Bids are being sought for a 48-month US/French programme to demonstrate flight-control and flight-management technologies enabling combined strike operations by manned aircraft and unmanned combat air-vehicles (UCAVs).
The Integrated Tactical Aircraft Control research programme will flight-test two concepts for the control of UCAVs: by aircrew in manned strike aircraft accompanying the unmanned vehicles; or by operators in a stand-off airborne mission-control aircraft.
Flight testing will involve two aircraft, possibly a US Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16 testbed and a French fighter, with one of them emulating a UCAV.
Source: Flight International
