Unmanned Systems

The Air Force Association's Mitchell Institute this week proposed the service consider pulling Boeing F-16 jets from the boneyard to repurpose them as autonomous aircraft that can fight in tandem with other platforms like the B-21 and F-35, arguing fleets of autonomous aircraft are a cost-effective way to bolster combat capacity.

The Air Force last week revealed plans to buy about 100 MQ-9 Reapers in the next five fiscal years, nearly double the number it projected in budget documents published earlier this year.

A team analyzing the future of the MQ-9 Reaper will present its final results to the Air Force Capability Development Working Group in July, a service spokeswoman told Inside Defense this week.

An influential Army advisory panel is delving into the science and technological underpinnings needed to team soldiers with robots for combat operations, a sweeping study that aims to recommend options to synchronize research and development of needed sensors, communications and artificial intelligence technologies to produce game-changing capabilities for ground and air service components.

A key House panel is proposing to cut the Navy's MQ-25 Stingray fiscal year 2019 budget request by more than 40 percent, dealing the high-profile project to develop a catapult-launched unmanned aircraft system a major funding setback just as the service this summer is set to select a contractor to lead the program.

Hurlburt Field, FL, is expanding its active-duty MQ-9 Reaper pilot workforce to allow for a second combat line under Air Force Special Operations Command.

The Air Force's Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology effort would get an $80 million boost under the Senate Armed Services Committee's version of the fiscal year 2019 defense policy bill, more than doubling the program's $50.5 million prototyping request.

Senate lawmakers are calling for the Marine Corps to purchase a medium-altitude, long-endurance Group 5 unmanned aerial system because the lawmakers believe the RQ-21 Blackjack has repeatedly proved to be ineffective.

The Marine Corps wants to incorporate a $98 million autonomy solution onto its upcoming group 5 unmanned aerial system, according to the service's general in charge of requirements.