The XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) completed its maiden voyage on February 28, 2024, thanks to the efforts of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI). OBSS is a programme run by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and GA-ASI was chosen in 2021 to be responsible for the design, construction, and flight of the new aircraft.
GA-ASI has validated the “genus/species” concept initially created with AFRL as part of the Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Platform Sharing (LCAAPS) programme intended to build numerous aircraft variations from a shared core chassis. This validation was accomplished through the flight of the XQ-67A, financed by the AFRL.
A chassis, which is referred to as a “genus,” was investigated by AFRL and GA-ASI as part of the LCAAPS programme. This chassis would serve as the foundational core architecture from which several “species” of aircraft might be constructed.
“This gives an alternate procurement technique for military aircraft that permits faster development, lower costs, and more opportunity for periodic technology refresh,” said Trenton White, OBSS Programme Manager and aerospace engineer in the Aerospace Systems Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).
The XQ-67A is the first “species” to be created and constructed on this shared platform, according to Trenton White, who also mentioned that. The flight demonstration of this device is a significant first step towards demonstrating the capability of producing combat mass at a low price.
According to Michael Atwood, the Vice President of Advanced Programmes at GA-ASI, the OBSS is the first aircraft type to be constructed and flown using a standard core chassis that GA-ASI designed. This chassis provides commonality across numerous vehicle types.
