BAE Systems said Monday it won a Boeing [BA] contract to upgrade and modernize the vehicle management system computer (VMSC) for the carrier-based MQ-25A Stingray unmanned aircraft refueler.
The upgraded VMSC controls all the flight surfaces and performs overall vehicle management roles for the unmanned tanker, according to BAE.
The company argued this new system will improve capabilities and reduce lifecycle costs for several reasons, focused on reducing total required onboard hardware.
The new VMSC will replace several current onboard computers by using quad-core processors to increase computing power “while optimizing size, weight, and power footprint on the aircraft.”
BAE said this system will help improve aircraft reliability and reduce total lifecycle cost of ownership of the MQ-25 for the Navy.
It noted the specific multi-core processor selected recently finished qualification on another U.S. military platform, “thereby reducing cost, schedule, and integration risk for this program.”
BAE did not disclose which processor it is using in the VMSC.
BAE said this will also address obsolescence issues and provide a solution that “allows for future capability growth.”
The company claimed this growth capability will help the Navy use the MQ-25 for other future missions like using intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) technologies and also “lays the foundation for all future carrier-based unmanned systems by pioneering the cutting-edge manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) operational concept.”
While the MQ-25 is focused on relieving the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet of their tanking duties, the system is being built with some ISR capabilities.
“Our upgraded VMSC for the MQ-25 will deliver advanced functionality—enabling this platform to execute today and tomorrow’s critical missions, while also reducing the amount of hardware required on the aircraft through consolidation into this computer,” Corin Beck, senior director of military aircraft systems for the controls and avionics solutions division at BAE Systems, said in a statement.
The company is also providing the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) System for the MQ-25.
BAE conducts its VMSC work at its engineering and manufacturing facility in Endicott, N.Y.
Months ago, a Defense Department office of Inspector General report said production maturity issues and recommendations for the Navy to delay production decisions until testing completes led the Navy to push back Milestone C and low-rate initial production contract decisions past originally planned timelines in 2023 (Defense Daily, Nov. 27, 2023).
Last year, the Navy said the initial operational capability decision was pushed back to 2026 (Defense Daily, April 13, 2023).
The Navy plans to implement an updated acquisition strategy for the tanker once it has the proper resources and authorities in the fiscal year 2024 defense appropriations bill.
The service plans to ultimately procure 76 MQ-25As. This includes seven production-representative air vehicles, 12 LRIP deliveries and 57 full rate production vehicles.