loyal wingman

The AI aircraft debate rages, but both sides are wrong

In the debate of AI versus human pilots, ULA's Tory Bruno considers a compromise where AI supports warfighters rather than replace them.

A 7th-gen fighter? BAE has thoughts on what that could look like.

“We need to lose the generational name because aircraft are going to be evolving all the time," said BAE Systems’ combat air strategy director Mike Baulkwill.

UK drone test squadron fails to register a single test since forming in 2020: Procurement minister

“Since the formation of 216 Squadron in 2020 there have been no completed tests or trials conducted either in-house or with industry,” said James Cartlidge, UK minister for defence procurement.

Air Force plans CCA downselect within ‘months,’ second ‘increment’ in FY25: Kendall

International partners could join in on drone development for a next round of CCA work planned for the FY25 budget, according to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall.

EXCLUSIVE: Air Force scraps B-21 drone wingman concept

After doing some analysis, the idea appears to be “less attractive than we thought it might be," Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told Breaking Defense.

The UK killed its Project Mosquito drone program, but a follow-on could come soon

Mosquito had been scheduled to fly by the end of 2023, supported by a consortium of US firms Northrop Grumman and Spirit AeroSystems, along with UK company Callen-Lenz.

The Air Force’s top civilian wants a drone wingman for the B-21 bomber

"What we want is something that can go operate with [the B-21]," said Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall.

Are The Days Of Manned Fighters REALLY Numbered?

The Observe and Orient steps of the OODA Loop are the heart and soul of dogfighting—the two most critical elements in the OODA sequence. No system in the world can touch a human’s ability to capture and process those tasks.   

Valkyrie Back In The Air With Successful Flight Test

The Valkyrie is the only drone to have flown with the Skyborg AI wingman package -- but the Air Force isn't ruling out the eventual use of another drone.

US ‘Loyal Wingman’ Takes Flight: AFRL & Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie

A single F-35 could have a flock of "loyal wingman" drones to carry weapons, jam radars, and if need be take a hit and die to save their human commander.