Textron Systems and Anduril Industries have demonstrated the autonomous SEAD/DEAD (Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses) mission capabilities of a manned-unmanned system teaming for the US Army.
The event showcased the use of an aerial drone integrated with sensors, platforms, and networks to support an army Aviation Air Assault mission.
During the demonstration, the team operated Textron’s Aerosonde Hybrid Quad small unmanned aerial system and three loitering munition variants of Anduril’s ALTIUS-600 Launched Effects family through Anduril’s Lattice for Mission Autonomy command and control platform.
The Aerosonde Drone
Textron’s Aerosonde has a vertical takeoff and landing capability for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions on land and at sea.
The drone’s modular design offers mission-tailored agility to match the user’s lethality and survivability requirements.
Currently, Aerosonde is being promoted for international maritime domain missions to provide real-time situational awareness for surface ships.
Lattice for Mission Autonomy
Anduril’s Lattice for Mission Autonomy is a software platform that controls robotic assets to interoperate dynamically under human supervision.
Alongside autonomous piloting, the solution’s core functions are utilized for battlespace awareness, threat identification, communications management, multi-asset maneuvers, and synchronized effects delivery.
The Lattice’s open architecture permits forces to integrate third-party hardware and software to address future mission needs.
“When you view the pace of technology development through a software lens, you approach the problem differently,” Anduril Tactical Air Systems Senior Director Andrew Carter explained.
“Modern software platforms can allow you to iterate much faster and focus on bringing an ecosystem of technologies, behaviors, and networks together to accomplish a mission outcome.”
“Anduril and Textron Systems were able to integrate, test, and execute in 15 weeks, highlighting the modular open systems architecture of Lattice for Mission Autonomy and the Textron Systems Aerosonde HQ platform.”