Page 22 - ADT JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2023 Online Magazine

also unveiled a full-scale replica of its Manned Unmanned Teaming
(MUM-T) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). According to the com-
pany, the drone will be able to fly for two hours, have a maximum
speed of 150 km/h, and capable of carrying up to three kilograms
or ordnance. The UAV will be available in four different modules,
each specifically designed for reconnaissance, electronic warfare,
deception, and suicide missions.

EUROPE MAKES PROGRESS
There is plenty of activity in the field going on in Europe as well,
where Airbus Defence and Space is leading a major multi-partner
MUM-T project involving the German Armed Forces and the Finnish
Defence Forces. The industry partners involved in the project are
missiles manufacturer MBDA, airborne networking data link pro-
vider Patria, autonomy and mission technology startup HAT.tec and
drone launch system provider Robonic. In July last year, two fighter
jets, one helicopter and five unmanned remote carriers successfully
teamed up for a Multi-Domain Flight Demo (MDFD), Europe’s first
large-scale multi-domain flight demonstration. MDFD is the second
and warfare capabilities. The inaugural flight of phase of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) Manned-Unmanned
the loyal wingman is expected in 2024. Teaming Demonstrator project that will develop a flying remote car-
rier (RC) demonstrator. Initial operations are expected in the 2030s,
Pakistan is reportedly working on a joint drone with the remote carriers (UAVs) operating as part of a team with the
programme with Turkey and China, one that manned New Generation Fighter and the Eurofighter, connected to
will produce loyal wingman unmanned combat a cyber-secured combat cloud network.
aerial vehicles (UCAVs) that can conduct ISTAR
(intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and In February last year, Airbus used the A400M to demonstrate an
reconnaissance) and neutralize aerial threats. airborne launch of a drone, with the multi-role airlifter deploying a
The drones would be capable of flying inde- drone from its opened rear cargo ramp door while airborne. The
pendently in support of manned aircraft as well demonstration involved a joint flight test crew from the German Air
as in swarms. The three countries are developing Force and Airbus, with the company’s Modular Airborne Combat
components of the MUM-T (Manned-Unmanned Cloud Services (MACCS) enabling connectivity between the airlifter
Teaming) system together. and the drone. As the aircraft’s large cargo bay is expected to be
able to hold 40 or more of the drones, Airbus will continue validation
KAI’s deal with DTPRI for development of MUM-T of the A400M as an airborne launch platform for the drones, to be
is for the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH), which the used as a part of the FCAS.
company is developing for the Republic of Korea
Army (RoKA) to replace the service’s AH-1F and Another company making major progress with MUM-T is Leonardo,
500MD/Tow Defender helicopters. The aircraft, which has the concept a key element of its “BeTomorrow2030”
which made its first flight in July 2019, was pro- Strategic Plan. In September 2020, the Italian conglomerate suc-
visionally declared “fit for combat” by Defence cessfully demonstrated integrated capabilities between a manned
Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) in aircraft and a drone during trials between a Leonardo AW159
December 2020. According to the contract, KAI Wildcat helicopter and a semi-autonomous UAV from Callen-Lenz
and KRIT will develop “manned and unmanned Associates. Leonardo’s MUM-T solution allowed the Wildcat crew
autonomous co-operation and decision support to control both the flight path and payload of the UAV using a
system technology for small armed helicopter task-based Human Machine Interface (HMI). The demonstration,
manned and unmanned complex systems.” which was part of the British Army’s MUMT themed Army Warfighting
Experiment (AWE) 19, was planned and executed by Dstl.
At the 2021 Seoul International Aerospace &
Defence Exhibition, KAI showcased a model The eagerness of major militaries to exploit the potential of MUM-T
of the Surion Marine Attack Helicopter (MAH), is good news for drone makers. According to GlobalData, the market
which has been selected as the Republic of for military drones is forecast to reach $12bn in 2032 at a compound
Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC)’s future attack annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.12per cent over the next ten years.
helicopter. The MAH, which will also be used for “…unmanned vehicles offer a cost-effective alternative,” says Rithik
MUM-T missions, is fitted with an enlarged stub Rao, aerospace and defence associate analyst at GlobalData.
wing-type structure mounting four canisters, “As the adoption of UAVs will expand with time, it is only natural
each of which is designed to launch either a that investments into MUM-T increase in the future as the technol-
small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or a loi- ogy matures and the strategic and tactical value of these assets
tering munition. At the event, the company increase.”
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