US Navy Block III F/A-18 Super Hornet test jet controls three UAVs

The UAVs executed all commands given by Block III F/A-18 Super Hornet pilots during tests over a two-week period.Boeing and the US Navy have completed a series of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) flight tests in which a Block III F/A-18 Super Hornet successfully demonstrated command and control of three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Boeing system engineers connected Block III’s adjunct processor, known as the Distributed Targeting Processor – Networked (DTP-N), with a third-party tablet to team with the UAVs. Boeing developed new software loads for the DTP-N specific to running the third-party tablet and transmitting commands. The software development, tablet connection to the fighter and all flight tests were completed in less than six months.

“Block III Super Hornet is executing on its guarantee of hardware – installed today – that is ready to receive the software of the future,” said Ben LeGrand, Boeing director of Mission Systems, in a company news release. “Block III Super Hornet will integrate third-party systems and software with minimal modifications.”

 

Boeing partnered with the F/A-18 & EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265), Air Test and Evaluation Squadrons (VX) 23 and 31, Naval Air ധąɾƒąɾҽ Center-weᴀponѕ  Division at China Lake, Calif., and a third-party vendor on the demonstration. During the test flights, F/A-18 pilots entered commands into the tablet, which were processed and transmitted through Block III’s hardware. The UAVs executed all commands given by F/A-18 pilots during tests over a two-week period.

“This successful MUM-T demonstration represents a significant step toward the Navy’s vision for Distributed Maritime Operations. It highlights the potential of unmanned concepts to expand and extend the Navy’s reach,” said Scott Dickson, Boeing’s director for Multi-Domain Integration. “As part of a Joint All-Domain Command and Control network, teams of UAV conducting ISR missions led by the latest Super Hornets equipped with network-enabled data fusion and advanced capabilities would provide warfighters across the Joint Force with significant information advantage.”

 

“The Navy conducts exercises of this nature with industry partners to evaluate current and future capabilities,” said Dr. Michael Yu, PMA-265 science and technology, and experimentation/demo lead, in a NAVAIR news release. “The comprehensive analysis of data captured during these events further informs development and refinement of technologies that could potentially be incorporated into Navy platforms.”

Yu said MUM-T could allow the Navy to extend the reach of its aircrew, while keeping them farther away from enemy fire. This capability could also enable pilots to delegate tasks or incorporate UAVs into missions such as patrolling airspace, fueling aircraft or serving as a communication relay node. “MUM-T has the potential to transform tomorrow’s fleet into a more lethal, better-connected force,” said Denney. “MUM-T will help us maintain the technological advantage and competitive edge against our adversaries.”

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet serves as the backbone of carrier-based aviation power projection. With the largest digital touch screen in any fighter cockpit, the F/A-18 is an industry leader in the development and installation of the hardware and processing power needed for future digital capabilities and growth. The adjunct processor running the demonstration adds significant processing power to the F/A-18’s mission processing suite.

 

“Future fighter pilots will be the quarterback of the skies, orchestrating commands and controlling UAVs from the integrated Block III touch-screen cockpit,” said Mark Sears, Boeing vice president and program manager of F/A-18, EA-18G programs. “Block III Super Hornet is the bridge to the future and is a risk reducer for the Navy that is delivering on teaming, networking and interoperability now.”

Related Posts

Mastering Tomorrow’s BaTTlefιelds: Meet The Adʋanced Stryкerx

In the ever-evolving landscape of military technology, staying at the forefront of innovation is essential to meet the demands of modern warfare. The Advanced Strykerx is a…

J𝚘𝚞ɾn𝚎𝚢 O𝚏 Th𝚎 M1127 St𝚛𝚢k𝚎𝚛 R𝚎c𝚘nn𝚊iss𝚊nc𝚎 V𝚎hιcƖ𝚎

J𝚘𝚞ɾn𝚎𝚢 O𝚏 Th𝚎 M1127 St𝚛𝚢k𝚎𝚛 R𝚎c𝚘nn𝚊iss𝚊nc𝚎 V𝚎hιcƖ𝚎   In th𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊lm 𝚘𝚏 m𝚘𝚍𝚎𝚛n milit𝚊𝚛𝚢 t𝚎chn𝚘l𝚘𝚐𝚢, 𝚏𝚎w v𝚎hicl𝚎s h𝚊v𝚎 𝚐𝚊𝚛n𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚊s m𝚞ch 𝚊tt𝚎nti𝚘n 𝚊n𝚍 𝚛𝚎c𝚘𝚐niti𝚘n 𝚊s th𝚎 M1127…

AMX-56 Leclerc – French Army MBT

The AMX-56 Leclerc is a main battle tank (MBT) that was developed and manufactured by the French company Nexter Systems (formerly Giat Industries). It is the main…

WOw! 160mm self-propelled mortar on Sherman Makmat tank chassis – Another Israeli innovation

Th𝚎𝚛𝚎 is 𝚊l𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚊 v𝚎hicl𝚎 kп𝚘wп 𝚊s th𝚎 “t𝚘𝚊st𝚎𝚛 t𝚊пk”, 𝚊п𝚍 th𝚊t is th𝚎 G𝚎𝚛m𝚊п Pz. S𝚏l. IVc. H𝚘w𝚎v𝚎𝚛, w𝚎 𝚋𝚎li𝚎v𝚎 th𝚎 Is𝚛𝚊𝚎li M𝚊km𝚊t is 𝚊п𝚘th𝚎𝚛 c𝚘пt𝚎п𝚍𝚎𝚛…

Unl𝚎𝚊sҺin𝚐 Pɾ𝚎cιsi𝚘n: Oρ𝚎ɾ𝚊ti𝚘n O𝚏 Th𝚎 M153 C𝚛𝚘ws R𝚎м𝚘T𝚎Ɩ𝚢 C𝚘ntɾ𝚘Ɩl𝚎𝚍 MɑcҺιn𝚎 Gᴜn S𝚢sT𝚎m (Vι𝚍𝚎𝚘)

Unl𝚎𝚊sҺin𝚐 Pɾ𝚎cιsi𝚘n: Oρ𝚎ɾ𝚊ti𝚘n O𝚏 Th𝚎 M153 C𝚛𝚘ws R𝚎м𝚘T𝚎Ɩ𝚢 C𝚘ntɾ𝚘Ɩl𝚎𝚍 MɑcҺιn𝚎 Gᴜn S𝚢sT𝚎m (Vι𝚍𝚎𝚘)   Ov𝚎𝚛vi𝚎w 𝚘𝚏 th𝚎 M153 CROWS: Th𝚎 M153 CROWS 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚛𝚎s𝚎nts 𝚊 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚍i𝚐m shi𝚏t in…

160mm self-propelled mortar on Sherman Makmat tank chassis – Another Israeli innovation

Th𝚎𝚛𝚎 is 𝚊l𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚊 v𝚎hicl𝚎 kп𝚘wп 𝚊s th𝚎 “t𝚘𝚊st𝚎𝚛 t𝚊пk”, 𝚊п𝚍 th𝚊t is th𝚎 G𝚎𝚛m𝚊п Pz. S𝚏l. IVc. H𝚘w𝚎v𝚎𝚛, w𝚎 𝚋𝚎li𝚎v𝚎 th𝚎 Is𝚛𝚊𝚎li M𝚊km𝚊t is 𝚊п𝚘th𝚎𝚛 c𝚘пt𝚎п𝚍𝚎𝚛…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *