Wed, Dec 14, 2022
Development of Do-DT25 Drones Continues as Manufacturer Eyes Remote Carrier Capability
Airbus helped stage Europe's first large-scale hybrid uncrewed mission under the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) Manned-Unmanned Teaming Demonstrator.
The test matched up 2 fighters and a helicopter with 5 uncrewed remote carriers, showing the formation's utility in true-to-life tactical scenarios. The project will now progress to the next phase, where participants further develop the flying remote carrier (RC). The demonstration used a meshed compact networking datalink to maintain communication between each aircraft, allowing the participants to play out a scenario of an embedded target surrounded by SAM coverage. The demo further advertised the multi-use 'gofer-ism' of an uncrewed companion aircraft, using the drones to scout, evaluate, and bait out air defenses without risk of life.
The demo used a Learjet 35 in place of one of the fighters, with a crew aboard to command the remote carriers, played by a quintet of Airbus Do-DT25 drones. The modified drones sported a variety of different equipment for the mission, with 2 using Electronic Support Measures (ESM) sensors, and the remaining 3 using run-of-the-mill Electro Optical (EO) cameras that recorded and confirmed the locations of the air defenses. In the exercise, the drones were used to scout out SAM sites, guide attacks on the positions, and provide follow-up assessment of the area. Once each target was neutralized, an Airbus H145M responded to capture the target person, supported by the drone's oversight of the region.
“With the Multi-Domain Flight Demo, or MDFD, we demonstrated for the first time in Europe how manned-unmanned teaming capabilities and functionalities with up to ten connected assets work in a real-life inspired scenario and under near operational conditions,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Military Air Systems at Airbus. "This is yet another example of how we push boundaries and pioneer technologies so that our customers can fulfill their missions: saving lives and ensuring a better future for us all.”
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