U.S. Air Force, Lockheed Martin team autonomous UAS, manned aircraft to boost effectiveness, reduce pilot workload

PALMDALE, Calif. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) Skunk Works, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, and Calspan Corporation joined forces to demonstrate manned/unmanned teaming, using manned aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), also known as drones, in concert to improve combat efficiency and warfighter effectiveness.

"This demonstration is an important milestone in AFRL's maturation of technologies needed to integrate manned and unmanned aircraft in a strike package," says Capt. Andrew Petry, AFRL autonomous flight operations engineer. "We've not only shown how an Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle can perform its mission when things go as planned, but also how it will react and adapt to unforeseen obstacles along the way."

Photo courtesy U.S. Air Force

During the flight demonstration, an experimental F-16 aircraft acted as a surrogate Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) autonomously reacting to a dynamic threat environment during an air-to-ground strike mission. The demonstration success included three key objectives:

• The ability to autonomously plan and execute air-to-ground strike missions based on mission priorities and available assets
• The ability to dynamically react to a changing threat environment during an air-to-ground strike mission while automatically managing contingencies for capability failures, route deviations, and loss of communication
• A compliant USAF Open Mission Systems (OMS) software integration environment allowing rapid integration of software components developed by multiple providers

The two-week demonstration at the Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, is the second in a series of manned/unmanned teaming exercises to prove enabling technologies.

"The Have Raider II demonstration team pushed the boundaries of autonomous technology and put a fully combat-capable F-16 in increasingly complex situations to test the system's ability to adapt to a rapidly changing operational environment," explains Shawn Whitcomb, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works Loyal Wingman program manager. "This is a critical step to enabling future Loyal Wingman technology development and operational transition programs."

The first demonstration, Have Raider I, focused on advanced vehicle control. The experimental F-16 autonomously flew in formation with a lead aircraft and conducted a ground-attack mission, then automatically rejoined the lead aircraft after the mission was completed. These capabilities were linked with Lockheed Martin automatic collision avoidance systems to ensure safe, coordinated teaming between the F-16 and surrogate UCAV.

Effective manned/unmanned teaming reduces the high cognitive workload, allowing the warfighter to focus on creative and complex planning and management. Autonomous systems also have the ability to access hazardous mission environments, react more quickly, and provide persistent capabilities without fatigue.

"The OMS architecture used in Have Raider II made it possible to rapidly insert new software components into the system," says Michael Coy, AFRL computer engineer. "OMS will allow the Air Force maximum flexibility in the development and fielding of cutting edge autonomous capabilities."

Skunk Works' expertise in OMS, battle management and manned/unmanned teaming enable integrated and collaborative operations between manned and unmanned aircraft to project power in the face of an increased anti-access and area denial environment.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 97,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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