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Uncrewed aircraft are now central to surveillance, logistics, and reconnaissance, but their missions don’t always unfold as planned. Fuel shortages, weather shifts, and unexpected obstacles can force operators to redesign a mission while it is already underway. In fast-moving environments, that rethinking can consume precious time and distract crews from broader situational demands.
According to MilitaryAI, a recent demonstration by Lockheed Martin’s advanced development unit explored how artificial intelligence can take over that burden. The test revolved around a mission-management system designed to detect problems in flight, generate alternative courses of action, and hand the operator several viable options in real time. When a Stalker XE Block 25 drone encountered a fuel issue, the AI evaluated the situation instantly and prepared contingency plans. One option sent the drone back to base, while another shifted the mission to a second platform. The operator selected the preferred solution, and the handover was executed without further intervention.
Such tools could streamline operations involving mixed fleets of air and ground systems. Complex missions often rely on several uncrewed platforms working in parallel, and disruptions to one asset can ripple across the entire operation. AI-driven replanning offers a way to preserve tempo, reduce operator workload, and keep autonomous teams aligned even under pressure.
The demonstration pulled together several systems through a unified command-and-control architecture. Mission data from the drone fed into a central node that also coordinated an unmanned ground vehicle operating in Kansas and additional UAVs provided for the test. The network connected drones, ground robots, and simulated environments, enabling the AI to manage assets spread across different locations.
The backbone of the setup was the STAR.SDK software layer, which links autonomous platforms to a chat-style interface. This allowed the operator to interact with the AI intuitively, selecting among the system’s recommendations rather than issuing detailed flight commands.
The demonstration also highlighted the capabilities of the participating drones. The Stalker XE, a lightweight platform with more than eight hours of endurance, is designed for extended surveillance and can carry several payload types. The Alta X 2.0, used as the secondary aircraft, supports a wide range of sensor configurations and adapts its flight time accordingly.
Together, these elements show how autonomy can support mission continuity when conditions shift unexpectedly — a growing priority as uncrewed systems become more integrated into modern defense operations.
