BAE Systems Australia and Skyryse have announced a strategic partnership to advance software-defined autonomous flight applications for government, commercial and defense aviation.
The collaboration will combine Skyryse’s SkyOS universal flight operating system with BAE Systems Australia’s Vehicle Management System, with the companies evaluating integration opportunities for next-generation rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft.
Software-Defined Autonomous Flight Combines SkyOS and BAE Systems VMS
The partnership brings together two flight and autonomy technologies with complementary capabilities.
SkyOS is Skyryse’s universal operating system for flight, while BAE Systems Australia’s Vehicle Management System powers advanced autonomous platforms operating across land and air domains.
Under the partnership, the companies will evaluate how the two technologies can be integrated for future aircraft programs.
SkyOS will serve as the preferred flight operating system for joint projects between Skyryse and BAE Systems Australia.
SkyOS Supports Piloted and Autonomous Aircraft
Skyryse designed SkyOS as a software-defined architecture that replaces conventional mechanical flight control systems.
According to the company, the platform can support three operating configurations within a single certifiable architecture:
- Piloted flight
- Optionally piloted flight
- Autonomous flight
The partnership is intended to explore how this architecture could be combined with BAE Systems Australia’s autonomous systems experience for both existing and future aircraft.
“As government, commercial, and defense sectors look to modernize existing fleets while accelerating the adoption of autonomous capabilities, software is becoming the defining technology in aviation,” said Mark Groden, founder and CEO of Skyryse.
“SkyOS is uniquely positioned because it combines human-rated flight software with autonomous capabilities in a certifiable, software-defined platform.”
Partnership Targets Rotary and Fixed-Wing Aircraft
BAE Systems Australia and Skyryse plan to pursue opportunities involving both rotary-wing and fixed-wing platforms.
Potential programs could include modernization of existing aircraft as well as new clean-sheet designs.
“Together with BAE Systems Australia, we’re exploring how that foundation can enable the next generation of optionally piloted and autonomous aircraft, including future clean-sheet designs,” Groden said.
The companies identified government, commercial and defense markets as potential areas for collaboration.
BAE Systems Brings Vehicle Management System Experience
BAE Systems Australia brings more than 40 years of experience developing sovereign autonomy technologies through its Vehicle Management System.
The VMS has been used to support advanced autonomous platforms in both land and air applications.
“Partnering with Skyryse allows BAE Systems Australia to build on more than 40 years of experience developing sovereign autonomy technologies through our Vehicle Management System, while expanding opportunities in the rapidly evolving autonomous aircraft market,” said Andrew Gresham, Managing Director of Defence Delivery at BAE Systems Australia.
“Together, Skyryse’s software-defined SkyOS and BAE Systems Australia’s Vehicle Management System bring complementary capabilities that can help deliver the next generation of optionally piloted and autonomous aircraft for government and commercial customers.”
Software-Defined Aviation Supports Aircraft Modernization
The partnership reflects increasing development of software-defined aviation architectures in which flight-control software can support both aircraft modernization and new autonomous platforms.
Rather than developing separate architectures for piloted and autonomous aircraft, Skyryse is positioning SkyOS as a common platform capable of supporting multiple levels of automation.
Skyryse said its technology is being developed for commercial, public safety and defense applications.
The company’s partners include Air Methods, CAL FIRE, Mitsubishi Corporation and the U.S. Army.
Companies Plan Broader Autonomous Aircraft Opportunities
BAE Systems Australia and Skyryse intend to pursue opportunities spanning piloted, optionally piloted and fully autonomous aircraft.
Their work will evaluate how SkyOS and the BAE Systems Vehicle Management System can be integrated to support future aviation programs across government, commercial and defense markets.
The collaboration brings together BAE Systems Australia’s autonomy experience and Skyryse’s certifiable flight operating system as both companies pursue software-defined autonomous flight technologies for next-generation rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft.
Source: Press release from Skyryse and BAE Systems Australia
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