General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) announced the successful first flight of its XQ-67A drone, a crucial development in the Air Force’s pursuit of advanced autonomous aircraft capabilities. The XQ-67A, stemming from GA-ASI’s Gambit series, undertook its maiden flight on February 28 at the General Atomics Gray Butte Flight Operations Facility near Palmdale, California. This event signifies a pivotal advancement in the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) Off-Board Sensing Station program (OBSS), highlighting the drone’s role in the evolving landscape of collaborative combat aircraft (CCAs).
The XQ-67A is part of a broader initiative by the Air Force to integrate autonomous drones as ‘robot wingmen’ for piloted aircraft, enhancing operational flexibility and combat effectiveness. GA-ASI and Kratos were initially awarded design contracts in 2021, with GA-ASI subsequently chosen to construct the design in 2023. This project underscores the Air Force’s commitment to leveraging autonomous systems and the concept of a common chassis or “genus” approach to aircraft design, which aims to streamline development, reduce costs, and facilitate easier technology updates.
The flight of the XQ-67A validates the “genus/species” concept, a strategic framework developed in collaboration with AFRL under the Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Platform Sharing (LCAAPS) program. This approach focuses on creating multiple aircraft variants from a shared core chassis, offering a novel acquisition strategy that promises faster development cycles and lower costs. Trenton White, OBSS Program Manager at AFRL, emphasized that the XQ-67A’s successful flight demonstration is a significant step towards demonstrating the feasibility of producing combat-effective aircraft at reduced costs.
Expanded Coverage:
