Common Atomics Aeronautical Techniques, Inc. (GA-ASI) flew the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) for the primary time on Feb. 28, 2024. OBSS is an Air Power Analysis Laboratory (AFRL) program and GA-ASI was chosen in 2021 to design, construct and fly the brand new plane.

With flight of the AFRL-funded XQ-67A, GA-ASI has validated the “genus/species” idea first developed with AFRL as a part of the Low-Price Attritable Plane Platform Sharing (LCAAPS) program centered on constructing a number of plane variants from a typical core chassis.

Beneath LCAAPS, AFRL and GA-ASI explored the event of a chassis, termed a “genus”, because the foundational core structure from which a number of “species” of plane might be constructed.

“This gives an alternate acquisition strategy for army plane that permits quicker improvement, decrease prices and extra alternatives for frequent expertise refresh,” mentioned Trenton White, OBSS Program Supervisor and aerospace engineer in AFRL’s Aerospace Techniques Directorate. “XQ-67A is the primary “species” to be designed and constructed from this shared platform. Flight demonstration of this method is a significant first step towards exhibiting the power to provide inexpensive fight mass.”

“OBSS is the primary plane sort constructed and flown utilizing a typical core chassis developed by GA-ASI that promotes commonality throughout a number of automobile sorts,” mentioned GA-ASI Vice President of Superior Packages Michael Atwood.

Distribution Assertion A: Permitted for Public Launch; Distribution is Limitless. PA# AFRL-2024-0708