️🇺🇸 The US Air Force is seeking to convert its cargo planes into launch platforms for swarms of artificial intelligence-controlled drones, as part of a small business innovation research program with a deadline of October 21.

️🇺🇸 The US Air Force is seeking to convert its cargo planes into launch platforms for swarms of artificial intelligence-controlled drones, as part of a small business innovation research program with a deadline of October 21.

The project aims to transform transport aircraft into "adaptable launch platforms, force multipliers that provide rapidly deployable swarms for base security."

One mission is to give transport aircraft onboard ISR capabilities by becoming motherships for high-altitude drones, as demonstrated when a C-130 recovered an X-61 Gremlin in the air. Air Mobility Command is discussing the use of KC-135 tankers as launch platforms.

The program moves directly to phase two, where companies are required to show that swarms can independently monitor and protect a perimeter using built-in optical and thermal sensors, while protecting the drones from hacking.