MQ-25 Vehicle Management Computer Upgrade

April 1, 2024

BAE Systems
Endicott, NY
603-288-4082
www.baesystems.com/US

BAE Systems has been selected by Boeing to upgrade the vehicle management system computer (VMSC) for the U.S. Navy’s MQ-25 autonomous unmanned aerial refueling system. The technology refresh will increase computing power and address obsolescence issues, providing the unmanned aerial tanker with an integrated solution that improves aircraft performance and allows for future capability growth.

The MQ-25 is the Navy’s carrier-based unmanned aircraft that is tasked with performing aerial refueling missions that were previously managed by F/A-18 aircraft. The next generation vehicle management computer controls all flight surfaces and performs overall vehicle management duties for the MQ-25.

The new vehicle management computer is enabled by quadcore processors to increase computing power while optimizing the size, weight, and power footprint on the MQ-25. The multi-core processor selected for the MQ-25 VMSC has also recently completed qualification on another U.S. military platform thereby reducing cost, schedule, and integration risk for this program.

BAE’s new computer will replace multiple other onboard computers while providing growth capability to support future missions of the MQ-25, such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and lays the foundation for all future carrier-based unmanned systems by enabling the manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) operational concept.

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