USAF, Kratos Complete Milestone 1 of the Autonomous Attritable Aircraft Experimentation (AAAx) Campaign with Successful Fligh...
06 May 2021 - 2:12AM
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS),
a leading National Security Solutions provider and industry-leading
provider of high-performance unmanned systems, announced today that
the Skyborg leadership team successfully completed its objectives
following a multi-flight series of flight tests with the Skyborg
autonomy core system (ACS) aboard Kratos UTAP-22 Mako tactical
unmanned vehicles at Tyndall AFB, Florida.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5d832b56-eebf-4264-8387-a3bf3c410f37
The Air Force Reported today:Skyborg ACS has
Successful First Flight > Air Force Life Cycle Management Center
> Article Display (af.mil)
Termed Milestone 1 of the Autonomous Attritable
Aircraft Experimentation (AAAx) campaign, the ACS performed a
series of foundational behaviors necessary to characterize safe
system operation. The ACS demonstrated basic aviation capabilities
and responded to navigational commands, while reacting to
geo-fences, adhering to aircraft flight envelopes, and
demonstrating coordinated maneuvering. It was monitored from both
airborne and ground command and control stations.
The Skyborg Vanguard team is a unique
relationship that pairs Brig. Gen. Dale White, Program Executive
Officer for Fighters and Advanced Aircraft as the Skyborg PEO, and
Brig. Gen. Heather Pringle, Commander of the Air Force Research
Laboratory as the Skyborg Technology Executive Officer (TEO). The
96th Test Wing, under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Scott Cain,
serves as the executing agent for these test
missions. “We’re
extremely excited for the successful flight of an early version of
the ‘brain’ of the Skyborg system. It is the first step in a
marathon of progressive growth for Skyborg technology,’ said White.
“These initial flights kickoff the experimentation campaign that
will continue to mature the ACS and build trust in the system.”
Milestone 1 is the first step in testing the ACS
and begins a sequence of experimentation events planned over the
next several months.
“Through this operational experimentation
campaign, AFRL is leaning forward to get early engagement with the
warfighter to deliver a suite of full-mission autonomy on a
relevant timeline,” said Pringle. “AFRL is proud to be developing
this force multiplier for the U.S. Air Force with our partners at
PEO Fighters and Advanced Aircraft and the 96th Test Wing.”
The 96th Test Wing is well-positioned to
integrate and test emerging technologies like autonomy on various
platforms (aircraft and weapons) and has provided critical
infrastructure support and test expertise to Skyborg. Milestone 1
was the first time an active autonomy capability was demonstrated
on an Air Force test range, and is a first step to integrating
these aircraft into a complex operational environment.
“As we have throughout our history, the Test
enterprise is adapting to our people and capabilities to support
this rapidly maturing technology, and the execution of this flight
test is a great milestone for our closely integrated development
and acquisition team. Safely executing this test and providing the
knowledge needed to advance the technology is at the heart of what
we do. And as always, we’re highly motivated to help bring
war-winning technology to the next fight,” said Cain.
Follow on events will demonstrate direct
manned-unmanned teaming between manned aircraft and multiple
ACS-controlled unmanned aircraft.
The aim of the Skyborg Vanguard program is to
integrate full-mission autonomy with low-cost, attritable unmanned
air vehicle technology to enable manned-unmanned teaming. Skyborg
will provide the foundation on which the Air Force can build an
airborne autonomous ‘best of breed’ system of systems that adapts,
orients, and decides at machine speed for a wide variety of
increasingly complex mission sets.
Steve Fendley, President of Kratos
Unmanned Systems Division, said, “The UTAP-22 Mako has
been a key tactical attritable UAS continuously evolving and
performing in both technology demonstrations and military exercises
since first introduced in 2015. Additionally, Mako has served as an
ideal technology incubator for missionization of the XQ-58A
Valkyrie. Valkyrie, Mako, and Gremlins (as a subcontractor to
Dynetics) form a family of Tactical UAS vehicles in the Kratos
portfolio and are designed to satisfy a broad range of tactical UAS
applications and missions. These recent AAAx test successes as a
part of the Skyborg Vanguard team with Fighters and Advanced
Aircraft, AFRL, and the 96th Test Wing illustrate what can be
achieved with a focused government-industry team and the potential
for attritables in the tactical mission arena.”
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/39b4f742-4343-4774-971d-8f44aeebd19c
Kratos Unmanned Systems Division is a leading
provider of high performance unmanned aerial drone and target
systems for threat representative target missions to exercise
weapon, radar, and other systems; and tactical aerial drone systems
for strike/ISR and force multiplication missions. In December 2020,
Kratos received a $37.7 million contract from the AFLCMC/WA
Advanced Aircraft Program Executive Office for Skyborg Delivery
Order (DO) 2 to integrate, test, and deliver the XQ-58A Valkyrie
system for the Skyborg Vanguard Program.
About Kratos Defense & Security
SolutionsKratos Defense & Security Solutions,
Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) develops and fields transformative,
affordable technology, platforms and systems for United States
National Security related customers, allies and commercial
enterprises. Kratos is changing the way breakthrough technology for
these industries are rapidly brought to market through proven
commercial and venture capital backed approaches, including
proactive research and streamlined development processes. At
Kratos, affordability is a technology, and we specialize in
unmanned systems, satellite communications, cyber security/warfare,
microwave electronics, missile defense, hypersonic systems,
training, combat systems and next generation turbo jet and turbo
fan engine development. For more information, please
visit www.KratosDefense.com.
Notice Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements Certain statements in this press release may
constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current
beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Kratos
and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking
statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of
the date they are made, and Kratos undertakes no obligation to
update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. Although Kratos believes
that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements
are reasonable, these statements involve many risks and
uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially
from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking
statements. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in
these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the
business of Kratos in general, see the risk disclosures in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of Kratos for the year
ended December 27, 2020, and in subsequent reports on Forms
10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the SEC by
Kratos.
Press Contact:Yolanda White858-812-7302
Direct
Investor
Information:877-934-4687investor@kratosdefense.com
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