A team led by Boeing has completed a new demonstration of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capabilities. Conducted in a “virtual environment,” the demonstration used Northrop Grumman’s portable E-2D Advanced Hawkeye simulator along with Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet and MQ-25 Stingray uncrewed aerial refueling drone simulations. According to Boeing, the mission scenarios demonstrated included the “E-2D successfully acting as the air wing ‘tanker king’ while the MQ-25 refueled the F/A-18, in addition to supervising the MQ-25 during an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission.”
“Two of our key findings from this early demonstration with existing data links are that initial MUM-T capability between MQ-25, E-2D and F/A-18 is achievable with minimal change to the crew vehicle interface and could be integrated into earlier MQ-25 operational deployments,” said Boeing MQ-25 advanced design leader Don “BD” Gaddis.
The demonstration was sponsored by the Office of Naval Research. Future MUM-T tests are expected to focus on additional mission areas, interface enhancements, autonomous behaviors and resilient, protected networks. MUM-T capability is listed as a primary goal in the U.S. Navy’s Unmanned Campaign Plan, which is aimed at integrating autonomous systems “to provide lethal, survivable, and scalable effects supporting the future maritime mission.”
The people in DCS, digital combat simulator, have been doing this demonstration in a VR sim using current military aircraft for several years now. Even I demonstrated it. AI flew the fueling aircraft and I flew the fighter.