The U.S. Navy recently completed a second successful demonstration advancing multi-platform coordination of autonomous systems, an essential step toward developing future Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). 

The Dec. 11 event at Point Mugu Sea Range in California focused on maturing manned-unmanned teaming capabilities for CCA, which are intended to extend the reach of carrier air wings and deliver scalable, cost-effective platforms capable of operating in contested environments. 

The Navy’s Strike Planning and Execution (PMA-281) and Aerial Targets (PMA-208) programs recently partnered with Shield AI to demonstrate artificial intelligence-based autonomy on the BQM-177A aerial target. 

During the Aug. 5 event at Point Mugu Sea Range in California, Shield AI successfully flew two BQM-177As — one demonstrating Advanced Vehicle Control Laws (AVCL), a core capability for integrating autonomy, and the other incorporating additional autonomous behaviors. 

Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division leaders, joined by Naval Surface Warfare Center - Port Hueneme Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, and Naval Base Ventura County leaders, cut the ribbon Aug. 20 on a new facility at San Nicolas Island that doubles the command’s capacity for launching supersonic targets on the Point Mugu Sea Range.

The Navy’s Strike Planning and Execution program (PMA-281) and Aerial Targets program (PMA-208) recently partnered with Shield AI to integrate autonomy and artificial intelligence software into the BQM-177A sub-sonic aerial target, marking a significant milestone in furthering autonomous systems for real-world applications in naval aviation.

In April, a BQM-177 subscale, high subsonic aerial target launched in support of operations at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division’s China Lake Range, but it wasn’t just any launch. It was number 200 for the Pacific Target and Marine Operations team.

It was also a massive endeavor requiring a huge cross-site, cross-functional coordination challenge. A symphony working together in harmony.

And if this test event was a symphony, the test managers were the conductors.