The U.S. Navy has achieved a significant milestone in its advancement of unmanned aviation by installing the world’s first Unmanned Air Warfare Center (UAWC) aboard the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). This development marks a new era in naval aviation, where Air Vehicle Pilots (AVPs) will control the operations of the MQ-25 Stingray, the Navy’s first carrier-based unmanned aerial refueling aircraft.
The installation of the UAWC represents the culmination of a multi-year effort, coordinated across various ship availability periods and the carrier’s deployment schedule. The UAWC integrates the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System (UMCS) MD-5E Ground Control Station (GCS), essential for the command and control of the MQ-25. This system, developed with Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works®, is critical to the Navy's future operational capabilities.
The integration of the UAWC involved collaboration between multiple Navy program offices, systems commands, and shipyards, ensuring smooth logistics and scheduling. Early next year, the USS George H.W. Bush will conduct at-sea testing of the UAWC’s operational networks, marking the first time AVPs from the Unmanned Carrier-Launched Multi-Role Squadron (VUQ) 10 will operate the MD-5 from an aircraft carrier.
The successful installation of the UAWC aboard CVN 77 serves as a template for future carriers. Once fully operational, the MQ-25 Stingray will extend the range, flexibility, and lethality of the carrier air wing, offering a strategic advantage in maritime operations. This installation signifies a significant leap towards a future where unmanned systems are central to naval warfare.
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