General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), the F-35 Joint Program Office, 309th Software Engineering Group, 461st Flight Test Squadron, 370th Flight Test Squadron, Lockheed Martin, and Autonodyne have collaborated on a flight test that demonstrated advanced Manned-Unmanned Teaming.
The test paired an F-35 Lightning II fighter jet with a GA-ASI Collaborative Combat Aircraft surrogate (MQ-20 Avenger).
The MQ-20 was equipped with GA-ASI’s TacACE (Tactical Autonomy Ecosystem) software, which is based on the latest government reference autonomy software architecture. The demonstration further proved the CCA surrogate and F-35’s ability to use a tactical proliferated low Earth orbit (LEO) data link to accomplish seamless coordination.
The demonstration utilised Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communications between an airborne MQ-20 and an F-35 on the ground, enabling the F-35 pilot to send tactical autonomy commands via a tablet in the cockpit.
These commands were relayed to the MQ-20’s TacACE, leveraging skills based on the Autonomy Government Reference Architecture (A-GRA), enabling rapid integration.
“This significant warfighter integration milestone is the beginning of operational readiness for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft and demonstrates the near-term opportunities for force integration,” vice president of Advanced Programs, Michael Atwood, stated.
“Events like these drive home GA-ASI’s continued commitment to adoption of next-generation data links, mission autonomy, and unmanned air combat operations.”
Manned-Unmanned Teaming is the pairing of human-flown warplanes with large numbers of highly autonomous wingmen. The recent F-35 and MQ-20 demonstration validated the hardware, software, networks, and other systems needed for this new chapter in combat.
The MQ-20 successfully exchanged critical autonomous responses with the F-35, and the F-35 was able to send autonomy commands to the MQ-20 via a Bashi Pilot Vehicle Interface, directing the MQ-20 to execute tactical manoeuvres, adjust waypoints, and pass ADS-B track data to the F-35.
GA-ASI’s MQ-20 Avenger unmanned jet has served as a surrogate CCA for more than five years, both before and since the arrival of GA-ASI’s purpose-built XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station and YFQ-42A jets.