“Synergy in the Skies: GA-ASI and U.S. Air Force Showcase Cutting-Edge Manned-Unmanned Collaboration with MQ-20 AVENGER® and F-35”
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has achieved a significant milestone in the realm of advanced Manned-Unmanned Teaming. In collaboration with the F-35 Joint Program Office, 309th Software Engineering Group, 461st and 370th Flight Test Squadrons, Lockheed Martin, and Autonodyne, a recent flight test successfully showcased the future of air combat missions by integrating the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet with the GA-ASI MQ-20 Avenger® as a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) surrogate.
This innovative test employed GA-ASI’s TacACE® (Tactical Autonomy Ecosystem) software, which utilizes cutting-edge government reference autonomy software architecture. The demonstration emphasized the seamless coordination capabilities of the CCA and the F-35 through a tactical proliferated low Earth orbit data link.
Utilizing Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communications, the MQ-20 communicated with an F-35 on the ground, allowing the pilot to transmit tactical autonomy commands using a tablet in the cockpit. These commands were efficiently relayed to the MQ-20’s TacACE system, which operates based on the Autonomy Government Reference Architecture (A-GRA) for rapid integration.
GA-ASI continues to lead the development and testing of the most advanced mission-ready Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) globally.
“This pivotal warfighter integration milestone marks the pathway to operational readiness for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, showcasing immediate opportunities for enhanced force integration,” stated Michael Atwood, Vice President of Advanced Programs. “Such events affirm GA-ASI’s unwavering commitment to pioneering next-generation data links, mission autonomy, and unmanned air combat operations.”
Manned-Unmanned Teaming represents the next evolution in airpower, combining human-piloted aircraft with highly autonomous wingmen. The successful F-35 and MQ-20 demonstration validated the essential hardware, software, networks, and systems required for this transformative phase in combat. The MQ-20 effectively exchanged autonomous responses with the F-35 while receiving autonomy commands that directed it to perform tactical maneuvers and adjust waypoints using the Bashi Pilot Vehicle Interface.
For over five years, GA-ASI’s MQ-20 Avenger unmanned jet has played a crucial role as a surrogate CCA, paving the way for innovations following the introduction of GA-ASI’s purpose-built XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station and YFQ-42A jets.
