The Air Force is asking industry and academia to brainstorm ways of creating a signal-relay aircraft able to backup, and even take over for satellites if needed. The request for information for the Affordable Aerial Relay solicits ideas for a potential airframe, payload, and integration concepts, short of actual proposals. Satellites are a “limited resource and do not have the capacity to support all of the warfighter’s information exchange needs,” states the RFI posted March 4. Attacks could also degrade or deny satellite communications in future conflicts, it adds, highlighting the need for an “alternate communications path.” The documents stipulated the notional platform must be able to handle remotely piloted aircraft control and sensor data, link air-to-air assets, and translate aircraft datalinks to a command and control hub. Responses will be used to “facilitate acquisition planning,” and should be submitted by March 10, according to the RFI.
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.