The new Airpower Teaming System (ATS) networks autonomously flying drones. In the future, these should take over military missions alone or support fighter jets with human pilots.
The aerospace technology company Boeing has tested its Airpower Teaming System (ATS) in Australia. It is a new communication system with which autonomously flying military drones can communicate and exchange data during a mission. According to a report by The Register, five jet-propelled drones 3.3 meters long and up to 270 km / h were used during the test flights.
The test was successful, according to Emily Hughes, director of Phantom Works International, Boeing's research and development division. Both the artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms and the data connection functions for communication between the drones and other platforms worked. In the future, thanks to the ATS, drones and aircraft should be able to work better together and successfully complete missions more frequently.
Test flights to improve the Airpower Teaming System
The test flights were necessary in order to discover any errors and weak points in the Airpower Teaming System and to advance the development. In the next step, the ATS is to be integrated into 11.7 meter long drones with a range of up to 3700 km.
The drones will then work autonomously together with manned fighter jets, but are also intended to carry out their own missions without additional fighter jets. They have a modular front area that can be equipped with different sensors depending on the mission.
Surveillance and reconnaissance missions
According to Boeing, the focus of the drones will be on surveillance and reconnaissance missions, but tactical early warning missions are also part of the planned area of responsibility. In cooperation with manned aircraft, Boeing also speaks of the so-called loyal wingman drones that support human pilots on dangerous military missions. So far, Boeing has built three of these aircraft at the development site in Australia. However, these are still at an early stage of development and are not yet ready for use.
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