• 

  Boeing

  Stock Code:

  BA

  Date Founded:

  1916-07-15

  CEO:

  Dave Calhoun

  Headquarters Location:

  Chicago, USA

  Key Product Lines:

  Boeing 737, Boeing 747, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Boeing 777, Boeing 787

  Business Type:

  Planemaker

As one of the world's leading manufacturers of passenger and cargo-carrying commercial aircraft, it can be easy to forget that Boeing also has a significant presence in the military sector. In fact, this is home to some of its most exciting research. Specifically, it is presently developing two autonomous combat aircraft.

MQ-25 'Stingray'

One such military design that Boeing has been working on in recent years has been its MQ-25 'Stingray,' which will serve the purpose of aerial refueling. The 15.5-meter-long aircraft, whose primary user will be the US Navy, first flew in September 2019. With 7,250 kg of fuel onboard, it has a range of 500 NM (930 km).

Boeing plans for the MQ-25 to be deployed from aircraft carriers during its refueling missions, which gave it an interesting problem in terms of its dimensions. This resulted in the development of a folding wing system, similar to the technology seen on the wingtips of the 777X, which reduces its span from 22.9 to just 9.5 meters. Greg Hyslop, Boeing's Chief Engineer, explained in a presentation this month that:

"Aircraft carriers have space constraints below deck. So, with the wings folded, can we move the airplane around in an autonomous fashion and do that in a way that's safe for the people handling the airplane as well as everything around them? They came through that test with flying colors."

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MQ-28 'Ghost Bat'

Hyslop also noted that test flights involving the MQ-25 are currently occurring in St Louis. Somewhat further away, Boeing is involved in the development of another autonomous aircraft. Known as the MQ-28 'Ghost Bat,' the project has also been called the Boeing Airpower Teaming System and the Loyal Wingman.

Tests involving this multirole combat aircraft which features stealth technology, have been taking place in Australia. This is due to the Royal Australian Air Force being touted as the type's primary user. The MQ-28 is a highly technological design, with artificial intelligence playing a key role in allowing it to independently perform autonomous missions. Examining the design process, Hyslop adds:

"[Looking at] how they built it, they used modern composite material systems, and they can use virtual reality in terms of simulating the build in the factory. The build was done in our factory in Melbourne, and now it's in flight testing."

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The MQ-28 will operate alongside crewed aircraft

What is particularly interesting about the MQ-28 'Ghost Bat' is Boeing's intention for it to fly missions alongside crewed aircraft. In this regard, it will function as a force multiplier, although this provides its own challenges. Hyslop notes:

"What the Australian Air Force is interested in is how to have an uncrewed airplane partner with a crewed airplane, and trying to extend the power and extend the reach of that crewed aircraft."

With this intention in mind, it is clear that, far from replacing crewed operations for good, autonomous aircraft will instead augment the capability of existing missions. On the commercial side, it will certainly be interesting to see whether Boeing's autonomous flight research ever finds its way into the passenger and cargo sectors.