Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® Demonstrates AI-Driven Mission-Contingency Management on Autonomous UAVs

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® has conducted a successful live demonstration showcasing artificial intelligence–driven mission-contingency management (AI/MCM) on a Stalker XE Block 25 UAV and an Alta X 2.0 drone. The test marks a major advancement in autonomous unmanned operations by proving that AI can rapidly respond to unexpected problems with mission-ready solutions.

AI Steps Beyond the Lab

The demonstration simulated multiple fuel-related contingencies, allowing Lockheed Martin to evaluate how an AI-enabled command-and-control system can autonomously detect issues and generate mission adjustments in seconds. The AI analyzed the conditions, produced re-plan options, and allowed operators to select the optimal response without losing focus on overarching mission duties.

Operational Details: Real-Time Replanning and UxV Integration

Once a preferred option was selected, the AI autonomously reassigned the Stalker UAV’s mission tasks to the Alta X drone while simultaneously returning the Stalker to base.
Additional capabilities demonstrated included:

• Unified C2 management of a Stalker UAV, Fulcrum-supported UAVs, and a UGV located in Kansas
• Control of unmanned air and ground systems from a single mobile command node
• Coordinated drone meshes operating in mounted, dismounted, and sub-terrain (“below-the-noise”) environments

These results prove that AI-enabled unmanned-air-and-ground (UxV) control is maturing towards operational deployment.

Economic & Technological Impact: Advancing Multi-Domain Autonomy

Lockheed Martin’s integration of the STAR.SDK™ and STAR.OS™ suite further accelerates the deployment of battlefield-ready AI services. STAR.SDK connected the contingency software to an interactive operator interface, enabling a chat-based assistant for real-time tasking. The open architecture supports seamless interaction between diverse AI systems and unmanned platforms, strengthening multi-domain operational readiness.

Strategic Significance: Enhancing Warfighter Readiness

According to OJ Sanchez, Vice President and General Manager of Skunk Works®, the test demonstrates how AI-powered autonomous decision-making can give warfighters greater speed, safety, and operational advantage in contested environments.
The successful trial underscores Lockheed Martin’s commitment to delivering open-architecture, AI-enabled autonomous systems that empower U.S. and allied forces across air, ground, and synthetic domains.