Navy Puts BAE-Made Coyote UAVs Through ‘Swarm’ Test

The U.S. Navy‘s Office of Naval Research has demonstrated a platform that works to launch multiple unmanned aerial vehicles on a swarm-based mission to deter adversaries.

ONR said Tuesday the military branch tested the Low-Cost UAV Swarming Technology with BAE Systems-built Coyote drones during a recent demonstration.

The service also used the LOCUST system in another flight test, where nine UAVs flew autonomously in synchronized formation.

“This level of autonomous swarming flight has never been done before,” said Lee Mastroianni, an ONR program manager, adding the Navy aims to conduct a ship-based demonstration of the launcher technology and as many as 30 unmanned aircraft in 2016.

The Navy developed LOCUST to facilitate rapid release of multiple UAVs into the air and information exchange among the drones as they protect other aircraft, ships or tactical vehicles.

According to BAE, the 13-pound Coyote drone is designed to have sensors or cameras, fly to a directed path and perform ISR missions.