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General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), the F-35 Joint Program Office, 309th Software Engineering Group, 461st Flight Test Squadron, 370th Flight Test Squadron, Lockheed Martin, and Autonodyne recently 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®), highlighting the future of collaborative air combat missions.
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 data link to accomplish seamless coordination.
The demonstration utilized 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.
GA-ASI continues developing and testing the most capable and mission-ready Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) in the world.
"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," said Michael Atwood, vice president of Advanced Programs. "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 — the pairing of human-flown warplanes with large numbers of highly autonomous wingmen — is the future of airpower. 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 maneuvers, 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.
