Airbus Helicopters and Schiebel have tested Manned Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) capabilities using an H145 platform and a Camcopter S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS), thus becoming the first European helicopter manufacturers to demonstrate this technology with the highest level of interoperability (LOI 5).

The test flights were perfrmed with the support of the Austrian Armaments and Defence Technology Agency. The two aircraft jointly flew different scenarios including the detection of objects hidden in places not accessible by traditional helicopters. The S-100 was controlled and piloted by an operator sitting in the helicopter. During the flights, the control was also temporarily handed over to a ground-based control station by the pilot in order to simulate the return of the manned helicopter for refueling.

The trials went up to MUM-T LOI 5. This allows the manned platform to exercise full control of the UAS including take-off and landing.

Airbus Helicopters says that the MUM-T capability can be implemented in any kind of civil or military helicopter and can interact with all types of unmanned systems, in particular Airbus Helicopters’ new VSR 700 UAS.

The test also addressed the challenges of data transfer interference and electromagnetic compatibility of the UAS with the helicopter as well as the integration of a complete UAS mission planning and control system into the helicopter’s architecture. The S-100 mission planning and control system was provided by Schiebel. The next step will be to optimise the human-machine interface based on a thorough analysis of the crew workload using the results of the flight tests.