U.S. Air Force Teams Up with BAE Systems for Innovative Skyborg Initiative
BAE Systems, a prominent leader in electronic warfare, has been chosen to spearhead the development of attritable air vehicle systems as part of the U.S. Air Force’s Skyborg program.
A recent media release disclosed that under the Skyborg initiative, BAE Systems will compete to design a digital framework for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with autonomous capabilities. This contract has a ceiling of up to $400 million.
The objective of the Skyborg program is to innovate a cost-effective autonomous UAV that collaborates with manned aircraft, substantially enhancing air combat effectiveness. When paired with a piloted vehicle, these UAVs will utilize their autonomy to challenge and outperform adversaries in contested settings.
“Accelerating our combat power faster than potential threats is imperative to counter near-peer challenges,” stated Ehtisham Siddiqui, Vice President and General Manager of Controls and Avionics Solutions at BAE Systems. “This contract will fast-track the development and implementation of manned-unmanned teaming technologies, providing the U.S. Air Force with a competitive advantage on the battlefield.”
BAE Systems will engineer the UAVs with advanced autonomous systems, which feature sensors and payloads capable of communicating through a unified network alongside manned aircraft. This modular and standardized system approach lays the groundwork for swift updates and integrations, ensuring the fleet can effectively counter evolving threats.
The unified network fosters manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), enabling UAVs and piloted planes to collaborate on missions with greater efficiency. This synergy extends the fleet’s operational range while protecting manned aircraft and personnel from potential dangers. Moreover, the UAVs will act as the reconnaissance eyes and ears for pilots, gathering and relaying data from the battlefield back to manned fighters.
Additionally, in July 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center awarded multiple indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contracts to notable companies, including Boeing, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems, and Northrop Grumman Systems.
