General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. used an Avenger drone equipped with a Lockheed Martin Legion Pod on July 2 to track and follow targets for the first time autonomously. This demonstration, over the high desert of southern California, brings military aviators one step closer to autonomous systems that fully “support Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) in joint all-domain operations.”
While air-to-air tracking and following targets using an aircraft or drone is a standard procedure, it typically relies on radar to locate and lock the target. Radar is highly effective, but there are several reasons why it isn’t always available, including:
- It may be required to fly without radar for stealth purposes.
- Hostile forces might use radar jamming systems.
- There may be too much radio interference or background clutter for the radar to operate accurately.
To overcome this, Lockheed Martin developed its 98.5-inch-long (2.5-m) and 16-in-wide (41-cm) Legion Pod, replacing active radar with a passive IRST21 sensor that includes advanced onboard data processing to track and follow targets by detecting infrared radiation.
The pod and its software were installed into the Avenger Mission Management System in less than three months, thanks to the Legion Pod being designed to use standard interfaces and not requiring extensive aircraft modification. As a result, it communicated with the Avenger’s autonomy engine via the Open Mission Systems message standards, making installation faster and cheaper.
The Avenger used the pod to detect several fast-moving aircraft in the area during recent tests. Then, it sent tracking data to the drone’s avionics system to adequately perform the necessary maneuvers to engage the targets.
Dave Belvin, Lockheed Martin’s vice president of Sensors and Global Sustainment, explained:
This flight demonstrates a critical sensor capability that enables unmanned combat air vehicles like the Avenger to operate autonomously in Joint All-Domain Operations.
We designed Legion Pod to passively detect and track targets for tactical fighter pilots in radar-denied environments. This capability provides the data necessary to enable unmanned vehicles to track and engage hostile airborne targets without human intervention.
The video below shows the Avenger drone in action.
