US Air Force: F22 pilot works with autonomous MQ-20 drone in flight
An F-22 pilot instructed an autonomous MQ-20 Avenger drone in flight to take on various tactical tasks and fend off air threats.
The autonomous MQ-20 Avenger completes a test flight.
(Image: GA-ASI)
The U.S. Air Force, together with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), demonstrated in a flight how a fifth-generation manned F-22 Raptor fighter jet instructs an unmanned autonomous MQ-20 drone, thus working together tactically. GA-ASI announced this on Monday in a statement. The live flight demonstration of team air combat took place at Edwards Air Force Base in California, USA.
During the simulated air combat mission, commands were sent from the F-22 fighter jet, which acted as the command aircraft, to the MQ-20 Avenger via a secure data link. The drone was equipped with the latest version of the U.S. Department of Defense's reference software for autonomous flight.
Air-controlled tactical drone deployment
The Autodyne Bashi Pilot Vehicle Interface (PVI) was used to transmit the commands. The MQ-20 drone was instructed in real-time to perform tactical maneuvers. For example, while in flight, the drone received instructions to change waypoints for autonomously flying a route and to conduct an air patrol. Furthermore, the Avenger drone was ordered to autonomously engage air threats, as GA-ASI writes in a statement.
The drone received the commands smoothly, processed the information independently, and executed coordinated maneuvers autonomously. The demonstration thus showed that it is possible to delegate certain tactical tasks to a drone in air combat missions and have them executed independently without completely relinquishing human control.
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The U.S. Air Force is striving to advance cooperation between fighter jets with human pilots and autonomous systems. This is intended to expand the range of sensors for reconnaissance, for example, by having autonomous drones fly closer to the enemy, thus providing a tactical advantage. Furthermore, the systems are to be used to increase combat power and enhance survivability in enemy territory. This is because risky, repetitive tasks such as patrol and reconnaissance flights close to or in enemy territory can be carried out by unmanned autonomous drones, thus protecting pilots' lives.
(olb)
