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10 Platform one Boeing has rolled out the first version of its latest unmanned aerial vehicle system, the Airpower Teaming System (ATS), which has been designed and built in Australia (writes Nick Flaherty). The concept is designed to perform the role of a ‘loyal wingman’ to manned platforms, and has been developed in partnership with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). For the first time for a large UAV – it is 11.7 m long and has a range of 2000 nautical miles – the ATS has been developed alongside a digital twin. This combines the digital models of all the components of the aircraft, from the individual components and the onboard sensor packages to the CAD models of the airframe and the complex software running on each of the systems. This creates a detailed simulation of the complete aircraft that is used during the development stage for testing, but provides other major advantages later on, as the twin is used to monitor the performance of the system through its life cycle. The twin runs in a cloud computing simulation environment, running the hardware and software models alongside mission data. Using the twin allows the performance of individual components and elements in the airframe to be constantly monitored. If a problem starts to develop in the twin, engineers can address it before it causes a failure. Rather than relying on a remote pilot, the ATS uses image recognition and a rule-based AI framework to fly independently or alongside a manned aircraft. Up to six of them can be controlled automatically by the aircraft without pilot intervention. The airframe is Boeing’s largest-ever resin-infused single composite piece. BAE Systems Australia is supplying the flight control computers and navigation equipment, along with Allied Data Systems. RUAG Australia has designed and built the landing gear, and AME Systems has delivered the wiring looms. The first of three prototypes has been delivered to the RAAF as part of the Loyal Wingman Advanced Development Program. It is being tested first on the ground, to be followed by taxi and flight tests later this year. “We are getting the aircraft into flight testing and proving out the unmanned teaming concept,” said Kristin Robertson, vice-president and general manager of autonomous systems for Boeing Defense, Space & Security. Digital twin supports UAV Airborne vehicles June/July 2020 | Unmanned Systems Technology Artist’s impression of the ATS in flight The airframe uses Boeing’s largest single resin composite structure for the fuselage