GENERAL ATOMICS AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS, Inc. (GA-ASI) collaborated with BAE SYSTEMS to demonstrate unique electronic warfare (EW) capabilities remotely controlled via a secure, jam-resistant Link 16 network on an MQ-20 Avenger unmanned aircraft system (UAS). The Avenger is a jet-powered platform used extensively as a test bed for autonomous UAS development and the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. The demonstration helps accelerate emerging networked electronic attack capabilities for U.S. Air Force Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACPs).

The demonstration took place at GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon flight operations facility in El Mirage, California, and is part of an ongoing series of technology insertion and autonomous flights performed using internal research and development funding to prove important concepts.

BAE Systems provided customized mission technology that included EW capabilities, a multi-functional processor (MFP), and a Link 16 terminal. The company successfully tested the integrated solution in its System Integration Lab to identify and jam threats autonomously and under control of an operator. Command, control, and status of the EW system was made possible through software-based, open-mission-system (OMS) compliant message translation hosted on the MFP. A secure Link 16 networking waveform was used to disseminate this information.