Defense technology company QinetiQ said it has completed the first demonstration in the United Kingdom of a team-up between a manned jet plane and an autonomous jet drone.
The test involved a QinetiQ jet aircraft, which flew from the U.K. Ministry of Defence’s Boscombe Down site in Salisbury, and a modified Banshee Jet 80 drone from the Hebrides range off Scotland’s northwest coast.
During the trial, the crewed aircraft, while en route from Boscombe to the Hebrides flying at a speed of 350 knots, established drone control and sent orders to the Banshee, QinetiQ said. A live-virtual swarm of digital Banshees also joined to complete the demonstration.
The trial was conducted in collaboration with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, the Royal Navy, and the Air and Space Warfare Centre.
Alan Hart, QinetiQ science and technology managing director, viewed the demonstration in aviation defense capablity as a good showcase of innovation partnerships and leadership.
“It represents a significant advance in developing technologies that will allow uncrewed systems to operate seamlessly with current aircraft, providing the basis for air operations for the next 20 years,” he added.
In March, QinetiQ secured a four-year framework agreement as a supplier of the MoD’s Digital and IT Professional Services structure, with an estimated value of $1.5 billion.