FlightGlobal reports, “BAE Systems has revealed the design of an autonomous collaborative platform (ACP) demonstrator which it aims to fly within the next two years.” Showcased as “a sub-scale model at the World Defense Show near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the aircraft builds on the company’s earlier work in designing a Concept 2 vehicle unveiled in July 2022.” According to Steve Reeves, head of business development and strategy (platforms) at BAE’s FalconWorks technology accelerator, “We have been carrying on our many decades of investment in uncrewed systems, and are displaying our latest iteration of an ACP concept.” Roles for the platform “could include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and electronic attack, with the asset also potentially to carry air-to-surface and air-to-air weapons within two internal bays.”
Full Story (FlightGlobal – Subscription Publication)
Tag: BAE Systems
L3Harris, BAE Systems Deliver First EC-37B Compass Call to US Air Force
FlightGlobal reports L3Harris and BAE Systems have delivered the first EC-37B Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft to the US Air Force. The article mentions that while the previous EC-130H Compass Call “was based on the Lockheed Martin turboprop transport,” the EC-37B is built on the Gulfstream G550 platform. BAE Systems “oversaw the production of the electronic attack package, while L3Harris was the prime contractor for integrating those mission systems into the Gulfstream jet.” BAE Systems “says the new aircraft will deliver much needed electronic attack capability to the USAF, which is in the process of reorienting its forces to survive in well-defended airspace contested by a modern adversary.”
Full Story (FlightGlobal)
Companies Make Progress on EVTOL Production
Aviation Week posted a slideshow of eVTOL aircraft in development, saying that the aircraft that have been in development throughout the 2010s are “beginning to fly, but the industry’s self-imposed deadlines for certification and service entry are looming, and much work remains to be done.” Supernal’s SA-1 is among the aircraft profiled in the piece, mentioning that BAE Systems is developing the flight control system.
Full Story (Aviation Week)
BAE Systems Developing Power Management System for Air Taxis
Aviation Today reports that BAE Systems is developing “energy storage and management solutions for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.” BAE Systems Controls and Avionics Solutions Business Development Lead for Aircraft Electrification Justin McClellan told Aviation Today, “Our main focus, I’d say, on battery technology and energy storage would be on high-reliability high-integrity energy storage for flight-critical applications like primary power for the eVTOL aircraft or air taxis.” BAE Systems expects the eVTOL module to be ready by the end of 2022 or early 2023.