AI-Enabled Autonomous UAS Swarms Showcased in AUKUS Trials

Saab’s Autonomous Swarm technology featured in the AUKUS Project Convergence trials, showcasing AI-enabled interoperability across autonomous systems By William Mackenzie / 15 Nov 2024

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AI-Enabled Autonomous UAS Swarms Showcased in AUKUS Trials
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Saab’s Autonomous Swarm technology recently featured in the Project Convergence 2024 trials, taking place over one month in the United States. 

A large UK team, comprising 40 employees from Saab-owned BlueBear and UK MOD Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) personnel, demonstrated the ability to deploy interoperable AI within Autonomous Swarms of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). 

AUKUS, a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, held trials that demonstrated the role of BlueBear’s technology in collaborative, networked, swarms of UAS. 

BlueBear’s AI-enabled Centurion™ mission system provided the ability for a single operator to command a diverse swarm of autonomous UAS. 

At the core of BlueBear’s AI-enabled autonomy solution is the ability to ‘hot-swap’ AI from any supplier in an autonomous systems-of-systems. This technology is key to unlocking the game-changing potential of deployed networked sensors and effectors in an integrated multi-domain battlefield. 

BlueBear’s RedKite and Ghost UAS were used in tandem with Centurion™ by the tri-nation AUKUS team to rapidly retrain and deploy AI algorithms, enabling the payloads and UAS. 

The AUKUS trial was the culmination of Autonomy and Open Architecture work consistently funded by Dstl over two decades.

Andy Fraser, Group Managing Director, Saab UK, commented, “The AUKUS trials marks a significant increase in our ability to interoperate with allied nations, both at mission and core technology levels. Significant investment from both the UK Government and Saab’s BlueBear have allowed us to collectively mature and de-risk high-value technologies that are imperative in modern warfare.”

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Posted by William Mackenzie Will is a Content Specialist at Defense Advancement. Since 2024, he has reported on innovation in defense platforms, mission systems, and situational awareness technologies. With a background in professional copywriting and editorial content, Will provides well-informed coverage of developments in electronic warfare, rugged systems, and advanced capabilities that are shaping the future of defense operations. Connect
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