The Air Force Research Laboratory and Air Combat Command’s Experimental Operations Unit recently flew the XQ-67A Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) in the Nevada Test and Training Range marking a technology milestone in autonomous capabilities for the future fight.
The flight, which was completed under the Demonstration of ACP Performance and Effectiveness (Demon APE) project, directly supports National Defense Strategy priorities for the Department of the Air Force (DAF) by accelerating ACP development and delivery.
“By pairing AFRL’s rapid prototyping with ACC’s operational test units, the Air Force is shortening the timeline between concept and warfighter capability,”
said Col. Matthew Caspers, DAF Deputy Technology Executive Officer for Air.
During the flight, the XQ-67A demonstrated integration of several advanced mission systems including state-of-the-art sensors, mission computers and power and thermal management hardware, all designed to work collaboratively in demanding combat environments.
Additionally, the integration of Beyond Line-of-Sight datalinks and live, virtual and constructive simulations during the flight demonstrated management of uncrewed platforms across distributed theaters, bolstering deterrence through resilient, layered command and control.
“This proved that AFRL’s autonomous architectures, aligned with Autonomy and Agile Mission Suite Government Reference Architectures, can reliably process and relay combat-relevant data in real-world scenarios,”
said Trenton White, aerospace engineer in AFRL’s Air Warfare directorate.
The research and development investment in unified platforms like XQ-67A validates how unmanned systems can extend the operational reach of manned fighter formations. It provides solutions for equipping commanders with deep situational awareness and adding affordable operational mass to the fleet, all while significantly reducing risk to human air crews.
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the Department of the Air Force’s primary scientific research and development center and one of six centers within Air Force Materiel Command. AFRL leads the discovery, development and delivery of technologies for air, space and multidomain. With a workforce spanning seven mission areas at more than 40 locations worldwide, AFRL conducts research ranging from basic science to advanced technology development.
Source: Air Force Research Laboratory