MQ-25 control centre fitting brings autonomous ops to US carriers

Published on August 16, 2024

The US Navy has equipped the USS George H.W. Bush with the first-ever Unmanned Air Warfare Center (UAWC). This installation marks a step towards integrating unmanned systems like the MQ-25 Stingray into carrier operations.

The US Navy has stepped forward in unmanned warfare by installing the first Unmanned Air Warfare Center (UAWC) aboard the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). This control hub is designed to manage the operations of MQ-25 Stingray drones, the Navy’s upcoming unmanned aerial refuelling platform. However, the implications of this installation extend beyond refuelling, pointing towards a future where unmanned systems play an increasingly central role in naval operations.

The UAWC is a control room and a fully integrated Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System (UMCS) MD-5E Ground Control Station (GCS), equipped with technology to control unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from the heart of a carrier.

Read Full Article

Other news

Hidden Dangers: China's Ability to Track and Target U.S. Aircraft Carriers

August 16, 2024
The U.S. Navy's reliance on aircraft carriers as the backbone of its power projection is increasingly being challenged by China's advanced anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities.The Problem: Despite the carriers' speed and technological sophistication, they are vulnerable to tracking and potential attacks by China's growing arsenal, including AI-powered satellites, diesel-powered submarines,

GA-ASI Showcases MQ-9B SeaGuardian at RIMPAC 2024

August 16, 2024
With the completion of the U.S. Navy’s Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) flight operations on July 28, 2024, the MQ-9B SeaGuardian® Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) supplied by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., self-deployed back to its home base in El Mirage, Calif., but only after introducing an array of new capabilities. The flight home followed close to 100 flight hours supporting RIMPAC 202