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2022-01-03

From Seabed to Space Boeing’s Autonomous Systems Offer Smart Edge

Machines that can move, target or even kill autonomously are rapidly adding a new dimension to the already grim battlefield scenarios.

Autonomy refers to a system’s ability to accomplish goals independently or with minimal supervision from human operators in volatile and unpredictable environments.

Advances in commercial technology, artificial intelligence, electronic warfare and cyber are being leveraged by new and evolving threats to level the playing field.

The implication is that most military platforms and weapons can be made autonomous.

Autonomy has the potential to revolutionise the way humans connect, protect, explore and inspire.

But autonomy is about more than just the latest unmanned product. It’s about purposeful innovation in areas like persistence and intelligence.

It’s about understanding the challenges of certain missions, knowing the systems already in place and having the ability to integrate intelligent and flexible autonomous solutions to help make existing systems smarter, missions safer and operations more efficient.

Above all, it’s about applying that power of autonomy from seabed to space – because the potential to communicate and collaborate across domains in real-time can revolutionise how humans approach some of the world’s pressing challenges.

Not surprisingly, armed forces around the word see defence autonomy as helping the 21st century warfighter win the future fight.

Boeing’s Innovation Track

Boeing, a leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners, defence, space and security systems, has led manned and unmanned technology innovation and integration from sea to air to space for several years.

Autonomy will define the next 100 years – and Boeing officials say the company is driving the safe innovation and integration of autonomy to maximise human potential.

At a Boeing media briefing on Autonomous Systems at Dubai Air Show, Rick Lemaster, Vice President Middle East, Africa, Turkey & Israel Business Development, explained in detail how the company is using defence autonomy to help global customers adapt from the solutions of the past and stay ahead of threats with greater agility. Lemaster stated that the true value of autonomy lies in its ability to help warfighters stay on mission longer, cover more area, provide real-time, actionable information and prioritise resources for the most important actions and decisions.

“It’s about understanding the challenges of certain missions, knowing the systems already in place, and having the ability to integrate digitally advanced and flexible autonomous solutions to help make existing systems smarter, missions safer and operations more effective and efficient,” he pointed out.

“You may know Boeing best for our commercial and military aircraft, but we’re creating the future of defence autonomy as we speak. Our autonomous offerings are more than designs on paper; we’re building them, testing them under real-world conditions and working with our customers to integrate them into their operations across all domains now,” he added.

The ability to have live, actionable data and persistent situational awareness with defence autonomous systems is critical for supporting maritime security, natural disaster planning and prevention, and economic development. To mitigate threats to economic stability and maritime security challenges, Boeing has a broad range of autonomous capabilities that span seabed to space.

Lemaster continued: “To explore, operate in and protect the vast and dynamic maritime domain is a difficult and resource-intensive undertaking. Long-endurance autonomous solutions such as Boeing’s Wave Glider Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) and Echo Voyager Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV) represent game-changing capabilities.”

Wave Glider

The Wave Glider is the world’s most proven ASV designed and manufactured by Liquid Robotics. Sitting on the surface of the ocean, this low-profile, mobile sensor platform uses acoustic sensors to collect and communicate data in real-time between manned and unmanned systems from the seabed to space.

The biggest advantage is the fact that powered by wave and solar energies, the Wave Glider requires no fuel enabling it to stay on mission 24x7 for several months at a time, providing persistent maritime surveillance and maximising resources so that operators can act on the data and intelligence received.

The Wave Glider is a key component of Boeing’s work to create a seabed-to-space network of manned and unmanned assets that can make existing platforms smarter, missions safer, and operations efficient.

Echo Voyager

Boeing’s Echo Voyager, is a pier-launched, modular, long-range XLUUV that is capable of performing as a multi-mission system and playing a pivotal role in future force structure. While traditional unmanned undersea vehicles are limited by the need for a host ship and by communications, payload capacity and endurance factors, Echo Voyager’s advanced autonomy allows it to operate for months at a time without physical human contact and in congested waters.

