LLANBEDR, Wales – Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced today the successful completion of the second phase of its autonomous systems flight trials at the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre in Wales. The trials showcased a collaborative drone mission with the potential to revolutionize future military operations.
Four fixed-wing Albatross Uncrewed Aerial Systems worked together to detect and jam a simulated enemy radio signal. Each UAS was equipped with advanced mission systems, utilizing multispectral machine vision and innovative search algorithms to autonomously navigate and cooperate with its teammates.
“This latest demonstration builds on the achievements of last year’s trials,” said Steve Burnell, Managing Director of Boeing Defence UK. “Our UK team leveraged a flexible Boeing autonomy software framework to create intelligent behaviors that can be deployed on various platforms. As military forces embrace autonomous and AI technologies, this program paves the way for future autonomous collaborative platforms in the UK.”
This phase focused on enhancing autonomous platform-to-platform teaming, enabling the drones to target positions from greater distances and cover more ground with increased confidence in target identification and location. The trials were conducted in collaboration with Phantom Works Global and the University of Manchester.
Boeing’s successful testing builds upon a series of global trials, including a UK-hosted AUKUS trial, and further establishes their commitment to developing trusted autonomous behaviors. These low-cost, attritable drones are designed to operate alongside manned aircraft, acting as force multipliers and providing enhanced capabilities for frontline troops.
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