Lockheed Martin Demos Next-Gen Multi-Domain Mission Autonomy

• Lockheed Martin successfully conducted a live demonstration of its comprehensive suite of command and control (C2) and autonomy capabilities.
• The MDCX™ platform is constructed upon open, standards-based software and is safeguarded by an MLS guard.
• Central to this technology is an Open-Systems Architecture (OSA).

Lockheed Martin successfully conducted a live demonstration of its comprehensive suite of command and control (C2) and autonomy capabilities in the United Kingdom. This demonstration showcased the MDCX autonomy platform, various classes of smaller uncrewed air systems (UAS), and the Vigilance Mission and Sensor Management System, which has been developed in the UK.

During the demonstration, the MDCX™ effectively commanded both a Group 1 Indago 2 quadcopter and a Group 2 Stalker fixed-wing UAS. This operation featured real-time sensor fusion and display capabilities provided by the Vigilance system. The exercise underscored the feasibility of secure, multi-vehicle control beyond naval carrier environments, thereby reinforcing pathways for international partners in the realms of Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP) and uncrewed command and control (C2) and autonomy capabilities.

The Vigilance system facilitated a mixed live and synthetic environment, allowing for the demonstration of Multi-UXV and Multi-Sensor Mission Management, as well as Sub-System/Sensor Data Fusion. It employed a Software Defined Radio Payload aboard the Indago 2 quadcopter to re-broadcast Sonobuoy data.

This achievement represents a significant advancement in exportable, multi-domain solutions, highlighting MDCX™’s proficiency in integrating uncrewed vehicle command and control for international clientele without compromising security or performance. Furthermore, it demonstrates the capacity to operate alongside sovereign capabilities to achieve mission autonomy.

Central to this technology is an Open-Systems Architecture (OSA), which exemplifies Skunk Works®’ commitment to this methodology. The MDCX™ system is founded on Open Mission Systems (OMS) principles and features a Universal Command & Control Interface (UCI) message set, along with Multi-Level-Security (MLS) protected software. This framework establishes a pathway for integration with the UK-developed Vigilance suite and allied C2 networks into a unified, vendor-neutral command hub. This modular approach provides clients with a shared platform capable of managing diverse systems, ranging from tactical quadcopters to prospective carrier-based aircraft, thereby ensuring interoperability in future uncrewed operations.

By amalgamating Vigilance’s mission and sensor data with autonomous flight control, this solution enhances situational awareness, enables dynamic tasking, and facilitates rapid re-planning across air, sea, and cyber domains. This integrated network allows allied forces to swiftly detect, track, and respond to emerging threats through coordinated, multi-platform actions, aligning with the increasing global demand for uncrewed-system command and control.

Captain James Hall, the Commanding Officer of Royal Navy Air Station Culdrose, expressed his enthusiasm regarding collaboration with Lockheed Martin and emphasised the critical nature of developing open architectures, such as Vigilance and MDCX™, in addressing the requirements of the Hybrid Navy and facilitating the transformation of Naval Aviation.

OJ Sanchez, Vice President and General Manager at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works®, highlighted that the MDCX-X and Vigilance demonstration substantiates a secure, open-systems approach enabling uncrewed operations across air, sea, and cyber domains while reinforcing the efficacy of allied collaborations with UK sensor-management capabilities.

Tony Tite, Business Development Director at Lockheed Martin UK, underscored the company’s three-decade legacy of delivering mission-centric capabilities in the UK, indicating that the MDCX-X and Vigilance demonstration exemplifies the integration of UK sovereignty with US technology for expedited capability enhancement.

The MDCX™ platform is constructed upon open, standards-based software and is safeguarded by an MLS guard, rendering it readily exportable to partner nations that seek advanced C2 and autonomy functionalities while complying with various classification-level handling requirements. The vendor-neutral design of the platform enables the seamless integration of sovereign sensor fusion systems, thus facilitating the expedient adaptation for nations preparing to embrace Autonomous Collaborative Aircraft (ACP) and carrier-based uncrewed operations.

In conclusion, the combined capabilities represented by MDCX™ and Vigilance constitute Lockheed Martin's suite of command-and-control solutions for uncrewed systems. This suite offers scalable multi-vehicle control, open architecture integration that accommodates sovereign software and third-party AI services, multi-domain data fusion through Vigilance for a comprehensive operational picture, as well as an export-ready configuration with MLS certification. As global requirements increase for autonomous and networked uncrewed systems across all domains, this versatile suite provides partner nations with a proven and secure foundation to develop the next generation of carrier-based and joint force operations.