The U.S. Navy has installed its first Unmanned Air Warfare Center (UAWC) on the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, marking a significant step toward integrating unmanned systems into naval operations. This new control hub will manage the MQ-25A Stingray, the Navy’s next-generation unmanned aerial refueling platform, as well as future unmanned aircraft.
#ICYMI: The #Navy and Boeing completed the first flight of the MQ-25 test asset September 19 from MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah, IL. The MQ-25A Stingray will be the world’s first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft. #Navycapacity #MQ25
Video courtesy of @Boeing pic.twitter.com/4joqEeqi3x
— NAVAIR (@NAVAIRNews) September 20, 2019
The UAWC is equipped with the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System (UMCS) MD-5E Ground Control Station, which allows operators to control and monitor drones directly from the aircraft carrier. The system, developed by the Navy with technology contributions from Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works, is part of a broader shift towards autonomy in military operations.
The installation of the UAWC on the USS George H.W. Bush is the culmination of a multi-year effort and will be followed by similar installations on other carriers, including the USS Carl Vinson, USS Theodore Roosevelt, and USS Ronald Reagan. Early next year, the carrier will conduct at-sea testing of the UAWC, where Air Vehicle Pilots from the Unmanned Carrier-Launched Multi-Role Squadron (VUQ) 10 will operate the system to control simulated air vehicles.
The MQ-25 Stingray, developed by Boeing, has already completed successful refueling missions and will provide critical support to the Navy’s strike capabilities. The UAWC, while initially focused on the MQ-25, is also expected to manage a range of future unmanned systems, such as Collaborative Combat Aircraft, as part of the Navy’s evolving air wing.
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