Engineering:Boeing Airpower Teaming System

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Short description: Future UAV in development by Boeing Australia
Airpower Teaming System
Loyal Wingman UAV High Speed Taxi Test.jpg
Loyal Wingman during its high-speed taxi test
Role Unmanned combat aerial vehicle
National origin Australia
Manufacturer
  • Boeing Australia
  • Boeing Defense, Space & Security
First flight 27 February 2021[1][2]
Status Under development
Primary user Royal Australian Air Force
Number built 1

The Boeing Airpower Teaming System (ATS), also known as the Loyal Wingman project, is a stealth, multirole, unmanned aerial vehicle in development by Boeing Australia for the Royal Australian Air Force designed as a force multiplier aircraft capable of flying alongside manned aircraft for support and performing autonomous missions independently using artificial intelligence.[3]

Development

The Loyal Wingman is an unmanned aircraft which incorporates artificial intelligence and utilises a modular mission package system in the nose where the entire nose of the aircraft can be removed and quickly swapped for another nose with a different set of equipment or armaments for various missions including combat, force reconnaissance and electronic warfare.[4] One role will be to support manned Royal Australian Air Force aircraft, such as the F-35A, F/A-18F, and E-7A with the purpose of defence and surveillance. The UAV will be designed to act as a "loyal wingman" that is controlled by a parent aircraft to accomplish tasks such as scouting or absorbing enemy fire if attacked as well as operating independently.[5][6]

The aircraft will be the first combat aircraft designed and developed in Australia in over half a century.[7] Boeing has said that it will "depend on the market" whether the aircraft is manufactured in Queensland or the United States.[5] Boeing has confirmed that Queensland will house the final assembly facility.[8]

The Royal Australian Air Force initially planned to buy three Airpower Teaming System (ATS) systems, as part of the Loyal Wingman Advanced Development Program (LWADP).[9] The three drones were built at an automated production line in Brisbane, Queensland. The production line is a proof of concept for full scale production.[4] The order was increased to six with an A$115M contract days after the first flight.[10]

Unveiling

After a full-scale mock-up was revealed at the 2019 Avalon Airshow, the first real aircraft achieved a power-on of its systems in March 2020, and was rolled out in May 2020 by Boeing Australia with the release of images showing a detailed prototype of the aircraft and a video to illustrate the drone's operational abilities. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, “This is a truly historic moment for our country and for Australian defence innovation. The Loyal Wingman will be pivotal to exploring the critical capabilities our Air Force needs to protect our nation and its allies into the future.”

Testing

Boeing announced it powered up the engine of its first Airpower Teaming System (ATS) unmanned aircraft for the first time in September 2020. The engine test is part of ground testing to prepare for first flight before the end of the year.[11]

The Boeing Airpower Teaming System (ATS) prototype moved under its own power for the first time in October 2020, conducting low-speed taxi tests at RAAF Base Amberley.[12] The Boeing Airpower Teaming System later performed a high-speed taxi test at an unnamed remote location in December 2020.[13]

The first test flight of the prototype occurred at RAAF Base Woomera on 27 February 2021.[1][2]

A second Loyal Wingman aircraft is currently under development, with teaming flights planned for later in 2021.[14]

Specifications

Data from Loyal Wingman[15]

General characteristics

  • Crew: None
  • Length: 11.7 m (38 ft 5 in)

Performance

  • Range: 3,700 km (2,300 mi, 2,000 nmi)

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Waldron, Greg (2 March 2021). "Australian 'loyal wingman' to form basis of Boeing Skyborg bid". FlightGlobal. https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/australian-loyal-wingman-to-form-basis-of-boeing-skyborg-bid/142689.article. Retrieved 2 March 2021. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 de Git, Melanie; Erwin, Ashlee (1 March 2021). "Boeing Loyal Wingman Uncrewed Aircraft Completes First Flight". https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=130834. 
  3. ↑ "Boeing Airpower Teaming System". https://www.boeing.com/defense/airpower-teaming-system/index.page. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Rogoway, Tyler. "Everything We Learned From Boeing About Its Potentially Game-Changing Loyal Wingman Drone". https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/33271/everything-we-learned-from-boeing-about-its-potentially-game-changing-loyal-wingman-drone. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Pittaway, Nigel (27 February 2019). "Boeing unveils ‘loyal wingman’ drone". Defense News. https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/avalon/2019/02/27/boeing-unveils-loyal-wingman-drone/. 
  6. ↑ "Boeing Will Unveil This 'Loyal Wingman' Combat Drone for Australias Air Force Tomorrow". The Drive.
  7. ↑ Greene, Andrew (27 February 2019). "First glimpse of combat drone set to join Australia's military arsenal" (in en-AU). ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-27/combat-drone-secretly-developed-by-raaf-and-boeing-unveiled/10851000. 
  8. ↑ "Queensland to house Loyal Wingman final assembly facility". 5 October 2020. https://australianaviation.com.au/2020/10/queensland-to-house-loyal-wingman-final-assembly-facility/. 
  9. ↑ "First RAAF Loyal Wingman unmanned combat system rolled out – ADBR". https://adbr.com.au/first-raaf-loyal-wingman-unmanned-combat-system-rolled-out/. 
  10. ↑ "Three More Loyal Wingman Aircraft to Advance Uncrewed Teaming". 2 March 2021. http://www.boeing.com.au/news/releases/2021/march/three-more-loyal-wingman-aircraft-to-advance-uncrewed-teaming.page. 
  11. ↑ "Boeing ATS Loyal Wingman engine powers up – ADBR". https://adbr.com.au/ats-loyal-wingman-engine-powers-up/. 
  12. ↑ "Boeing ATS conducts low-speed taxi tests". https://adbr.com.au/boeing-ats-conducts-low-speed-taxi-tests/. 
  13. ↑ https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=130788#assets_20295_130788-117%7CBoeing Uncrewed Loyal Wingman Conducts First High-Speed Taxi Test
  14. ↑ "Australia's First Loyal Wingman Completes Maiden Flight". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSKNW-KAaJ0. 
  15. ↑ Pittaway, Nigel (April 2019). "Loyal Wingman". Air International 96 (4): 12–13. ISSN 0306-5634. 

External links




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