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Northrop Grumman has been awarded a contract by the US Marine Corps to develop its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) and uncrewed aerial systems (UAS).
Northrop will deliver a range of its platforms and systems as part of the deal, including its advanced mission kit, seeing sensors and software technologies designed for UAS.
Prism, Northrop’s open architecture autonomy software package, will also be implemented as the primary system that allows aircraft to be operated autonomously.
“Northrop Grumman remains at the forefront of advanced sensing capabilities, delivering innovative solutions that meet the needs of the warfighter with unmatched speed and reliability,” said Krys Moen, vice president of advanced missions capabilities at Northrop Grumman.
“This enhanced capability set ensures optimal performance for both crewed and uncrewed platforms.”
The contract will also see collaboration with Kratos Defense, utilising its Valkyrie UAS that will work with the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) to provide efficient and effective aerial systems to work alongside tactical fighters.
The Valkyrie UAS has a multitude of features that make it valuable for a variety of missions, including runway flexibility, modular airframes and payload bays.
“The integration of the Kratos Valkyrie aircraft system configured with the world’s best multifunction mission systems from Northrop Grumman results in a high-capability CCA at a price point that enables the uncrewed systems to be deployed in mass with crewed aircraft,” said Steve Fendley, president of Kratos’ unmanned systems division.
Northrop Grumman and Kratos are presenting their collaborative approach as a practical, low-risk way for the Marine Corps to move towards MUX TACAIR capability and sustained expeditionary operations for crewed and uncrewed systems.