The vehicle is complete with a generous internal and external payload volume and available energy capacity – delivering a more affordable, mission-capable solution over traditional UUVs. New sensor and system payloads are rapidly being introduced that could expand the UUV mission set. Boeing has designed and operated manned and unmanned deep sea systems since the 1960s, including Rockwell International legacy systems and U.S. Navy support programmes.

ScanEagle and Integrator

Dave Fluker, Insitu’s International Business Development Executive, separately highlighted the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of Insitu’s unmanned aerial systems (UAS) portfolio including ScanEagle and Integrator.

“As a long-endurance UAS, ScanEagle redefined ISR services for Group 2 UAS. Having persistent surveillance at nearly 20,000 feet for up to 24 hours adds a level of endurance to mission planning, no matter if it’s a battlefield, an ocean or commercial infrastructure,” Fluker said. “ScanEagle supports expeditionary missions with critical capabilities such as operating in remote locations without support systems or infrastructure and the ability to launch without a runway. It delivers the highest quality, persistent imagery on land or at sea – and the tools that turn that imagery into actionable information – to make the difference when every second counts.”

Fluker explained that as a long-endurance Group 3 UAS designed and manufactured by Insitu, Integrator was conceived as a modular, multi-mission capable solution for both land and maritime operations. “The aircraft’s multiple payload spaces can be customised with cameras, communication capabilities and other advanced mission-specific technologies to suit operational needs. With no nets or runways required, the operator’s footprint stays small, no matter how big the mission,” Fluker said.

Insitu’s Integrator Extended Range (ER) provides Group 4 & 5 capability in a 74.8kg small UAS. Extended range operations include 14 hours of time on station at 550km and 20 hours at 350km. The Integrator ER has high-quality, full-motion video on par with much higher-priced ISR systems, while flying at acoustically and visually undetectable altitudes.

MQ-25 Stingray

Another critical capability is that of MQ-25 Stingray, which represents the future of unmanned aircraft carrier aviation and will extend the reach of the carrier air wing. An unmanned aircraft system designed for the U.S. Navy mission, it will provide the needed robust refuelling capability to help extend the combat range of deployed F/A-18 Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler and F-35C Lightning II fighters.

The MQ-25 brings the right combination of refuelling, autonomy, and seamless carrier deck integration to meet the U.S. Navy’s goals.

The MQ-25 recently completed historic refuelling flights with the F/A-18 Super Hornet, E-2D Hawkeye and F-35C Lightning II, demonstrating the aircraft’s ability to deliver on its primary aerial refuelling mission.

Loyal Wingman

In addition, Boeing’s Airpower Teaming System (ATS) – also referred to as Loyal Wingman – is a new Australian-designed uncrewed aircraft to provide global customers with a disruptive advantage in airborne missions. It is unprecedented in that it is Boeing’s largest investment in a new uncrewed aircraft programme outside the US. Airpower Teaming System completed its first test flight in February 2021 and continues to expand the flight-test programme.

This purpose-built aircraft can be missionised to suit country-specific needs and will be a force multiplier for global customers. The modular and flexible nature of the ATS gives global customers control over the most important part of the aircraft – the missionisation – which includes the systems, sensors and software that give it operational capability.

The first batch of Loyal Wingman aircraft are serving as the foundation for the Airpower Teaming System being developed for various global defence customers. The aircraft will fly alongside other platforms, using artificial intelligence to team with existing crewed and uncrewed assets to complement mission capabilities.

Space Domain

Having been a part of space travel since the beginning, Boeing is employing the latest autonomous technology in the space domain to help protect human life, reach farther and accomplish more. From satellites to manned exploration to fully autonomous vehicles that operate in space for months at a time, Boeing is setting new standards for what is possible autonomously today and in the future.

In Lemaster’s words: “In this era of networked warfare, there’s one thing that remains unchanged: people are our most important resource. Boeing remains committed to innovating safe, reliable autonomous capabilities across all domains, from seabed to space, that will elevate the human advantage to the next level and equip warfighters with the best technology to achieve their missions.”

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