AHR original reading framework / E.K.K. Not event photography or an equipment rendering.
The U.S. Navy has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking design concepts from the global defense industry as it advances Increment 1 of its carrier-based Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. The effort aims to develop two new loyal wingman aircraft and further expand the U.S. military’s manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capabilities.
The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) released the RFI on August 31, seeking prototype concepts for two new carrier-based unmanned wingmen that offer full operational capability, manageable technical and operational risk, and cost effectiveness. Industry responses are due September 18, providing the Navy with potential approaches for subsequent development and prototype production.
Long-Range Autonomy and a Modular “Platform In A Box” Architecture
According to the RFI, the two prototype aircraft must provide long-range autonomous operations and be capable of launching, recovering and operating from the decks of existing aircraft carriers. This means the new unmanned wingmen will need not only autonomous flight and long-range mission capabilities, but also the ability to operate within the constrained space and demanding launch-and-recovery environment of a carrier deck.
The aircraft are expected to employ a modular, open software architecture known as “Platform In A Box,” separating autonomous flight software from command-and-control (C2) and mission-planning systems. This approach could reduce dependence on a single supplier while allowing the Navy to replace or upgrade software, mission systems and hardware as requirements evolve.
For the U.S. Navy, such an open architecture could be particularly valuable in a future high-intensity Indo-Pacific operating environment. Rapid software and hardware upgrades would allow carrier-based CCAs to integrate new sensors, mission systems and other capabilities while improving combat effectiveness without requiring major modifications to the overall airframe.
$50 Million Unmanned Aircraft Investment Could Support Further Development
Related reports have noted that the Department of the Navy’s Rapid Capabilities Office (DON RCO) and the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) announced last month a joint $50 million investment, equivalent to approximately NT$1.59 billion, to accelerate advanced unmanned aviation capabilities for the Navy. The investment could potentially benefit the carrier-based CCA effort through related technologies or development outcomes.
The new program could also draw on the U.S. Navy’s previous experience with carrier-based unmanned aviation systems, including Northrop Grumman’s X-47B unmanned combat air system demonstrator and Boeing’s MQ-25 Stingray. Experience gained in autonomous flight, carrier launch and recovery, and unmanned-system integration could inform the development of the next generation of carrier-based loyal wingmen and potentially help accelerate delivery.
Planned for Nimitz- and Ford-Class Carriers Alongside F-35s and F/A-18E/Fs
The U.S. Navy plans to deploy the carrier-based CCA aboard Nimitz-class and Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers once the system enters operational service. The unmanned aircraft are expected to operate alongside manned fighters such as the F-35 and F/A-18E/F, creating a more integrated manned-unmanned teaming architecture.
By integrating carrier-based CCAs with manned fighters, the U.S. Navy could incorporate autonomous operations, long-range penetration and distributed mission capabilities into carrier air wings. This could expand the sensing and strike reach of manned aircraft while improving the survivability and overall combat effectiveness of carrier aviation in future high-intensity conflicts.
Originally published by Little Liao in Asia Horizon Review on Medium