Boeing Australia and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have successfully completed the first test flight of the Loyal Wingman uncrewed aircraft.
The successful flight of the Loyal Wingman flew under the supervision of a Boeing test pilot monitoring the aircraft from a ground control station at the Woomera Range Complex.
After a series of taxi tests that validated ground handling, navigation and control, and the pilot interface, the aircraft completed a successful takeoff under its own power. It then flew a predetermined route at different speeds and altitudes to verify flight functionality and demonstrate aircraft performance of the Airpower Teaming System design.
Loyal Wingman is the prototype for Boeing’s Airpower Teaming System (ATS), envisioned as an AI-powered autonomous aerial platform that can assist other crewed and uncrewed aircraft in military operations. It is the first military aircraft designed and manufactures in Australia in more than 50 years. Digital design and simulation technologies made it possible to go from design to flight testing of a prototype in just three years.
This device with a length of 11 m and a wingspan of 11.7 m will be able – under the control of artificial intelligence to carry out both single missions and to work as part of a team with other crewed or uncrewed aircraft – to overcome up to 3,700 km (2,300 miles).
The successful flight was followed by the announcement that the Australian government has ordered three more prototype aircraft to further develop the aircraft as well as its payloads and support and training functions.
“The Loyal Wingman’s first flight is a major step in this long-term, significant project for the Air Force and Boeing Australia, and we’re thrilled to be a part of the successful test,” said Air Vice-Marshal Cath Roberts, RAAF Head of Air Force Capability. “The Loyal Wingman project is a pathfinder for the integration of autonomous systems and artificial intelligence to create smart human-machine teams. Through this project, we are learning how to integrate these new capabilities to complement and extend air combat and other missions.“
Additional Loyal Wingman aircrafts are currently under development, with plans for teaming flights scheduled for later this year.
