Future Autonomous Air

As the United States and allied nations prioritize the joint force to address global security challenges, Northrop Grumman is already supporting many of the systems critical to connecting each service across multiple domains. Future autonomous platforms, powered by collaborative autonomy, will be a revolutionary approach in deterring, or if necessary, engaging adversaries on battlefields of the future.

Computer rendering of MQ-Next flying over mountains

men sitting in a dark room looking at computer

DA/RC

Northrop Grumman’s Distributed Autonomy/Responsive Control (DA/RC) system is a leading prototype Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) system. It connects and controls a wide range of complex systems across all domains and services. This mature transformational software provides decision making superiority for a manned/unmanned fleet in up to a highly contested environment. Through DA/RC, operators are able to control a large number of assets at machine speed with scalable degrees of human oversight. DA/RC capability will be instrumental in shaping the future of combat by enabling technology to work in closer collaboration with people. This transformational technology enables seamless human-machine collaboration for effective decision-making and cooperative mission management across distributed manned and unmanned assets.

DA/RC Web Page >

Next Generation UAS

Northrop Grumman’s design incorporates Open Mission Systems (OMS) and adaptive autonomy to allow the platform to exchange information with a diverse set of systems through the company’s DA/RC architecture. The aircraft will be designed to enable multi-role modularity and open mission systems to include strike, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

Skyborg

Skyborg is one of three Air Force priority Vanguard programs outlined to advance emerging weapon systems and warfighting concepts through prototyping experiments. Northrop Grumman’s efforts focus on the autonomy required for human-machine teaming and real-time mission management envisioned for the Skyborg program using proven low-cost, tactically-relevant air vehicles.

Read AFLMC Contract Awards >

SEA129-5

Joining global efforts to collaborate on a maritime unmanned aerial systems (MUAS) for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) the Northrop Grumman Australia and Leonardo Australia team have been shortlisted to the next phase of the SEA129 phase 5 program. The platform is based on a mature and modular architecture that allows a wide and easily reconfigurable range of payloads. The team’s offering also includes an exportable variant of Northrop Grumman’s ground-breaking Distributed Autonomy/Responsive Control (DA/RC) command and control system to enhance and automate tactical decision making to the RAN to help outmatch threats in a complex, unpredictable environment. Read News Release >

8 people standing lined-up behind a missile mounted on a wheeled-carrier

Gray Wolf

Northrop Grumman’s clean sheet design for Gray Wolf explores development of a low cost, open-architecture, modular weapon system that can use multiple cruise missiles in a networked swarm to counter enemy air defenses. The Gray Wolf proof of concept for low-cost, networked munitions is being used in the Air Force Research Lab digital campaign as a baseline for the WeaponONE pathfinder program to develop digital twin technology and use actual “hardware in the loop” and flight testing data to accelerate the USAF into an era of digital engineering. Gray Wolf WeaponONE activities will further inform and validate the Golden Horde initiative, an Air Force Vanguard program that seeks to integrate and connect various weapon systems in a collaborative effort to defeat adversarial targets.