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Boeing Phantom Works ATS (Airpower Teaming System)

History of Boeing Phantom Works ATS (Air Power Formation System)

For decades, war planners have envisioned skies where drones will fly alongside manned warplanes, expanding the existing capabilities of the latter type of aircraft. Boeing, with the support of the Australian government and local industry, has launched the Air Force Formation System (ATS), a modular unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed to provide US and Australian allies with a budget-friendly drone.

Human-Machine Solutions. The aircraft is designed to be used in conjunction with existing current-generation Boeing products, such as the multirole naval fighter Super Hornet and the new maritime patrol aircraft P-8 Poseidon.

Development of the drone was led by Boeings own division, Phantom Works International, and was unveiled at the Avalon Air Show in Australia in February 2019. As part of the Loyal Wingman Advanced Development Program (LWADP), next steps are planned for technology demonstrations, with the ultimate goal of producing an air vehicle that can be fully autonomous under artificial intelligence (AI), manned aircraft, or independently operated as needed from each other.

Partial funding from the Australian Government (nearly $30 million over four years) and direct support from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has made this product possible with a view to locally manufacturing finished quality air systems in Australia (these names are similar to BAe Systems Australia) . Foreign participation in the product also facilitates availability and procurement by interested foreign parties, as has other foreign Boeing projects, such as the "Wedgetail" program (now flying with South Korea and Turkey). In addition, the program contributes to the development of a growing and mature local Australian defence industry to meet future needs and self-sustainability goals.

The final ATS design will be powered by an existing light turbofan engine of unknown make, model and power. It has an estimated range of 2,300 miles (2,000 nautical miles) and can be deployed with equal efficiency on land and water. The aircraft's current appearance (mainly designed in Australia) has an elongated nose section, side air intakes for the sole engine unit, shoulder-mounted wing main planes and a V-tail (no horizontal stabilizer). The main aircraft has a continuous swept leading edge and a compound trailing edge, leading edge (inboard) and swept (outboard). "Chining" is used on the hull edge to promote inherent "stealth" and a conventional tricycle undercarriage (retractable) is provided for ground operation.

According to the current design, the overall length of the aircraft is 38 feet, but other dimensions are still under wraps.

Internally, the UAV's mission payload will include a variety of intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance (ISR) customizations through a modular systems approach - allowing for rapid equipment replacement as mission needs dictate. Additionally, the ATS will have electronic warfare (EW) capabilities to further enhance its value on the battlefield.

If the ATS program comes to fruition, it will usher in a new era of unmanned warfare, the next logical step towards a battlefield where artificial intelligence and drones fight alongside human overlords. Ultimately, the battlefield is likely to be dominated by unmanned vehicleshumans completely excluded.