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General Atomics Simulates Live Shootdown Using MQ-20 UAS Equipped With AI Pilot

By Cal Biesecker

Tuesday, June 17th, 2025

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General Atomics Simulates Live Shootdown Using MQ-20 UAS Equipped With AI Pilot

MQ-20 Avenger UAS. Photo: General Atomics

An MQ-20 Avenger unmanned combat aerial vehicle equipped with artificial intelligence-based flight software successfully simulated an autonomous shootdown of live aircraft earlier this month, General Atomics (GA) and Shield AI said on Tuesday. General Atomics said the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) demonstrated midair station keeping, autonomous decision-making, manned-unmanned teaming, live aircraft intercept of two aircraft, and a simulated missile shot against representative Group 5 UAS. The testing in a live-virtual-constructive environment on June 11 included multiple live and virtual aircraft.…

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