Lockheed Martin Demos Next-Gen Multi-Domain Mission Autonomy in the United Kingdom
Lockheed Martin successfully completed a live demonstration of its suite of command and control (C2) and autonomy capabilities in the UK. The demonstration featured the MDCX™ autonomy platform, multiple classes of smaller uncrewed air systems (UAS), and Vigilance Mission and Sensor management system, a UK-developed capability.
The MDCX™ simultaneously commanded a Group 1 Indago 2 quadcopter and a Group 2 Stalker fixed‑wing UAS, with real‑time sensor fusion and display from the Vigilance system. The exercise proved that secure, multi‑vehicle control can be achieved beyond naval carrier environments and in allied domains, reinforcing international partners’ pathways for future Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) and uncrewed C2 and autonomy capabilities.
Vigilance provided a mixed live/synthetic environment to showcase Multi-UXV and Multi-Sensor Mission Management and Sub-System/Sensor Data Fusion, whilst using its Software Defined Radio Payload aboard an Indago 2 quadcopter to re-broadcast Sonobuoy data.
This achievement marks a significant step in the evolution of exportable, multi‑domain solutions, showcasing MDCX™’s ability to integrate uncrewed‑vehicle command and control for international customers without sacrificing security or performance and operate alongside sovereign capabilities to deliver mission autonomy.
Open‑Systems Architecture at the Core
The abilities showcased are a testament to Skunk Works’® commitment to Open Systems Architecture (OSA). MDCX™’s Open Mission Systems (OMS) foundation, the Universal Command & Control Interface (UCI) message set, and Multi-Level-Security (MLS) guarded software allows for an integration roadmap with UK developed Vigilance suite and allied C2 networks to plug into a single, vendor‑neutral command hub. This straightforward, modular approach gives customers an option for a common platform that can control everything from tactical quadcopters to prospective carrier‑based aircraft, ensuring interoperable, future‑proof uncrewed operations for years to come.
Enhancing Partners’ Mission Effectiveness
By fusing Vigilance’s mission and sensor data with autonomous flight‑control, the solution supplies timely situational awareness, dynamic tasking and rapid re‑planning across air, sea and cyber domains. The result is a networked approach that lets allied forces rapidly detect, track and respond to emerging threats with coordinated, multi‑platform action – a capability that scales as the demand for uncrewed‑system C2 grows worldwide.
"It's fantastic to work with a strategic systems integrator like Lockheed Martin and especially exciting to host Skunk Works® at Predannack. Developing open architectures like Vigilance and MDCX™, understanding mission autonomy and collaborating early with front-line crews are essential to meeting the needs of the Hybrid Navy and enabling the transformation of Naval Aviation." said Captain James Hall, Commanding Officer of Royal Navy Air Station Culdrose, Royal Navy. “What we saw today is truly the tip of the spear. It shows how rapidly we can advance our ability to command, control and understand the maritime battle space. Capabilities like this don’t just enhance our mission — they redefine what’s possible.”
“The MDCX‑X and Vigilance demonstration validates a secure, open‑systems approach that enables uncrewed operations across air, sea and cyber domains,” said OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works®. “By proving simultaneous control of multiple types of UAS along with a sovereign UK sensor‑management system, we reinforce our commitment to delivering multi‑domain autonomy for carrier‑based forces and demonstrate the power of allied partnership.”
“Vigilance is built on Lockheed Martin’s 30‑year heritage of delivering mission‑focused capabilities in the United Kingdom. It is designed and built in the U.K. on the world‑class mission system that powers the Royal Navy’s Merlin Mk 2 maritime patrol helicopter, and it is now being delivered under the U.K. Military Flying Training System’s Future Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) rear‑crew training programme,” said Tony Tite, business‑development director, Lockheed Martin U.K. “The MDCX‑X and Vigilance demonstration shows how U.K.‑sovereign capabilities can integrate with U.S. technology to deliver rapid capability insertion. The live/synthetic environment provided for the demonstration leverages our ongoing partnership with the U.K.’s small‑and‑medium‑sized‑enterprise (SME) network.”
Exportability
MDCX™ is built on open, standards-based software and protected by an MLS guard, making it readily exportable to partner nations that require advanced C2 and autonomy while adhering to multiple classification level handling. The platform’s vendor neutral design allows allied partners to integrate their sovereign sensor fusion systems, such as Lockheed Martin UK’s Vigilance, without extensive redesign. This ease of integration accelerates fielding for nations preparing to adopt Autonomous Collaborative Aircraft (ACP) and carrier based uncrewed operations.
A Suite of Capability
Together, MDCX™ and Vigilance represent Lockheed Martin’s “suite of capability” for uncrewed system command and control. The suite delivers:
Scalable multi-vehicle control of various classes and assured Mission Management System.
Open architecture integration that accepts sovereign software, third party AI services and sensor packages.
Multi-domain data fusion through Vigilance, to provide a unified picture for air, surface, sub-surface and cyber operators.
Export ready configuration with MLS certification, that enables rapid fielding to allied forces while preserving national security requirements.
As global demand grows for autonomous, distributed and networked, uncrewed systems across all domains, this ready to deliver, tailorable suite offers partner countries a proven, secure foundation on which to build the next generation of carrier based and joint force operations.