BAE Systems selected to join Skyborg ranks
BAE Systems has been awarded a contract for the US Air Force's Skyborg programme.
The US Air Force has awarded BAE Systems an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract to design an attritable air vehicle for the service’s Skyborg programme.
The manufacturer is the latest in a growing number of industry competitors to be selected for the autonomous UAV effort that features a contract ceiling of up to $400 million.
Skyborg requires industry to create low-cost autonomous UAVs that will partner with manned aircraft to increase air combat power and use autonomy to disrupt and defeat enemies in contested environments.
The UAVs produced by BAE will be designed by the company’s autonomous systems division, which include sensors and payloads capable of communicating across a shared network with manned platforms.
Taking a modular and common system approach will provide the foundation for rapid updates and integration to ensure future unmanned fleets are fielding the latest capabilities to defend against emerging threats, according to the company.
Development work has been scheduled to take place at BAE’s Endicott, New York facilities.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![US Navy foresees an uncrewed future for its surface and underwater fleet]()
US Navy foresees an uncrewed future for its surface and underwater fleet
The service has been conducting various procurement and development efforts to integrate unmanned surface and underwater vehicles into its inventory.
-
![Ready for the race: Air separation drone swarms vs. air defence systems]()
Ready for the race: Air separation drone swarms vs. air defence systems
As the dynamics of aerial combat rapidly evolve, Chinese scientists have engineered a sophisticated air separation drone model that can fragment into up to six drones, each capable of executing distinct battlefield roles and challenging the efficacy of current anti-drone defences such as the UK’s Dragonfire laser system.
-
![Israel’s MALE UAVs ‘must adapt’ to Iranian-made air defences]()
Israel’s MALE UAVs ‘must adapt’ to Iranian-made air defences
Advancements in air defence technologies have begun to reshape aerial combat dynamics in the Middle East, as illustrated by recent events involving the Israeli Air Force and Hezbollah.
-
![Hundreds more UAS sent to Ukraine forces with thousands more on the way]()
Hundreds more UAS sent to Ukraine forces with thousands more on the way
Both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war have been using UAS for effective low-cost attacks, as well as impactful web and social media footage. Thousands more have now been committed to Ukrainian forces.
-
![AI and software companies selected for US Army Robotic Combat Vehicle subsystems]()
AI and software companies selected for US Army Robotic Combat Vehicle subsystems
The US Army has intentions to develop light, medium and heavy variants of the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) as part of the branche’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle family.
