Northrop Grumman Corporation has unveiled Beacon, its next-generation testbed ecosystem designed to deliver new autonomous mission capabilities. Beacon provides an integrated environment that mimics relevant mission scenarios.
Beacon combines Northrop Grumman’s advanced autonomous software and solutions with an equally advanced digital ecosystem. Beacon is designed to accelerate software deployment, reduce risk and improve readiness for partners and customers in the development of key autonomous capabilities and support future aircraft programs.
Northrop Grumman designed Beacon to be an open-access autonomous testbed ecosystem aligned to government reference architectures. Partners can test and refine their solutions using Northrop Grumman’s proven flight hardware and integration expertise.
With multiple partners already committed and a series of flight demonstrations planned for this year, Northrop Grumman’s ecosystem connects the best of industry to pave the way for the future of autonomy.
Tom Jones, corporate vice president and president, Aeronautics Systems, Northrop Grumman, said, “Beacon is sixth-generation autonomous software development. It’s backed by our decades of leadership in designing and building operational autonomous aircraft and it’s serving as a bridge across industry to significantly reduce the time and cost it takes to bring new autonomous mission capabilities to our customers.”
