Boeing and RAAF validate ATS digital environment capabilities
Boeing's Airpower Teaming System takes flight. (Photo: Australia DoD)
Boeing and the RAAF have advanced the operational capabilities of the manufacturers Airpower Teaming System in a digital environment.
Boeing Australia and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have successfully advanced the manufacturers Airpower Teaming System (ATS) using multiple payloads, semi autonomous behaviours and executed crewed-uncrewed teaming in a digital environment.
Boeing said in a 8 December company statement that RAAF operators involved in a multi-day exercise had worked with the ATS digital twin to 'develop and test autonomous behaviours in operational scenarios and against threats provided by Defence'.
Testing included ATS aircraft integration validation and the aircraft operating in tandem with other Australian crewed platforms.
Distributed sensors across the ATS uncrewed team were also employed effectively, according to Boeing, adding that these activities continue to progress earlier crewed-uncrewed interface work.
The manufacturer also explained that such work contributes to efforts to support ATS being 'offered' to other customers besides the RAAF.
'Progress on the Airpower Teaming System’s mission system and payload development has included ground-based hardware and software in-the-loop testing, followed by surrogate flight testing of the on-board systems to support verification of the digital models,' explained Boeing.
'A digital twin of the entire aircraft has been "flown" thousands of times under different battlespace effects to test aircraft performance and maximize its deployment capability independently and in support of other aircraft.'
Australia has ordered six ATS from Boeing under the RAAF's Loyal Wingman programme designed to assess new ways forward for crewed and uncrewed teaming partnerships, together with testing AI and semi autonomous capabilities of the ATS.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures]()
Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has driven another stage of evolution for drones and the counter measures to defend against them.
-
![L3Harris launches Amorphous software for control of uncrewed platforms]()
L3Harris launches Amorphous software for control of uncrewed platforms
The new Amorphous software is a universal controller that would allow a single operator to control a swarm of “thousands” of uncrewed systems, from drones to underwater platforms.
-
![ideaForge unveils new UAVs at Aero India 2025]()
ideaForge unveils new UAVs at Aero India 2025
India UAV supplier ideaForge has launched the Netra 5 and Switch V2 drones at Aero India 2025, boasting of enhanced endurance, AI-driven autonomy and improved operational capabilities.
-
![Shaping the future of defence: What 2025 holds for the global drone market]()
Shaping the future of defence: What 2025 holds for the global drone market
The UAV market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with innovations in technology and battlefield applications driving demand across military sectors. From the battlefields of Ukraine to NATO exercises and beyond, drones are transforming how wars are fought and supported.
-
![Maris-Tech confirms customers signing up for Jupiter Drones codec and AI-powered system]()
Maris-Tech confirms customers signing up for Jupiter Drones codec and AI-powered system
Launched at AUSA in October, the company’s multi-stream video codec is attempting to bring a new lease of life to drone technology through its AI accelerator.
-
![AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments]()
AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments
Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.
