Page 2 - Aerotech News and Review, Sept. 20, 2019

Lockheed MartinSkunk Works’ Project Riot

demonstrates multi-domain operations

PALMDALE, Calif.—Lockheed Martin Skunk
Works®, the Missile Defense Agency and the U.S.
Air Force successfully connected an F-35, U-2 and
a multi-domain ground station in a ground-breaking
test demonstrating multi-domain operations and the How to contact
secure distribution of sensitive information across Aerotech News and Review
multiple platforms. • Mail: 220 E. Ave. K-4, #7
During the demonstration, called Project Riot, an Lancaster CA 93535
F-35 detected a long-range missile launch with its • E-Mail: editor@aerotechnews.com
onboard sensors and shared the information through • Phone: (661) 945-5634
the U-2 to the air defense commander on the • Fax: (661) 723-7757
ground, enabling the commander to quickly make
the decision to target the threat. This next-level con- Advertising
nectivity reduces the data-to-decision timeline from Corporate Headquarters:
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day’s adversaries and advanced threats.
In partnership with the Air Force Life Cycle Subscriber Services
Management Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Subscriptions to Aerotech News
Mass., and the Missile Defense Agency, Skunk and Review are $59 for six months
Works’ Project Riot builds on a series of open or $89 for one year. For more in-
systems architecture demonstrations proving how formation, contact the subscription
incremental increases in capability can be rapidly department at:
fielded to enable a connected network across air, 220 E. Ave. K-4, #7, Lancaster CA
ground, sea, space and cyber domains. • Demonstrated the ability to leverage F-35 sen- pability deployment and seamless connection be- 93535
“This demonstration continues our commitment sor data for missile defense tween systems
to provide complete battlespace awareness and • Leveraged the modernized U-2’s extensive “The F-35, with its advanced sensors and con- Story ideas, letters, editorials
seamless interoperability to enable multi-domain payload capacity, modular design and open archi- nectivity, is able to gather and seamlessly share Please address all letters and edi-
operations,” said John Clark, vice president of ISR tecture to provide beyond line of sight communica- critical information enabling the joint force to be torials to Stuart A. Ibberson, editor,
& UAS at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. “With safer and more effective,” said Greg Ulmer, Lock- 220 E. Ave. K-4, # 7, Lancaster
its long-range standoff sensors, on-board process- tions between the F-35 and a multi-domain ground CA 93535
ing and ability to operate in and around contested station heed Martin vice president and general manager for
environments, the U-2 continues to play a criti- • Established two new data paths to securely the F-35 program. “No other fighter jet in the world Web Site
cal role in demonstrating new capabilities today, transmit 5th generation sensor data at multiple has this capability – and this test was a critical step Access the Aerotech News web site
while transforming operations for tomorrow’s bat- levels of security to the warfighter, enabling a on the path to unlocking its full potential for multi- at www.aerotechnews.com
tlespace.” multi-domain network of legacy and 5th genera- domain operations.” Submissions for upcoming events,
Leveraging common industry standards to drive tion systems This demonstration builds on successful flight air shows and museums should be ad-
down cost and shorten schedules, the team achieved • Disseminated 5th generation data using the Air tests completed since 2013 that establish the foun- dressed to Web Updates, 220 E. Ave.
four mission critical data points in less than four Force’s Universal Command and Control Interface dation for a distributed, systems-of-systems archi- K-4, # 7, Lancaster CA 93535
For questions concerning the web site,
months: and Open Mission Systems standards for faster ca- tecture in the not-too-distant future. contact the webmaster at webmaster@
Virgin Galactic announces major milestone aerotechnews.com.

in next spaceship manufacture Aerotech News and Review
Where you can get
For information on Aerotech
Virgin Galactic announced Sept. 17 that it has
mated the fuselage and cabin of its next space- distribution, call (661) 945-5634
ship to the completed wing assembly. or e-mail delivery@aerotechnews.com.
In addition, the two tail booms have been
mated to the spaceship’s rear feather flap as-
sembly. The completion of these two milestones
brings assembly of the next SpaceShipTwo, Aerotech News and Review is published
planned to enter service after VSS Unity, a ma- the first and third Fridays of each
jor step forward. month, serving the aerospace and
With these milestones, the part fabrication defense industry of Southern
of the wing, fuselage, cabin, nose and feather California, Nevada and Arizona.
flap primary structures is now complete for the News and ad copy deadline is noon
second commercial spaceship. In addition, the on the Tuesday prior to publication.
majority of systems integration for the wing is The publisher assumes no
complete, as well as the build of the cabin crew responsibility for error in ads other
station installation.
SpaceShipTwo vehicles are assembled in a than space used. Your comments are
modular fashion, with the cabin, fuselage, wing Virgin Galactic photograph welcomed and encouraged. Write to
and feather assemblies built in parallel. Employ- Enrico Palermo, president of The Spaceship sembly is taking shape. The inboard skins have the address below.
ing Design For Manufacturability and Assembly Company said: “Our passionate and talented been bonded to the boom internal structures and
techniques, this approach grants easier access for team has made great progress on the next Space- then rotated vertical and mounted on the feather • Publisher .........................Paul Kinison
systems integration earlier in the build process, ShipTwo. Seeing VSS Unity adjacent to the as- flap assembly. The feather flap assembly is re- • Business Manager.............Lisa Kinison
as well as an overall shorter assembly duration. sembly of the next vehicle as well as the cabin sponsible for moving the spaceship’s booms into • Editor ..............................Stuart Ibberson
Virgin Galactic established operations in of our third spaceship makes it very clear that we the feathered position used for stable re-entry • National Advertising
Manager ..........................Paul Kinison
Mojave, Calif., through its development and are building a fleet of remarkable spaceplanes for through Earth’s atmosphere.
manufacturing arm, The Spaceship Company, “It is exciting to imagine these two vehicles
to build and assemble a fleet of spaceships and commercial service.”
carrier aircraft for the Virgin Galactic operations Before mating the two assemblies, the metrol- operating shoulder-to-shoulder from Spaceport Aerotech News and Review
220 E. Ave. K-4, #7
in New Mexico. While VSS Unity continues to ogy team used laser trackers to capture precise America in New Mexico,” said George White- Lancaster, CA 93535
progress through its comprehensive ground and measurements of the fuselage and cabin and the sides, CEO of Virgin Galactic and The Space- e-mail: editor@aerotechnews.com
flight testing program, and is now preparing for wing. These measurements confirmed that the ship Company. “We have a strong block design Visit our web site at www.aerotechnews.com
its move to Spaceport America in New Mexico, assemblies would come together as they were which we believe we can replicate to build the
the Mojave-based team has been diligently build- designed to. remainder of the fleet, continuing our march to-
ing two additional SpaceShipTwos. In parallel to this operation, the feather as- ward commercial service.”

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