Loyal Wingman

Latest in Loyal Wingman

The future of the Navy NGAD crewed aircraft program remains in limbo.

Fate Of Navy’s F/A-XX Future Fighter Is In Limbo (Updated) Fate Of Navy’s F/A-XX Future Fighter Is In Limbo (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Posted Yesterday

General Atomics Long shot drone.

Air-Launched ‘Fighter Drone’ Collaborative Combat Aircraft Being Eyed By Air Force Air-Launched ‘Fighter Drone’ Collaborative Combat Aircraft Being Eyed By Air Force

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on May 13, 2025

The U.S. Air Force’s new Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones are being developed around fundamentally different understandings of maintenance, logistics, and sustainment, with a heavier focus on commercial-off-the-shelf components, than the service’s existing crewed and uncrewed platforms.

USAF Wants Collaborative Aircraft Fleet To Stress Parts Commonality For Forward Operations USAF Wants Collaborative Aircraft Fleet To Stress Parts Commonality For Forward Operations

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 9, 2025

Two new drone designs, Apollo and Athena, are in development at Kratos with a particular focus on collaborative operations with other crewed and uncrewed aircraft, and an eye toward sales in Europe.

Two Secretive Loyal Wingman Drones Aimed At European Market In Development From Kratos Two Secretive Loyal Wingman Drones Aimed At European Market In Development From Kratos

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on May 9, 2025

Raytheon has begun test flights of its compact PhantomStrike radar, which features an active electronically scanned array (AESA) and gallium nitride (GaN) technology. Most significantly, the manufacturer claims that PhantomStrike — which has already been ordered by Poland — brings all the benefits of an AESA antenna at a much lower price point than other radars in its class.

PhantomStrike Low-Cost Lightweight AESA Radar Flies For First Time PhantomStrike Low-Cost Lightweight AESA Radar Flies For First Time

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 6, 2025

XQ-58 rocket launch from its rail launcher system.

Kratos Close To “A Couple” Final Versions Of XQ-58 Valkyrie For The Marines Kratos Close To “A Couple” Final Versions Of XQ-58 Valkyrie For The Marines

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on May 5, 2025

The U.S. Air Force and Anduril have offered what appears to be the first look at a "production representative" example of the YFQ-44A drone, also known as Fury.

Our First Look At The YFQ-44A ‘Fighter Drone’ Collaborative Combat Aircraft Our First Look At The YFQ-44A ‘Fighter Drone’ Collaborative Combat Aircraft

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on May 1, 2025

Making Sure Wingman Drones Don’t Hit Their Crewed Companions Still A Challenge Marines Say

Making Sure Wingman Drones Don’t Hit Their Crewed Companions Still A Challenge Marines Say Making Sure Wingman Drones Don’t Hit Their Crewed Companions Still A Challenge Marines Say

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 30, 2025

XQ-58 with landing gear.

XQ-58 Valkyrie With Built-In Landing Gear Shown In New Rendering XQ-58 Valkyrie With Built-In Landing Gear Shown In New Rendering

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Apr 16, 2025

The U.S. Navy is touting the U.S.-Australian MQ-28 Ghost Bat ‘loyal wingman’ type drone program as a model for future industrial partnerships, while confirming continued U.S. military interest in the drone. The fact that the Navy is now speaking about this is notable, on the one hand because the MQ-28 has so far been seen primarily as a program of interest for the U.S. Air Force, and on the other because the Navy is currently still trying to nail down its carrier-based Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) plans.

MQ-28 Ghost Bat Is Of “Strong Interest” To The U.S. Navy MQ-28 Ghost Bat Is Of “Strong Interest” To The U.S. Navy

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Apr 15, 2025

CCAs and super hornet

Navy Won’t Scramble To Field Loyal Wingman Drones Like The Air Force Navy Won’t Scramble To Field Loyal Wingman Drones Like The Air Force

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Apr 8, 2025

The U.S. Air Force has designated the drones that General Atomics and Anduril are currently developing as part of the first phase, or Increment 1, of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program as the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, respectively.

‘Fighter Drone’ Designations Officially Assigned To Collaborative Combat Aircraft By USAF ‘Fighter Drone’ Designations Officially Assigned To Collaborative Combat Aircraft By USAF

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 4, 2025

Indian drone maker NewSpace Research and Technologies has officially unveiled a new jet-powered loyal wingman-type drone called Abhimanyu.

Indian Naval Collaborative Drone Concept Unveiled Indian Naval Collaborative Drone Concept Unveiled

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 10, 2025

U.S. Navy officials have laid out several priorities they say are key to ensuring the service's carrier air wings will be able to succeed in future conflicts, especially a high-end fight in the Pacific.

Carrier Air Wing’s Key Priorities To Win In Future Pacific Fight Laid Out By Navy Carrier Air Wing’s Key Priorities To Win In Future Pacific Fight Laid Out By Navy

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 30, 2025

The U.S. Air Force's XQ-67A drone is set to receive modifications and upgrades to demonstrate its ability to perform certain missions as part of a program called Demon Ape.

XQ-67 Getting Overhauled With New Capabilities As Part Of Demon Ape Program XQ-67 Getting Overhauled With New Capabilities As Part Of Demon Ape Program

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 24, 2025

F-35 AI-Enabled Drone Controller Capability Successfully Demonstrated

F-35 AI-Enabled Drone Controller Capability Successfully Demonstrated F-35 AI-Enabled Drone Controller Capability Successfully Demonstrated

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 23, 2025