Maiden Flight of Boeing Loyal Wingman Uncrewed Aircraft

Successful test progresses Royal Australian Air Force’s teaming aircraft program

AUSTRALIA, March 1, 2021 – Boeing [NYSE:BA] Australia and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have successfully completed the first test flight of the Loyal Wingman uncrewed aircraft.

The flight of the first military aircraft to be designed and manufactured in Australia in more than 50 years flew under the supervision of a Boeing test pilot monitoring the aircraft from a ground control station at the Woomera Range Complex.

“The Loyal Wingman’s first flight is a major step in this long-term, significant project for the Air Force and Boeing Australia, and we’re thrilled to be a part of the successful test,” said Air Vice-Marshal Cath Roberts, RAAF Head of Air Force Capability. “The Loyal Wingman project is a pathfinder for the integration of autonomous systems and artificial intelligence to create smart human-machine teams.

“Through this project we are learning how to integrate these new capabilities to complement and extend air combat and other missions,” she said.

Following a series of taxi tests validating ground handling, navigation and control, and pilot interface, the aircraft completed a successful takeoff under its own power before flying a pre-determined route at different speeds and altitudes to verify flight functionality and demonstrate the performance of the Airpower Teaming System design.

“Boeing and Australia are pioneering fully integrated combat operations by crewed and uncrewed aircraft,” said Boeing Defense, Space & Security President and CEO Leanne Caret. “We’re honored to be opening this part of aviation’s future with the Royal Australian Air Force, and we look forward to showing others how they also could benefit from our loyal wingman capabilities.”

With support from more than 35 Australian industry teams and leveraging Boeing’s innovative processes, including model-based engineering techniques, such as a digital twin to digitally flight-test missions, the team was able to manufacture the aircraft from design to flight in three years.

This first Loyal Wingman aircraft is serving as the foundation for the Boeing Airpower Teaming System being developed for various global defense customers. The aircraft will fly alongside other platforms, using artificial intelligence to team with existing crewed and uncrewed assets to complement mission capabilities.

Additional Loyal Wingman aircraft are currently under development, with plans for teaming flights scheduled for later this year.

Redback IFV in Australia

 Drone footage of the new Redback IFV from Hanwha taken in early January 2021. The Redback is competing for the Australian Army's Land 400 Phase 3 IFV program.

Hanwha Redback IFV will be tested and compared with the German Lynx KF41 IFV. So, within a year we will find out who will win.

Detailed about Land 400 Phase 3:

• Lynx IFV and Boxer RCV in Australia

• Rheinmetall Lynx KF41 IFV in Australian Army colors

• Rheinmetall Unveiled Lynx KF41 IFV for Australia

Rheinmetall Unveiled Lynx KF41 IFV for Australia

Rheinmetall has officially unveiled the first of three Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicles designed, developed and manufactured for the Commonwealth of Australia’s $18.1 billion LAND 400 Phase 3 program.

Detailed about Land 400 Phase 3:

• Lynx IFV and Boxer RCV in Australia

• Rheinmetall Lynx KF41 IFV in Australian Army colors

The KF41 Lynx IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) 

Navies of India, US, Japan, Australia conclude phase 1 of Malabar 2020 naval exercise

Ships from the Royal Australian Navy, Indian Navy, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the United States Navy participate in Malabar 2020. Malabar 2020 is the latest in a continuing series of exercises that has grown in scope and complexity over the years to address the variety of shared threats to maritime security in the Indo-Asia Pacific where the U.S. Navy has patrolled for more than 70 years promoting regional peace and security. Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed to the 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. 

The first phase of the Malabar naval exercise has culminated in the Bay of Bengal with the participation by Indian Navy (IN), United States Navy (USN), Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF), and Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

The 24th multinational maritime naval exercise, which started on November 3, was restricted to sea phase and conducted in “zero contact” format considering COVID19 pandemic.

The first phase of the exercise witnessed complex and advanced naval exercises including surface, anti-submarine and anti-air warfare drills, cross deck flying, and weapon firing exercises. It concluded on Friday.

The 24th edition of the Malabar naval exercise is scheduled in two phases this month. It will display “high-levels of synergy and coordination” based on their shared values and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order.

It is for first time in more than a decade that the exercise will see the participation of all four Quad countries. Australia is taking part in the exercise after 2007.

The first phase of Malabar 20 witnessed the participation of Indian Navy units with United States Ship (USS) John S McCain (guided-missile destroyer), Her Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Ballarat (long range frigates) with integral MH-60 helicopter and Japan Maritime Self Defence Ship (JMSDF) Onami (destroyer) with integral SH-60 helicopter.

The second phase of the Malabar practice started on Tuesday in the Northern Arabian Sea with the support of Indian Navy plane carrying warship INS Vikramaditya, the American plane carrying warship USS Nimitz alongside other Indian, US, Australian and Japanese warships completing 'Malabar-2020' wargames.

The Australian Navy is participating with its warship HMAS Ballarat and Japan with destroyer JS Murasame. The second period of the Malabar exercise will be led in the Northern Arabian Sea till November 20.

"Taking forward the cooperative energy accomplished in the as of late closed Phase 1 of Exercise Malabar 2020, which was led in the Bay of Bengal November from 03 to 06, this stage will include composed activities of expanding intricacy between the naval forces of Australia, India, Japan and the United States," an official delivery on Monday.

