The Spanish Navy has simultaneously commanded unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from two different manufacturers while in flight, using a helicopter launched from an offshore patrol vessel. This enabled them to track high-speed boats at sea. During the tactical flight trial completed at Rota, the mission used Airbus Helicopters’ HTeaming technology, which allows different platforms to be integrated into a single battle management system. According to details shared on Airbus’ official platform, this marked the first time the technology had been validated on such a scale.
As part of the exercise, the offshore patrol vessel Rayo, a Spanish Navy H135 helicopter, the Airbus-built Flexrotor fixed-wing UAV, and the A900 rotary-wing UAV developed by Alpha Unmanned Systems were all linked into a single data network. Thanks to this multi-domain operational link, the patrol vessel gained direct access to real-time data from areas far beyond its own radar and sensor range, all from its combat management centre.
Helicopter-Based UAV Command and Battle Management Integration
During the operation, both unmanned platforms took off and landed from the deck of the moving vessel. The pilot in the H135 helicopter controlled the UAVs using a tablet equipped with the Airbus Helicopters HTeaming system. The tests showed that the system is compatible with platforms from different manufacturers. The joint ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance) scenario also included the tracking of a high-speed boat. The Flexrotor and Alpha 900 UAVs kept the designated target under constant surveillance and streamed live video simultaneously to both the H135 helicopter and the ship.
The data collected was fed into the NAIAD system, developed by Navantia to enable the tactical integration of unmanned vehicles. This brought air and surface assets under command and control within the Spanish Navy’s standard SCOMBA battle management system. The H135 crew used the Airbus Helicopters HTeaming modular tablet to directly integrate the unmanned platforms’ sensors into their own mission systems, with data processed through the Helicopter Integrated Tactical System.
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The next phases of this technology are expected to explore drone swarm capabilities, as well as deeper integration between air and naval assets and ground transport systems.
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Source: C4Defence– Airbus
