The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Boeing
Australia have successfully completed the first test flight of the
Loyal Wingman unmanned aircraft.
The flight of the first military aircraft to be
designed and manufactured in Australia in more than 50 years, flew
under the supervision of a Boeing test pilot monitoring the
aircraft from a ground control station at the Woomera Range
Complex.
“The Loyal Wingman’s first flight is a major step
in this long-term, significant project for the Air Force and
Boeing Australia, and we’re thrilled to be a part of the
successful test,” said Air Vice-Marshal Cath Roberts, RAAF Head of
Air Force Capability. “The Loyal Wingman project is a pathfinder
for the integration of autonomous systems and artificial
intelligence to create smart human-machine teams. Through this
project we are learning how to integrate these new capabilities to
complement and extend air combat and other missions.”
Following a series of taxi tests validating ground
handling, navigation and control, and pilot interface, the
aircraft completed a successful takeoff under its own power before
flying a pre-determined route at different speeds and altitudes to
verify flight functionality and demonstrate the performance of the
Airpower Teaming System design.
“Boeing and Australia are pioneering fully
integrated combat operations by crewed and uncrewed aircraft,”
said Boeing Defense, Space & Security President and CEO Leanne
Caret. “We’re honored to be opening this part of aviation’s future
with the Royal Australian Air Force, and we look forward to
showing others how they also could benefit from our loyal wingman
capabilities.”
With support from more than 35 Australian industry
teams and leveraging Boeing’s innovative processes, including
model-based engineering techniques, such as a digital twin to
digitally flight-test missions, the team was able to manufacture
the aircraft from design to flight in three years.
This first Loyal Wingman aircraft is serving as
the foundation for the Boeing Airpower Teaming System being
developed for various global defense customers. The aircraft will
fly alongside other platforms, using artificial intelligence to
team with existing crewed and unmanned assets to complement
mission capabilities.
Additional Loyal Wingman aircraft are currently
under development, with plans for teaming flights scheduled for
later this year.
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