General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has been awarded a $98 million contract as Lead Systems Integrator for Project Red 5. The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (OUSD) Project, run by the Test Resource Management Center (TRMC), will prototype advanced autonomous air-to-air capability to provide adversary or “red” air training profiles. GA-ASI will operate two of its company-owned MQ-20 Avenger® Unmanned Aircraft Systems and provide mission autonomy software that integrates cutting-edge sensors, data links and other advanced mission systems. Project Red 5 will prototype full profile autonomous air-to-air missions to enable current fourth and fifth generation Blue Force fighters to train against robust, autonomous “red air” surrogate platforms.
“GA-ASI has continued to invest and deploy our open architecture autonomy ecosystem integrated with best-of-breed mission systems,” said Jeff Hettick, GA-ASI vice president for Agile Mission Systems. “We are thrilled to partner with TRMC to bring these capabilities that create operationally relevant Red Air surrogates and significantly improve Blue Force mission success in realistic air-to-air training scenarios.”
Project Red 5 will complement GA-ASI’s continued work on Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) initiatives, which includes autonomy and mission system tests on MQ-20 Avengers, XQ-67A developed by GA-ASI for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and prototype production and flight testing for the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. GA-ASI has been selected to build production representative flight test articles of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) for the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC). The CCA program aims to be a force multiplier, developing a low-cost, modular, unmanned aircraft equipped with advanced sensors or weapons and operating in collaborative teams with the next generation of manned combat aircraft.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable RPA systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems, including the Predator® RPA series and the Lynx® Multi-mode Radar. With more than eight million flight hours, GA-ASI provides long-endurance, mission-capable aircraft with integrated sensor and data link systems required to deliver persistent situational awareness. Avenger, Lynx, Predator, SeaGuardian, and SkyGuardian are registered trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. The company also produces a variety of sensor control/image analysis software, offers pilot training and support services, and develops meta-material antennas.
