Tech · 13 d ago
A US F-22 directs an autonomous combat drone in flight
Earlier in October, an F-22 pilot gave high-level tactical commands to a YFQ-44A drone. Its onboard software turned them into manoeuvres and simulated combat tasks in real time.
The program behind the drone
Collaborative Combat Aircraft
The YFQ-44A is being developed under the US Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, which aims to field lower-cost uncrewed combat aircraft alongside crewed fighters.
This flight shows the power of crewed-uncrewed teaming and the advantage it provides our warfighters.
— Gen. Ken Wilsbach, US Air Force chief of staff
Combat-ready semi-autonomous aircraft planned by 2032
500 aircraft
The Air Force plans to have 500 combat-ready semi-autonomous aircraft by 2032, within a planned fleet of 1,000.
What we know
- The pilot directed the drone, not each movement
- Flight data will feed further testing
Not yet
- The manoeuvres performed
- The autonomy software used
Data from the flight will feed further software testing. The Air Force has not disclosed the manoeuvres performed or the autonomy software used.
