Airbus Partners with Primoco UAV for Joint Surveillance Missions
Airbus has successfully demonstrated a collaborative operation with Primoco, a renowned manufacturer of medium-sized uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), at the Písek-Krašovice airport in the Czech Republic. During this test, operators at Airbus’s ground station deployed two Primoco One 150 UAVs to a designated target area, utilizing Airbus’s innovative teaming intelligence software to assign specific surveillance zones to each aircraft.
In the first scenario, both UAVs employed Airbus’s AI-powered automatic target recognition (ATR) software to simultaneously identify threats. One aircraft was able to precisely locate a threat and transmit geolocation data regarding an opposing air defense system back to the ground control.
In contrast, the second scenario involved delegating distinct missions to the UAVs. One drone monitored the area to detect potential threats using the AI-based ATR, while the other remained in a standby position. Upon discovery of an adversarial threat, the first UAV utilized the teaming software to instruct the second UAV to confirm the identity of the threat and relay this information to the operators at the ground station, all the while maintaining vigilance in its monitoring duties.
Additionally, the demonstration showcased the capability to integrate third-party applications beyond Airbus’s ATR. This evidence emphasized the scalability of the teaming intelligence software across varied unmanned aerial systems regardless of the manufacturer and highlighted its adaptability to other applications. Although responding to the threat was not part of this specific flight test, a pilot in a fighter jet could have engaged to neutralize the threat, armed with intelligence provided by the UAVs.
Future Developments in Teaming Intelligence Software
Following the fruitful demonstration, Airbus is now focused on maturing its teaming intelligence software into a fully-fledged product. This product aims to be compatible with any fixed-wing, rotary-wing, manned, or unmanned aircraft on the market. The planning also includes integrating third-party software components such as automated target recognition, thereby expanding the potential uses of teaming intelligence beyond military applications, including critical infrastructure assessments.
Past flight testing initiatives, including one from 2022, highlighted Airbus’s capability in Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T), demonstrating large-scale interaction among various crewed and uncrewed platforms. More information on this can be found here. Furthermore, an October 2024 demonstration illustrated the collaboration of helicopters and uncrewed systems from multiple manufacturers, accessible here. Enhancing MUM-T capabilities across various manufacturer platforms will augment sensor and effector quantities within future combat systems.
In conclusion, the inventive partnership between Airbus and Primoco UAV signifies a pivotal advancement in uncrewed aircraft operations, emphasizing the vital role of AI and strategic collaboration in modern aerospace applications.
At the end of this article, we encourage readers to explore the original report for a more in-depth understanding: Original Article.
