AFA NEWS: Autonomous Drone Tech ‘Top Acquisition Priority,’ AFSOC Commander Says

Published on September 13, 2023

AFA NEWS UPDATE: Autonomous Drone Modernization Top Priority for AFSOC

The Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is prioritizing the modernization of its dated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) infrastructure which harks back to the 1990s. To this end, the Adaptive Airborne Enterprise, an AFSOC initiative, aims to develop autonomous drones, notably transforming the MQ-9 Reaper into a mobile control center. This "mothership" drone will command additional unmanned aerial systems (UAS) boasting both kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities. AFSOC Commander, Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind emphasized the pressing need to upgrade the ISR infrastructure, highlighting the labor-intensive nature of current MQ-9 operations. The modernization would not only boost the efficiency of existing forces but also prepare them for contested future combat scenarios. Bauernfeind is particularly interested in implementing a comprehensive sensing grid and an efficient communication network for special operations forces in deep battlefields. Over the next year, AFSOC plans to conduct three demonstrations, starting with automated software that allows a single operator to control multiple MQ-9s.

Read More: https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2023/9/12/adaptive-airborne-enterprise-top-acquisition-priority-afsoc-commander-says

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