Athena Technologies is to develop software that provides autonomous survival responses to aircraft damage caused by enemy action, to ensure mission success.

The software has been developed for the Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems programme’s Boeing X-45B or Northrop Grumman X-47C.

The operational vehicle would autonomously assess damage and make immediate changes to the flight-control system. The software’s control algorithms are built on the experience of using a variety of unmanned air vehicles. The three-phase project will end by 2008 with two airborne demonstrations.

Source: Flight International