Page 26 - ADT MAY / JULY 2024 Digital Magazine | GBP

Multiple Benefits high-risk tasks, increasing pilot involved in the project are missiles
In a MUM-T operation, the safety and reducing the risk of loss manufacturer MBDA, airborne
manned aircraft uses wireless of life or manned assets. There are networking data link provider Patria,
data links to take advantage of the significant cost benefits as well; autonomy and mission technology
drone’s Intelligence, Surveillance, UAVs are significantly less expen- startup HAT.tec and drone launch
Reconnaissance (ISR) payloads, sive than manned aircraft to operate system provider Robonic.
thus enhancing decision-mak- on a cost-per-flight-hour basis,
ing and mission effectiveness. besides providing longer dwell At the International Aerospace
By adding the eyes and ears of times. Exhibition ILA in Berlin this June,
the UAS to the battlefield picture, Airbus presented its new Wingman
pilots extend the reach of their In the Thick of Things concept, a fighter-type drone that
situational awareness and improve For the last few years, Airbus will be commanded by a pilot
safety. MUM-T can also be used Helicopters has been exploring the in a combat aircraft such as the
in non-military scenarios such as possibilities of MUM-T by using the Eurofighter and can take on high-
firefighting, when UAVs are used H145M as a demonstrator. Besides risk mission tasks that would pose
to find fire hotspots and informa- redesigning the cockpit of the heli- a bigger threat to manned-only
tion relayed to firefighters on the copter by adding a 17-inch display aircraft. With pilots in the manned
ground, or for survey of flood zones, dedicated to drone operations, the aircraft controlling the mission, the
as well as search and rescue company also worked with software Wingman will perform tasks ranging
operations. start-up, HAT.tec, to build a strong from reconnaissance to jamming
algorithm to control the drone’s targets and engaging targets on the
The UAVs involved in a MUM-T actions. In 2022, the H145M took ground or in the air with precision
guided munitions or missiles.
operation do a variety of tasks, part in a fictional combat demon-
including targeting reconnaissance, stration as part of the future combat
battle-damage assessment for the air system (FCAS) project. In “The German Air Force has
manned aircraft, electronic warfare, concert with a jet and several real expressed a clear need for an
and armed escort. In an armed unmanned ‘remote carriers’, the unmanned aircraft flying with
escort scenario, the drones can H145M’s crew took control of one and supporting missions of its
be used to clear the way for the of these “remote carriers”, and with manned fighter jets before the
manned aircraft by suppressing it, its live video stream. According Future Combat Air System will
enemy air defences or as a support- to H145M programme manager be operational in 2040,” said
ing, additional offensive capability Constance Pinsdorf, the helicopter, Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus
that increases the scope of the which is equipped with a launcher Defence and Space. “Our Wingman
attack on the adversary. MUM-T system, is being used for research concept is the answer…”
concepts can be utilized across the into air-launched effects (ALE).
manned aviation fleet, both rotary Airbus is also part of MUSHER,
and fixed wing, creating greater Airbus Defence and Space is lead- an ambitious project to develop
synergies with a system-of-systems ing a major multi-partner MUM-T a scalable European Manned
approach for combat operations. project involving the German Armed unManned Teaming (e-MUMT)
In a MUM-T operation, unmanned Forces and the Finnish Defence system that would allow manned
platforms will take over the most Forces. The industry partners rotorcraft platforms and unmanned

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