airworthiness plan “is the first major milestone to be executed under this collaboration, and lays the groundwork for the Merlin Pilot’s certification basis and eventual Military Flight Release (MFR),” Merlin said. “Integrating the Merlin Pilot on the KC-135 kickstarts Merlin’s Part 25 airworthiness programs and is material to continued advancements on this class of aircraft. Merlin is targeting the end of 2024 for its design completion, with ground testing, flight testing, and demonstrations to occur in 2025.”

In June, the company said that it had received a $105 million contract from U.S. Special Operations Command to provide advanced automation for the Air Force C-130J airlifter by Lockheed Martin as a step toward such features for other special operations forces (SOF) fixed wing aircraft over the next five years.

Merlin said that it has had a two-year partnership with the Air Force and that this summer’s C-130J contract will provide advanced automation design and integration on the C-130J; ground testing; Test Readiness Review and flight test; full takeoff to landing demonstration; and integration on other SOF aircraft.

A version of this story originally appeared in affiliate publication Defense Daily.

The post Autonomous KC-135 Flight Testing May Begin Next Year appeared first on Avionics International.

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General Atomics-BAE Systems Aim to Demonstrate Autonomous EW for CCA

Pictured is a General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger drone (GA-ASI Photo)

General Atomics‘ Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) subsidiary and BAE Systems said that they are teaming to demonstrate autonomous electronic warfare (EW) systems that the companies believe could one day go on U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).

Scott Bailie, BAE Systems’ director of advanced electronic warfare solutions at BAE Systems, said in a joint company statement on Thursday that the companies are highlighting “the maturity of autonomous EW mission systems in support of U.S. Air Force objectives” and that the companies are merging “proven EW technology and secure command and control on a rapid timeline in a small form factor well-suited for CCAs.”

The first CCAs are to be air-to-air, but others may be those for intelligence or jamming missions. The Air Force has said that it plans to field 150 CCAs in the next five years to complement F-35s and possibly other manned fighters.

General Atomics and BAE Systems said that they recently demonstrated “unique” EW features through a “secure, jam-resistant Link 16” network provided by BAE Systems, on a General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger jet drone–“used extensively” for autonomous drone/CCA development.

“The demonstration helps accelerate emerging networked electronic attack capabilities for U.S. Air Force Autonomous Collaborative Platforms,” the companies said. “The demonstration took place at GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon flight operations facility in El Mirage, California, and is part of an ongoing series of technology insertion and autonomous flights performed using internal research and development funding to prove important concepts.”

In April, the Air Force said that it had chosen privately-held drone makers, General Atomics and Anduril, for the first round of CCA.  General Atomics offered its Gambit design and Anduril its Fury.

The companies beat defense industry heavyweights Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, though these companies and others are free to bid on future CCA increments.

A version of this story originally appeared in affiliate publication Defense Daily.

The post General Atomics-BAE Systems Aim to Demonstrate Autonomous EW for CCA appeared first on Avionics International.

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