WASHINGTON: The U.S. Army is planning a largest-of-its-kind demonstration – called Manned Unmanned Systems Integration Concept, or MUSIC – at Dougway Proving Ground, Utah, in September of next year, service officials said.
“It’s going to be the largest single demonstration of interoperability between manned and unmanned systems ever conducted,” said Tim Owings, deputy project manager for Army unmanned aircraft systems.
The demonstration is aimed at analyzing the progress of evolving manned-unmanned teaming technologies. It will showcase level-4 UAS interoperability wherein Apache Attack helicopter pilots will have the ability to control the payload of a nearby UAS from the cockpit; the Apache pilots will also be able to view feeds from UAS systems in real-time from the cockpit as well.
During the exercise, the Grey Eagle, Hunter, Shadow, Raven and the Apache Block III will all be exchanging information and exchanging command and control while in flight, Owings said.
“The Block III Apache is going to take control of the UAS, point the payload and do a mission. All the other systems will see Apache video and Kiowa video. We will have a Universal Ground Control Station on the ground as well,” said Owings.
