Friday, April 19, 2024
Friday, April 19, 2024
The Air Force flew the Skyborg's autonomy core system for the first time last week during a two-hour-long test flight at Eglin Air Force Base, FL.
The April 29 flight test marks “Milestone 1” for the autonomous attritable aircraft experimentation program. Flying on a Kratos UTAP-22 UAS, the Leidos-built ACS demonstrated a range of capabilities, including navigation command response, geo-fence reaction and coordinated maneuvering, according to an Air Force Research Laboratory press release issued today.
“We’re extremely excited for the successful flight of an early version of the ‘brain’ of the Skyborg system,” Program Executive Officer for Fighters and Advanced Aircraft Brig. Gen. Dale White said in the press release. “These initial flights kick off the experimentation campaign that will continue to mature the ACS and build trust in the system.”
Skyborg is one of three Air Force Vanguard programs, which rely on experimentation and prototyping to rapidly demonstrate technology and warfighting concepts. The program aims to support manned-unmanned teaming by combining full-mission autonomy with a low-cost, attritable platform.
Kratos, Boeing and General Atomics are all on contract to deliver aircraft for Skyborg demonstrations this summer.
Steve Fendley, president of Kratos’ unmanned systems division, said in a statement today the recent flight test showcases “what can be achieved with a focused government-industry team and the potential for attritables in the tactical mission arena.”
The 96th Test Wing is executing the Skyborg flight tests, providing infrastructure and test expertise. While the first event demonstrated the aircraft’s integration with an Air Force test range, future exercises will focus on direct manned-unmanned teaming involving manned aircraft and ACS-controlled unmanned systems.
The Air Force also has plans to test Skyborg with a gateway prototype and other joint all-domain command-and-control technology during an Orange Flag exercise next month. It’s unclear whether the service will integrate the gateway prototype on a Skyborg aircraft.