|
Lockheed Martin has completed flight demonstrations of
Mobile Commander’s Associate (MCA), that will enable U.S. Army command
and control helicopters to form and manage teams of unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAVs) and manned strike aircraft.
MCA integrates key functionality required for manned / unmanned
teaming: connectivity to multiple digital radio links to provide
simultaneous command and control of UAVs and communicate with ground
and manned aerial forces; decision-aiding technology to monitor the
UAV team’s flight activity with minimal human input; and fusion of
ground and airborne sensor data so as to build a situational picture
of the evolving battlefield.
With the MCA system installed aboard an UH-60 Black Hawk Airborne
Command and Control (A2C2S) helicopter, Lockheed Martin demonstrated
control of a Hunter UAV and its imaging sensors across a Tactical
Common Data Link; exchanged position reports, tracks and engagement
messages with an F/A-18 aircraft via Link 16 data link; and shared
targeting data with a Longbow Apache attack helicopter via an Improved
Data Modem communications connection. The airborne battle commander
used KineMap™ digital map software to monitor the evolving tactical
situational awareness picture.
Lockheed Martin developed the MCA system as part of a research and
development program with the Army’s Aviation Applied Technology
Directorate (AATD). The AATD sponsored the demonstration flights
aboard the A2C2S helicopter as part of the Hunter Stand-off Killer
Team Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration at Fort Huachuca, AZ
and Fort Hood, TX. The MCA system has now entered an extended
evaluation period with the Army’s 21st Cavalry Brigade (Air Combat)
based at Fort Hood to determine operational applicability for the
warfighter.
“These integrated capabilities are important because they give
airborne commanders control of UAVs that can fly reconnaissance
missions and provide targeting information to manned attack aircraft,”
said Michele Evans, vice president for Aircraft Systems at Lockheed
Martin Systems Integration – Owego. “As these teaming technologies
mature, joint forces will significantly reduce the risk to manned
aircraft and the timeline to find and engage targets.”
|
