U.S. Navy Unveils First-Ever Drone Operations Hub on Aircraft Carrier

The U.S. Navy has taken a significant leap forward in naval aviation with the installation of the world’s first Unmanned Air Warfare Center (UAWC) aboard the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77).

This cutting-edge control center marks a new era in carrier operations, where Air Vehicle Pilots (AVPs) will oversee future MQ-25™ Stingray unmanned aerial operations, heralding the integration of drone technology into naval missions.

This ambitious project was a collaboration between several key naval entities, including the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Webster Outlying Field Alteration Installation Team, AirWorks, and industry partner Lockheed Martin. Together, they ensured the seamless integration of this groundbreaking system.

At the heart of the UAWC is the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System (UMCS) MD-5E Ground Control Station (GCS), the first fully operational and integrated system of its kind. This advanced control room, equipped with cutting-edge software and hardware, is the command hub for the MQ-25 Stingray, the Navy’s first unmanned aerial refueler.

Central to the GCS’s functionality is Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works® Multi Domain Combat System (MDCX™), a sophisticated platform that powers the control station. This system, along with additional supporting equipment and hardware, forms the baseline for the production systems that will be installed on other carriers, including CVNs 70, 71, and 76, starting in fiscal year 2025.

The physical installation of the UAWC was a complex task, requiring precise coordination and execution. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, and CVN 77 were instrumental in organizing schedules, equipment, and logistics, ensuring that the installation was completed efficiently and effectively.

Looking ahead, the USS George H.W. Bush is set to lead the first at-sea testing of the UAWC’s operational networks early next year. This testing phase will build on the initial network testing conducted in January aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), where a simulated GCS was used to validate the system’s capabilities.

The successful integration of the MQ-25 into carrier operations is overseen by PMA-268, the lead systems integrator, which works closely with industry giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin.