Airbus Helicopters advances crewed-uncrewed operations with successful MUSHER demonstration
October 10, 2024
Part of the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP) and launched under the code-name MUSHER, Airbus Helicopters, alongside Leonardo and other partners, has successfully conducted a full-scale demonstration of a manned-unmanned (MUM-T) system.
The aim of the EU-funded project is to develop a generic MUM-T system that can operate robustly for civil and military use. Led by Airbus, the demonstration took place in France and Italy over a 10-day period and involved multiple crewed helicopters and uncrewed systems connected to a single MUM-T network. Demonstration missions were based on concepts of operations defined by France, Italy and Spain’s ministries of defence.
To demonstrate the interoperability between different aircraft from different countries, Airbus deployed its H130 FlightLab as a crewed platform and the VSR700 uncrewed aerial system (UAS) on a DGA test range, while Leonardo performed the demonstration with a helicopter and an optionally piloted vehicle. Meanwhile, Thales provided a supervision and mission debriefing station, while Space Applications Services was in charge of the mission preparation station. Indra led simulation activities and French aerospace lab, ONERA, provided studies on crew workload.
“Operating helicopters and unmanned aerial systems in concert provides valuable additional mission capabilities such as increased situational awareness with UAS sharing video in real time for improved decision-making, all while preserving critical assets and resources,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters.
Noting that the successful MUSHER demonstration is a major step for Airbus and its partners, he added, “our ambition at Airbus is to field MUM-T capabilities by bringing European industrial know-how together for the benefit of military and civil customers.”
