AFWERX’s Post

The Cessna Grand Caravan in cargo configuration can change the logistics drastically by adding low cost highly reliable capacity that can allow critical spares or supplies to go directly where needed. Using a C-130 or larger to distribute a load of 200lb crates to various destinations is like the postal service delivering mail out of a semi.

You’ve heard us mention collaborative combat aircraft (CCAs) before, destined to fly alongside piloted fighter jets such as the mighty F-35s and the future Next Generation Air Dominance platform. But what can these CCAs do? Striking enemy targets, conducting surveillance, jamming enemy signals, and acting as decoys are just some of their amazing capabilities. The U.S. Air Force has big plans for this fleet of drone wingmen. To start, the department is investing in extensive research and testing. Their proposed 2024 budget includes nearly $50 million to test autonomous software on F-16 fighters under Project VENOM. This program will load autonomous code into six F-16s, allowing the self-flying software to take over once in the air. The goal? To demonstrate the immense potential of autonomous flight and its benefits. An experimental operations unit team is also being launched, with a budget of $69 million. This team will develop tactics and procedures to seamlessly incorporate CCAs into squadrons. They'll gather invaluable data on how pilots and machines work together, refining the autonomous software and ensuring the safety of crewed aircraft. The Air Force envisions CCAs as affordable and "attritable" assets, meaning they can be used in combat without breaking the bank. With a cost estimated to be one-quarter to one-third of an F-35, these CCAs could be a game-changer. We’ve said it once and we will say it again: the future is here, and the Air Force is leading the way. The skies will never be the same! Read more about this groundbreaking initiative here. #USAirForce #DroneWingmen #CollaborativeCombatAircraft #AutonomousFlight #DAFCDAO #DataAndAIAreTeamSports https://lnkd.in/eUbEa6Ak

During the exercise, Joby’s aircraft autonomously transported essential components to restore the operational readiness of various Air Force assets, flying between nine locations in a dynamic operational environment. #Optics #MachineVision #AutonomousVehicles

Joby Aviation, Inc. has announced the acquisition of the autonomy division of Xwing Inc., an industry leader in the development of autonomous technology for aviation. Xwing became the first company to receive an official project designation for the certification of a large unmanned aerial system (UAS) from the Federal Aviation Administration in 2023, and the first to receive a United States Air Force Military Flight Release in 2024. “Autonomous systems are increasingly prolific in the private sector, and bring potentially game changing advantages to the Air Force as well,” said Col. Elliott Leigh, AFWERX director and chief commercialization officer for the United States Department of the Air Force. “We created Autonomy Prime to keep up with this shift, and to stay engaged as a partner while this technology evolves, so that we can adapt and evolve along with the private sector, maintaining our competitive advantage.” The acquisition brings Joby to the forefront of aviation autonomy, and the company expects the technology to play an important role in accelerating the execution of existing contract deliverables with the United States Department of Defense and expanding the potential for future contracts. Read more here: https://ow.ly/926150S8MAb . . . #AFWERX #Prime #AutonomyPrime #USAF #DAF #DoD #UAS #FAA #acquisition #autonomoustechnology #aviation #innovation

The key to understanding uninhabited aerial vehicles is understanding which aircraft are built to handle the missions that commanders need, which ones do a few things in a few environments — and which ones are just expensive toys. Read here: https://ow.ly/jZ5O50Qz0L3

The future is now. More unmanned aircraft prototypes or Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) are showing that the requirement for squadrons and wings of prohitively expensive and extremely complex manned aircraft is questionable. DARPA, USN, USAF, US Marines, Australian AF drone programs are validating the viability and utility of unmanned platforms. Clearly, manned aircraft should “quarterback” and lead waves of “loyal wingmen” on certain missions. In fact, this was the original concept for the operational employment of the F-35. In the future, AI guided, autonomous drones or CCAs will be employed more and more especially in high threat - high risk combat scenarios. Why risk a pilot or crew on an extremely high risk mission if a drone can accomplish the task? As more UAVs or UMVs are used in combat or service support roles like aerial refueling, Medevac, logistics movement, battlefield surveillance, etc, the need for more manned aircraft will diminish. With decreasing budgets, the military must wisely invest in future weapon acquisitions. #CCA #usaf #B1 #B2 #B21 #F35 #DoD #CBO #Acquisition #ACAT #GAO #Pentagon #UAV #Drone #UMV#usn #usmc #aviation

What looks like a small commercial UAS (it’s actually purpose built) with a AT-4 Spigot integrated.. operates in fully autonomous flight mode. It allows the UAS to operate autonomously and engage targets without human interaction…, this will alter the dynamics of ground warfare.

Learn how Ansys solutions can help developing future autonomous and connected aircraft systems

Exciting advancements are on the horizon for self-driving vehicles, including flying ones! In aerospace and defense, autonomous aircraft are set to revolutionize transportation, offering faster, cheaper, cleaner, and safer mobility. This innovation will transform both defense and commercial aerospace industries, with applications spanning defense and civilian sectors. While the defense industry often leads in aerospace innovations, the benefits will extend to commercial aerospace. Check out this article to learn more about the future of autonomous air mobility.

American Rheinmetall Vehicles, Sterling Heights, MI, has won one of two contracts awarded in the U.S. Army’s Small Multi-Purpose Equipment Transport vehicle (S-MET) program. American Rheinmetall Vehicles’ unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) will provide the Army with a versatile and resilient platform capable of efficiently transporting supplies and equipment over rugged terrain to support combat operations. American Rheinmetall Vehicles collaborated with lead partner Textron Systems on the proposal. American Rheinmetall Vehicles will manufacture and deliver eight proto­types to the Army in 2025 for testing, evaluation, and to compete against the platform delivered by the second awardee before the Army downselects to a single platform and the program transitions to full scale production. Rheinmetall has substantial expertise in developing unmanned ground vehicles, exemplified in its Mission Master family of vehicles, which encompass a range of modular, autonomous platforms designed for diverse missions such as reconnaissance, surveillance, cUAS, and logistical support. American Rheinmetall Vehicles’ S-MET solution leverages the ground-breaking advancements in unmanned technology found in the Mission Master vehicles to deliver a UGV tailored to meet the unique requirements of the Army's S-MET program. The platform also uses many mature commercial components already found in the Army’s inventory or the commercial ATV space which drives affordability and reliability, and addresses electromagnetic concerns through its unique composite structure and use of materials. “American Rheinmetall Vehicles is honored with the Army’s selection and excited to deliver our S-MET platform which is particularly attractive due to its technological excellence, affordability, and reliability,” said Jim Schirmer, Senior Vice President and Deputy Managing Director of American Rheinmetall Vehicles. Textron Systems brings to the team more than three decades of experience designing, manufacturing, fielding, and supporting unmanned platforms across air, land and sea domains. Textron Systems and its subsidiary, Howe & Howe, contribute extensive knowledge of robotics and systems integration to the S-MET Inc II program, having developed the mature, multi-mission capable RIPSAW® M5 and M3 ground robotics platforms for the Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) programs. Leveraging the control architecture developed for Textron Systems’ RCV solutions, the team’s S-MET vehicle provides a commonality that enables operators to utilize a common interface for both the RCV and S-MET programs. This approach reduces the overall training burden and maximizes investments made https://lnkd.in/etcGeXgN #Rheinmetall #usarmy #defense