The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has taken a major stride toward its vision of a collaborative combat fleet with the successful high-desert flight test of the XQ-67A. This second-generation Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) demonstrated a powerful new capability: the seamless integration of government-provided artificial intelligence with active tactical datalinks, a combination essential for future warfare.
The recent test in the California High Desert served as a proving ground for the aircraft’s core mission systems. Engineers validated the performance of its mission computing, networking, power and thermal management, and datalinks. Crucially, the XQ-67A utilized a tactical datalink to receive real-time battlefield updates, processing this information with its onboard government reference autonomy to execute a dynamic mission profile. This successful integration marks a pivotal step in moving from conceptual crewed-uncrewed teaming (C/U-T) to a tangible, operational reality.
“This flight is a concrete demonstration of moving from lab-based algorithms to combat-relevant autonomy that operates on real hardware using existing networks,” said Mike Atwood, Vice President of Advanced Programs for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), the aircraft’s manufacturer. “It underscores a commitment to developing systems that can immediately integrate into joint operations alongside crewed platforms.”
Beyond its immediate technical achievements, the XQ-67A program is foundational to the Air Force’s strategy of “affordable mass.” The platform is designed around a shared chassis, intended to serve as a common base for various mission-specific payloads. This approach promises a more scalable and cost-effective way to field a large number of autonomous systems.
The successful demonstration underscores the potent synergy of combining government-owned, open-architecture autonomy with proven tactical communications infrastructure. By leveraging the XQ-67A as a highly relevant testbed, AFRL is accelerating the transition of autonomous technology from the laboratory to the operational force, paving the way for a future where intelligent, networked unmanned systems are a routine and decisive component of the battlespace.
