AFLCMC awards contract for Skyborg prototypes

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio (AFLCMC) – The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center has awarded to three companies to produce missionized prototypes with the ability to fly in experimentation events while teaming with manned aircraft.

The contracts were awarded with a 24-month period of performance to:

• The Boeing Co., for $25,748,180;
• General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., for $14,317,933; and
• Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems Inc., for $37,771,577.

The aim of the Skyborg Vanguard program is to integrate autonomous attritable unmanned air vehicle (UAV) technology with open missions systems to enable manned-unmanned teaming. Skyborg will provide the foundation on which the Air Force can build an airborne autonomous ‘best of breed’ system that adapts, orients, and decides at machine speed for a wide variety of increasingly complex mission sets.

“This award is a major step forward for our game-changing Skyborg capability—this award supporting our operational experimentation is truly where concepts become realities. We will experiment to prove out this technology and to do that we will aggressively test and fly to get this capability into the hands of our warfighters,” said Brig. Gen. Dale White, Program Executive Officer for Fighters and Advanced Aircraft. He, along with Brig. Gen. Heather Pringle, Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), serves as the leadership for the Skyborg program.

Skyborg is one of three Vanguard programs identified in 2019 as part of the Air Force Science and Technology (S&T) 2030 initiative. These high priority development efforts are meant to rapidly field systems, by pairing technology development under AFRL with the acquisitions capabilities found in AFLCMC.

“The value in this close partnership between AFRL and AFLCMC is becoming clear. When we field proven technology faster it gives our warfighters the edge they need to win the day,” said Pringle.

Initial vehicles are anticipated to be delivered no later than May 2021 to conduct initial flight test prior to proceeding into experimentation events beginning in July 2021.

There will be competition throughout the entire period of performance of these awards. The effort will consist of multiple phases, meant to continue evaluation of the performance of the vendors. These vehicles will not only serve as platforms to test the Skyborg Autonomous Core System but will also help to demonstrate the competitive advantage of autonomous attritable aircraft by participating in user focused and influenced experimentation events.

Manned aircraft, such as this F-22 Raptor or F-35 Lightning II, could one day operate with autonomous attritable unmanned aircraft acting as wingmen. The award of the Skyborg Prototyping, Experimentation and Autonomy Development indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract sets the stage to begin prototyping and operational experimentation for the Skyborg Vanguard program. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Savanah Bray)