BAE Systems to enhance US Navy MQ-25A drone computer power

BAE Systems has been selected by Boeing to upgrade and modernise the vehicle management system computer (VMSC) for the US Navy’s MQ-25 unmanned aerial refuelling system.

The technology refresh will increase computing power and address obsolescence issues, providing the unmanned aerial tanker with an integrated solution that improves aircraft performance and allows for future capability growth.

BAE Systems’ next-generation VMSC controls all flight surfaces and performs overall vehicle management duties for the autonomous MQ-25. The MQ-25 is the US Navy’s first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft and is designed to provide a much-needed aerial refuelling capability. It also aims to relieve the refuelling mission workload for F/A-18 aircraft, allowing them to take on other key mission roles, increasing the fleet’s capacity.

“BAE Systems is a leader in flight-critical systems and solutions,” said Corin Beck, senior director of military aircraft systems for controls and avionics solutions at BAE Systems. “Our upgraded VMSC for the MQ-25 will deliver advanced functionality—enabling this platform to execute today and tomorrow’s critical missions, while also reducing the amount of hardware required on the aircraft through consolidation into this computer.”

The cost-effective VMSC upgrade will use quad-core processors to increase computing power while optimising size, weight, and power footprint on the aircraft. The multi-core processor selected for the MQ-25 VMSC has recently completed qualification on another US military platform thereby reducing cost, schedule, and integration risk for this programme. 

This highly efficient and integrated system will deliver more capability by replacing multiple other onboard computers, improving aircraft reliability and reducing total lifecycle cost of ownership for the Navy. The new VMSC also provides growth capability to support future missions of the MQ-25, such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) technologies, and lays the foundation for all future carrier-based unmanned systems by pioneering the cutting-edge manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) operational concept.

BAE Systems also provides the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) System for the aircraft.

The company has more than 40 years of experience developing and integrating flight control technology for military and commercial platforms. Work on the VMSC occurs at BAE Systems’ engineering and manufacturing facility in Endicott, New York.

www.baesystems.com