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Collaboration of Intelligence: The Next Phase of Human-Machine Partnership

Airbus Helicopters' Head of UAS and VSR programme, Nicolas Delmas, emphasizes the significance of manned and drone aircraft operating in unison.

Manned-Unmanned Teaming's Promising Synergy: Shaping Tomorrow's Joint Operations
Manned-Unmanned Teaming's Promising Synergy: Shaping Tomorrow's Joint Operations

Collaboration of Intelligence: The Next Phase of Human-Machine Partnership

In a strategic shift towards integrating autonomous systems with existing manned platforms, Airbus Helicopters is leading the charge in advanced teaming and autonomous flight technologies. The goal is to enhance mission effectiveness and safety, transforming rotary-wing operations with more flexible, safer, and effective combined crewed-uncrewed aircraft missions.

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Integration

Airbus Helicopters' current strategy focuses on integrating manned and unmanned aircraft systems through Crewing-Uncrewed Teaming (HTeaming) and autonomous flight technologies. The HTeaming system, integrated into the H225M helicopter for Singapore’s air force, allows crews to control unmanned aerial systems during flight. This system, comprising modems, antennas, tablets, and software, coordinates joint helicopter–drone missions, improving situational awareness and operational effectiveness in complex environments.

Autonomous Flight Software Integration is another key element. Airbus is partnering with Shield AI to integrate autonomous flight software called Hivemind into manned helicopter platforms, such as the MQ-72C and H145. This software enables automated takeoff, landing, navigation, and mission execution without pilot input, enhancing safety and operational capacity.

The 'Musher' Project and Beyond

The European Defence Fund has created the 'Musher' project, in which Airbus Helicopters is involved, to build manned-unmanned teaming capabilities for a future European combat air system. The objective of the project is to increase and optimize cooperation between the European Union's armed forces, especially around interoperability of their assets.

Airbus Helicopters aims to grow its drone business in the tactical domain by extending and growing its range of products and services, considering merging and acquisition opportunities. The priority for Airbus Helicopters in the development of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) is to answer customer needs by proposing a complete range of multi-mission UAS with interoperability capabilities.

Future Developments and Collaboration

Collaboration with Airbus Defence and Space is an important part of Airbus Helicopters' strategy for UAS development. Airbus Defence and Space has provided technologies such as the ground station for the VSR700 prototype and the deck finder system for maritime operations. The VSR700 is one of the products developed by Airbus Helicopters as part of its UAS strategy.

Airbus Helicopters has also acquired the American company that manufactures the Flexrotor, a 25-kg drone, which complements the VSR700 on the tactical range and opens new opportunities for interoperability with many assets of its current helicopter range.

The first part of the 'Musher' project will take place in October 2024. Airbus Helicopters plans to propose concrete interoperability capabilities to customers around 2027. The development of specific technologies is required to enable the connection of all systems and ensure robust, secure performance in contested environments.

A Shift Towards Autonomous Flight

The increasing autonomy of drones will enable them to fly in environments with other manned assets and operate close to the ground. Nicolas Delmas, Head of Unmanned Aerial Systems at Airbus Helicopters, emphasizes the need for the development of intelligent collaboration between various systems, including drones, helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft.

Increasing the autonomy of drones will not only reduce the risk and lower the cost of military and civil operations but also allow for more efficient and effective missions in 3D environments. Drones are currently being used for various military missions such as strike, attack, logistics, and reconnaissance.

A de-risking study was signed with the DGA (Direction Générale de l'armement, the French defence procurement agency) in 2017 to study a UAS capable of performing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in a military maritime environment. The development of specific technologies is required to enable the connection of all systems and ensure robust, secure performance in contested environments.

Airbus Helicopters has acquired critical UAS competencies and grown the complete ecosystem, integrating stakeholders into its network and maturing the technologies necessary for UAS and their missions. The company's focus on intelligent collaboration and autonomy is shaping the future of rotary-wing operations, making them more flexible, safer, and effective.

[1] Airbus Helicopters. (2021). Airbus Helicopters and Sikorsky to collaborate on autonomous flight technologies. Retrieved from https://www.airbushelicopters.com/en/media-centre/press-releases/2021/05/airbus-helicopters-and-sikorsky-to-collaborate-on-autonomous-flight-technologies.html

[2] Airbus Helicopters. (2021). Airbus Helicopters and Shield AI to collaborate on autonomous flight technologies for H145 and MQ-72C. Retrieved from https://www.airbushelicopters.com/en/media-centre/press-releases/2021/05/airbus-helicopters-and-shield-ai-to-collaborate-on-autonomous-flight-technologies-for-h145-and-mq-72c.html

[3] Airbus Helicopters. (2021). Airbus Helicopters and Singapore sign contract for HTeaming system. Retrieved from https://www.airbushelicopters.com/en/media-centre/press-releases/2021/04/airbus-helicopters-and-singapore-sign-contract-for-hteaming-system.html

[4] Airbus Helicopters. (2017). Airbus Helicopters and DGA sign de-risking study for UAS performing ISR missions in a military maritime environment. Retrieved from https://www.airbushelicopters.com/en/media-centre/press-releases/2017/10/airbus-helicopters-and-dga-sign-derisking-study-for-uas-performing-isr-missions-in-a-military-maritime-environment.html

[5] Airbus Helicopters. (2020). Airbus Helicopters delivers first fully mission-capable prototype of VSR700 to French Navy. Retrieved from https://www.airbushelicopters.com/en/media-centre/press-releases/2020/12/airbus-helicopters-delivers-first-fully-mission-capable-prototype-of-vsr700-to-french-navy.html

  1. In this strategic partnership, Airbus Helicopters is collaborating with companies like Shield AI in the finance sector, with the goal of integrating autonomous flight software like Hivemind into business platforms such as the MQ-72C and H145, thereby enhancing the technology and safety of industrial operations.
  2. Airbus Helicopters aims to expand its sports initiatives beyond the rotationally-wing operations by growing its drone business in the tactical domain, focusing on merging and acquiring businesses to offer a comprehensive range of multi-mission unmanned aerial systems, enabling interoperability in various environments.

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