Contributor - UK

David Donald

Blue Force Technologies&nbsp;has been awarded a contract by the Aerospace Systems Directorate of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to develop its unmanned air vehicle—known as Bandit—for the adversary air (ADAIR) training mission. The Small Business Innovation Research contract was awarded after Blue Force’s strategic financing (STRATFI) proposal was selected by the AFWERX, AFRL’s innovation directorate.

 


With an initial value of $9 million, the 12-month contract is intended to mature the Bandit to critical design level and to perform engine ground testing and validation of the engine installation, under guidance from AFRL specialists. The contract has options to complete the design and engineering process, produce up to four air vehicles, and undertake initial flight tests. It follows earlier SBIR work to develop initial requirements, design an air vehicle, and to build a structural test article, which began in 2019.

 


Bandit is intended to be a high-performance UAV against which U.S. fighter pilots can train in air combat, and is part of a proposal for an autonomy-based system that can provide adversary training at much-reduced cost compared to the manned aircraft currently in use. The autonomous air vehicle is intended to carry various mission payloads and sensors to meet specific ADAIR training needs.

 


“These small unmanned ADAIR systems can be flown in training scenarios so that fighter pilots can train against tactically relevant adversaries in threat-representative numbers,” said Alyson Turri, AFRL’s Bandit program manager. “The goal is to develop an unmanned platform that looks like a fifth-generation adversary with similar vehicle capabilities.”

 


AFRL is coordinating closely with the U.S. Air Force’s Air Combat Command, whose commander, General Mark Kelly, highlighted a need for alternate approaches to costly adversary air sorties in August 2021.

 


Blue Force Technologies, based in Morrisville, NC, offers a range of advanced design, analysis, tooling, and manufacturing solutions, including rapid prototyping. Since 2013 it has supplied structural components into the Boeing CH-47 Chinook program, receiving the OEM’s Supplier of the Year award in 2018. It has also delivered space structures and worked on an eVTOL prototype.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Blue Force Contracted for Unmanned Adversary Development

The U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps are looking for cheaper ways of providing adversary training, with autonomous air vehicles to the fore. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Chad Trautvetter

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

CEO Marc Parent to retire from aviation and defense training provider in August 2025

With Retirement, CAE To Be Parent-less

Sheryl Barden

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Attracting and retaining technicians is a mix of pay and quality of life

AINsight: Future of Aviation’s Mx Workforce

Canadian company takes majority share of business aviation training provider

CAE Ups Ante in Simcom Training Joint Venture

Kerry Lynch

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Training program rolled out during PMOPA's annual convention

Piper M-Class Org Seeks To Elevate Training

AmyWilder

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

Exploring economic impact of private aviation in Africa

VistaJet Expands in Africa Amid 8% Growth Forecast

Sarah Rose

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

RFDS Queensland will use Bundaberg-based simulator for pilot training

TRU Simulation's King Air Sim Gets Australia Nod

Hanneke Weitering

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

Aircraft avionics and training systems are evolving with artificial intelligence

AI Elicits a New Generation of Avionics and Pilot Training Tools

Charles Alcock

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

More In Training and Workforce