General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) has collaborated with BAE Systems to demonstrate unique electronic warfare (EW) capabilities remotely controlled via a secure, jam-resistant Link 16 network on an MQ-20 Avenger unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the company announced on 31 October 2024.
The Avenger is a jet-powered platform used extensively as a test bed for autonomous UAV development and the US Air Force’s (USAF’s) Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme, for which GA-ASI has been selected to build production-representative flight test articles.
The EW demonstration helps accelerate emerging networked electronic attack capabilities for USAF autonomous collaborative platforms (ACPs).
The demonstration took place at GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon flight operations facility in El Mirage, California, and is part of an ongoing series of technology insertion and autonomous flights performed using internal research and development funding to prove important concepts.
“This effort featured novel mission system capabilities and the viability of autonomous payload control on our MQ-20,” Mike Atwood, vice president of advanced programmes at GA-ASI, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “We’re identifying key areas for improvement, while sharing investment and reducing risk.”
BAE Systems provided customised mission technology that included EW capabilities, a multi-functional processor (MFP) and a Link 16 terminal. The company successfully tested the integrated solution in its System Integration Lab to identify and jam threats autonomously and under control of an operator. Command, control and status of the EW system were made possible through software-based, open-mission-system (OMS)-compliant message translation hosted on the MFP. A secure Link 16 networking waveform was used to disseminate this information.
“We are working closely with General Atomics to highlight the maturity of autonomous EW mission systems in support of US Air Force objectives,” said Scott Bailie, director of advanced electronic warfare solutions at BAE Systems. “We are combining proven EW technology and secure command and control on a rapid timeline in a small form factor well suited for CCAs.”
