Airbus demonstrates MUSHER unmanned teaming with helicopters

A manned H130 helicopter takes control of an unmanned VSR700 rotary-winged UAV during MUM-T trials under the European MUSHER project. (Airbus)

Airbus has demonstrated the manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) of a helicopter and a rotary-winged unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) under a new European project named MUSHER.

Announced on 10 October, the Manned Unmanned System for HElicopteR (MUSHER) demonstration saw an Airbus Helicopters H130 manned helicopter take control of an unmanned VSR700 as part of a wider trial that included Leonardo and other European companies across France and Italy.

“We were able to demonstrate our ability to interact between an H130 and a VSR700, and also between another Leonardo helicopter and another drone,” head of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) at Airbus, Victor Gerin Roze, told Janes and other defence media at the company's Marignane facility in southern France.

“We are really developing this concept together in the sense that it is a European project where Airbus is involved with other companies,” he said. “The objective is to first demonstrate this capability and also to demonstrate our ability to have a common European action protocol, which is really critical. We have demonstrated the ability to take over control of the drone, and also Leonardo could take control of our VSR700. It is really this data exchange which is crucial in the MUM-T.”

The trials that took place from 30 September to 9 October were performed over France and Italy and also saw Spain participation. Besides Airbus and Leonardo, Thales was the lead co-ordinator of the MUSHER project, Space Applications Services was in charge of the mission preparation station, Indra led simulation activities in preparation for the demonstration, and ONERA provided studies on crew workload.