"Stage 2 of Exercise Malabar 2020 will observer joint activities, revolved around the Vikramaditya Carrier Battle Group of the Indian Navy and Nimitz Carrier Strike Group of the US Navy. The two transporters, alongside different boats, submarine and airplane of the taking an interest naval forces, would be occupied with focused energy maritime tasks more than four days," the delivery added.

The delivery expressed that these activities incorporate cross-deck flying tasks and progressed air guard practices by MiG 29K warriors of VikramadityaandF-18 contenders and E2C Hawkeye from Nimitz.

What's more, cutting-edge surface and hostile to submarine fighting activities, seamanship advancements and weapon firings will likewise be attempted to additional improve interoperability and cooperative energy between the four agreeable naval forces.

Notwithstanding Vikramaditya and its warrior and helicopter air-wings, indigenous destroyers Kolkata and Chennai, secrecy frigate Talwar, Fleet Support Ship Deepak and indispensable helicopters will likewise partake in the activity, driven by Rear Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet. Indigenously fabricated submarineKhanderiand P8I oceanic observation airplane of the Indian Navy will likewise grandstand their capacities during the activity.

US Navy's Strike Carrier Nimitz will be joined by cruiser Princeton and destroyer Sterett notwithstanding P8A sea observation airplane. The Royal Australian Navy will be spoken to by frigate Ballarat alongside its vital helicopter. Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will likewise partake in the activity.

"The Malabar arrangement of activities, which started as a yearly two-sided maritime exercise among India and the US in 1992, has seen expanding degree and multifaceted nature throughout the long term. The 24th version of Malabar, which is by and large as of now embraced, features improved union of perspectives among the four dynamic vote based systems on sea issues, and grandstands their pledge to an open, comprehensive Indo-Pacific and a guidelines based worldwide request," the delivery said.

Nov. 17, 2020. Ships from the Royal Australian Navy, Indian Navy, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the United States Navy participate in Malabar 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Elliot Schaudt/Released)

Rheinmetall Lynx KF41 IFV in Australian Army colors

 Rheinmetall Lynx KF41 IFV Lynx has received the Australian Army coat of paint. The IFV arrived in Australia in early october and starting trials for "LAND-400 Phase-3" program of the Australian Army.

Rheinmetall has officially unveiled the first of three Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicles designed, developed and manufactured for the Commonwealth of Australia’s $18.1 billion LAND 400 Phase 3 program.

The KF41 Lynx is an IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) in the Lynx family of a tracked armored vehicle designed, developed and manufactured by the German Company Rheinmetall Defence. This vehicle is a longer version than the KF31 IFV unveiled in September 2016, 7.22 m for the KF31 and 7.7m for the KF41. It also has a more powerful engine and weighs 10 more tons than KF31. The KF41 was unveiled in June 2018 at Eurosatory 2018 in two configurations: IFV and Command Post. The KF41 has been designed to offer a new generation of tracked armored offering modularity and a high level of protection. The feature at the heart of the KF41 Lynx design concept is the separation and modularity of the vehicle into two primary parts: the basic vehicle and specialist mission and role equipment. Specific variants can be built around a common hull and common mobility assemblies and protection components, to which role and mission-specific equipment can be added on an as required basis. This design approach combines the functional, cost and through life advantages of a modular structure, and the weight, space and cost advantages of integral hull design. German Company Rheinmetall has offered the Lynx to the Australian Defence Force for Phase 3 of the Land 400 program, as well to the Czech Republic to replace the old BVP-2, a Russian BMP-2 tracked armored IFV produced under license in the Czech Republic. Rheinmetall defence in collaboration with American Company Raytheon has also offered the KF41 Lynx to meet the U.S. Army's requirement for the NGCV (Next-Generation Combat Vehicle-Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle), a program to replace the Bradley IFV tracked armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle. In March 2019, Rheinmetall Defence has lodged a bid in response to the Australian Army’s Land 400 Phase 3 - Mounted Close Combat Capability Request For Tender (RFT) with its KF41 Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) fitted with the Lance turret. In August 2020, Hungarian armed forces have signed an agreement with German Company Rheinmetall Defense to produce Lynx IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle. On September 10, 2020, German Company Rheinmetall has announced the order of 218 Lynx KF41 tracked armored IFV for Hungary.

 

The GaardTech Jaeger-C, a smart, consumable combat UGV

Australian company GaardTech (the company specializes in robotic vehicle replicas, decoys and UGVs with some punch. ML and software for military applications), unveiled the Jaeger-C UGV whelled mine (Charge Carrier).

 

The GaardTech Jaeger-C, a smart, consumable combat UGV

 The Wehrmacht of 1940s are calling. They want their Charge Carrier back.

Goliath tracked mine

Boxer CRV Block 1 recon variant

 

First footage of the Rheinmetall Block 1 Boxer CRV direct fire high survivability lift/reconnaissance variant with the Lance 30mm turret on 11 October 2020 at the MILVEHCOE facility in Queensland. 

Interesting points:

Final assembly line, here installing engine and function modules

Weapon testing facility

Testing in Radio-frequency anechoic chambers

Inside compartments

Boxer CRV Block 1 negotiate obstacles

Test drive