Fri, Oct 21, 2016
Will Explore Both Autonomous And Semi-Autonomous Roles
The Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx), in coordination with STRATCOM and the Strategic Capabilities Office, have awarded a $12.6 million contract to Kratos Defense & Security Solution to explore the use of high speed drones in either fully autonomous or semi-autonomous roles to support fourth and fifth generation fighter aircraft.
To enable this concept development, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) needs to rapidly integrate and test both DoD and commercial capabilities onto a high-speed drone test bed. Under this effort, the DIUx has contracted with Kratos for the integration of certain sensors into the UTAP-22, flight services, and for Kratos UTAP-22 to demonstrate in a large, complex exercise. As part of this effort, Kratos has partnered with a non-traditional defense contractor and will examine new, innovative Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) operator interface concepts for controlling multiple high performance unmanned aerial vehicles.
The Kratos UTAP-22 is a high-performance unmanned jet aircraft designed specifically for tactical missions, collaborative missions with manned aircraft and tactical payload operations/delivery with key features focused on survivability in challenging and hostile environments. The UTAP-22, an internally funded Kratos development initiative, has previously demonstrated the ability to conduct collaborative airborne operations with a manned fighter aircraft, an AV-8B Harrier; command and control through the tactical data link; execution of semi-autonomous tasks; execution of autonomous flight in formation with the AV-8B and with multiple UTAP-22s; transfer of UTAP-22 control between non-line-of-site (over the horizon) operators in the tactical network; and transfer of control (handoff) from the tactical network to an independent dedicated control link.
"The integration of sensors into the UTAP-22 increases the operational utility of the vehicle system and is another forward step in the Unmanned System Division's Strategic Plan to increase the capability and demonstrate the utility of the UTAP-22 in a large, complex exercise," said Jerry Beaman, President of Kratos Unmanned Systems Division. "Manned/Unmanned teaming of tactical aircraft with a UAV capable of tactical speeds and maneuverability will provide the warfighter with an inexpensive force multiplier and unmanned wingman; an unprecedented capability."
(Source: Kratos news release. Image provided)
More News
DETRESFA (Distress Phrase) The code word used to designate an emergency phase wherein there is reasonable certainty that an aircraft and its occupants are threatened by grave and i>[...]
Aero Linx: The International Association of Missionary Aviation (IAMA) The International Association of Missionary Aviation (IAMA) is comprised of Mission organizations, flight sch>[...]
Also: EP Systems' Battery, Boeing SAF, Repeat TBM 960 Order, Japan Coast Guard H225 Buy Despite nearly 100 complaints totaling millions of dollars of potential fraud, combined with>[...]
Also: Viasat-uAvionix, UL94 Fuel Investigation, AF Materiel Command, NTSB Safety Alert Norges Luftsportforbund chose Aura Aero's little 2-seater in electric trim for their next gli>[...]
Also: Moya Delivery Drone, USMC Drone Pilot, Inversion RAY Reentry Vehicle, RapidFlight UAVOS has recently achieved a significant milestone in public safety and emergency services >[...]