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the UAVs. According to L3Harris, work on the contract is scheduled East on Operation Manitou. As part of the MUM-T
to be completed by June this year. exercise, the frigate’s MH-60R Seahawk ‘Romeo’
helicopter and the ScanEagle unmanned aerial
“The MUMT system provides a unique capability for new warfighting vehicle were employed on concurrent surface
strategies and tactics, combining multiple assets and platforms for search sorties in the Gulf of Oman in sup-
multi domain use,” said Brendan O’Connell, President, Broadband port of the US 5th Fleet, In October 2018, the
Communication Systems, L3Harris. “Adding new MUMT capability Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Republic
to the Apache fleet will provide greater situational awareness and of Singapore Navy (RSN) successfully carried
combat effectiveness across the battlefield.” out their first combined manned-unmanned
teaming (MUM-T) operations. The operation
In March 2022, BAE Systems announced that it had conducted a involved an Australian MH-60R helicopter and
MUM-T flight test at a US Department of Defence (DoD) test range. a Singaporean ScanEagle unmanned aerial
The flight, carried out in collaboration with the Office of the Deputy vehicle.
Secretary of Defence’s Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO), used
real mission sensors on multiple unmanned military platforms and China, which has a growing and high-end
a manned military fighter aircraft, as they successfully combined to military drone arsenal that can be used for
execute a combat mission. The drones used in the operation worked reconnaissance as well as for combat, is also
together to develop and executed mission tactics autonomously, reportedly working on incorporating MUM-T into
with the pilot in the manned aircraft using the Human Machine its operations. In October 2022, China Central
Interface (HMI) to monitor progress and interact with the drones. The Television (CCTV) released a digital artistic rep-
company is currently continuing development efforts with the DOD resentation of J-20 Generation 5 stealth fighter
to get the MUM-T suite mature for operational readiness. and H-6K/N strategic bombers controlling wing-
men drones. The screengrabs of the video on
“The development of autonomous technology is crucial to protect social media shows a twin-seat Chengdu J-20
our warfighters against emerging threats,” says Ehtisham Siddiqui, flying with three GJ-11 ‘Sharp Sword’ Unmanned
vice president and general manager of Controls and Avionics Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAV) on the top, side,
Solutions at BAE Systems. and front. The Sky Hawk, a stealth drone devel-

THE ASIAN SCENE oped by China Aerospace Science and Industry
Corporation, has technology that allows it to
The Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat, a stealth, multirole, unmanned aerial be a part of a MUM-T operation, according to
vehicle in development by Boeing Australia for the Royal Australian company officials.
Air Force (RAAF), is built for MUM-T missions. Designed as a force
multiplier aircraft capable of flying alongside manned aircraft for India has made progress with its Combat Air
support and performing autonomous missions independently using Teaming System (CATS) Warrior project, which
artificial intelligence, the aircraft was earlier known as the Boeing was unveiled in 2018 and intends to introduce a
Airpower Teaming System (ATS) and the Loyal Wingman project. The low-cost, twin-engine teaming drone that will be
first prototype was rolled out in May 2020 and completed its first capable of being paired with existing manned
flight in February 2021. The RAAF has so far ordered ten MQ-28As, Indian Air Force fighter jets like Tejas or Rafale
with the induction of the first MQ-28As into RAAF service expected fighter jets. The loyal wingman drone, which
by 2024-25. is being developed by Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited (HAL), will be capable of being operated
In October 2017, Adelaide class frigate HMAS Newcastle conducted from land, sea, and motherships. In combat, the
the Royal Australian Navy’s first simultaneous operations of manned manned fighter jet will be assisted by a swarm
and unmanned aircraft during the ship’s deployment to the Middle of low-cost drones that have payloads, sensors,

ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2023 | 21