Page 27 - MRO Business Today 15th April 2023 Latest Issue

DEFENCE

AFRL awards research contract to Blue Force Technologies

for unmanned air system for U.S. fighter pilot training

The AFRL Innovation Research contract for Blue Force Technologies is for the development of an un-
manned aircraft that supports adversary air training missions under the Bandit program.
Blue Force Technologies, a small aero- ize the adversary air training mission complete the design and engineering
space and defense company based in and provide key opportunities for pilots tasks, produce up to four air vehicles,
North Carolina, has been awarded a $9 to interact with the unmanned systems and complete initial flight testing.
million initial value contract by the Air in a training environment. “These small unmanned ADAIR sys-
Force Research Laboratory Aerospace The proposed autonomy-based system tems can be flown in training scenarios
Systems Directorate. The Small Busi- provides adversary air training for Air so that fighter pilots can train against
ness Innovation Research contract is Force, Navy, and Marine Corps fighter tactically relevant adversaries in threat
for the development of an unmanned crews at greatly reduced costs com- representative numbers. The goal is to
air vehicle that supports adversary air pared to current manned capabilities. develop an unmanned platform that
(ADAIR) training missions under the The 12-month effort will mature the looks like a fifth-generation adversary
Bandit program. vehicle design to a critical design level, with similar vehicle capabilities,” said
The program aims to provide an un- perform engine ground testing, and Alyson Turri, Bandit program manager,
manned air vehicle solution for the un- validate the design of the engine instal- AFRL.
manned ADAIR capability, which, when lation under the technical guidance of The Bandit program contract was
integrated with autonomy, mission AFRL subject matter experts. Options awarded as the result of a Strategic Fi-
payloads, and sensors, will revolution- under this contract, if exercised, will nancing (STRATFI) proposal selected by
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