Autonomous Collaborative Platforms

Mission — Autonomous Collaborative Platforms source

Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP) are uncrewed weapon systems designed to work in conjunction with current and future aircraft to provide operational flexibility and enhance operational effectiveness. Key ACP attributes include tailored cost of platforms, rapidly updateable software, autonomy, interoperability with multiple platforms and network capabilities, agility of use, lethality, and ability to penetrate challenging air environments. The program matures technology to reduce risk through development, integration, experimentation, and test activities. Autonomous Collaborative Technologies (ACT) served as the starting point for the Air Force's investment in the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. ACP will explore Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership, Personnel, Facilities, and Policy (DOTMLPF-P) concepts for uncrewed vehicles. Program activities include digital engineering, agile software development, open systems architectures, and risk reduction projects. Funding provides digital systems infrastructure, operational concept exploration, technology studies, multi-domain integration assessments, operational and system architecture development, flight test and test support, prototypes, training and demonstration, program management support, as well as maturation and risk reduction of air superiority related technologies to include weapons systems, autonomy, and integrated system concept development. Program management support costs include but are not limited to contractor support services, civilian pay, supplies, and facility related expenses. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F. This effort is in Budget Activity 4, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes (ACD&P), because efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes or prototype systems in a high fidelity and realistic operating environment.

Mission — Experimental Operations Unit (EOU) source

The Experimental Operations Unit (EOU) effort explores Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership, Personnel, Facilities, and Policy (DOTMLPF-P) concepts for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). Program activities serve as early risk reduction for employment of CCA with crewed aircraft to mature operational concept development and evaluate supporting force structure to execute CCA operations. Funding provides operational concepts and studies, flight test and test support, prototypes, infrastructure investment for information technology, training and demonstration, and program management support to mature autonomous operational concepts. Program management support costs include but are not limited to contractor support services, supplies, and facility related expenses. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F.

Mission — Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operations Model (VENOM) source

The Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operations Model (VENOM) effort serves as a flying autonomy testbed for Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP). Program activities reduce risk to ACP through test and demonstration of the autonomy reference architecture and autonomy software on a F-16, or other human-on-the-loop testbed. Funding provides flight test and test support (including modifications), infrastructure investments for information technology, training, and program management support to mature autonomy architecture and software. Program management support costs include but are not limited to contractor support services, supplies, and facility related expenses. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (2)