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Loyal Wingman

Latest in Loyal Wingman

L3Harris wants to demonstrate the ability of the RC-135V/W Rivet Joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft to team up with uncrewed platforms.
Loyal Wingman

RC-135 Rivet Joints Could Control Drones To Drastically Expand Collection Capabilities

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 19, 2026

Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat Block 3.
MQ-28

Boeing’s New Larger Ghost Bat Can Carry AIM-120 AMRAAMs Internally

By The War Zone

Posted on Jun 10, 2026

Representing the next evolution in Airbus’ UCCA roadmap towards a scalable family of uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft, the 1:1 model on display features a wingspan of 10 m and a length of 13 m. Optimised for multi-domain missions, the UCCA's capabilities include air-to-surface strikes using precision-guided munitions, air-to-air defence with long and medium-range anti-aircraft missiles, and electronic warfare for suppressing enemy air defences and offensive counter-air using non-kinetic jamming. Ravenstorm will be available in the early 2030s.
Loyal Wingman

Ravenstorm At The Center Of Airbus’s New Combat Drone Portfolio

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 9, 2026

Boeing is now conducting test flights of its MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone out over the Pacific from the U.S. Navy's base in Point Mugu, California.
MQ-28

MQ-28 Ghost Bat Now Flying Over The Pacific From U.S. Navy Base

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 28, 2026

A U.S. Marine Corps XQ-58A Valkyrie, highly autonomous, low-cost tactical unmanned air vehicle, soars overhead during its second test flight at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 23, 2023. The XQ-58A Valkyrie test flight and the data collected inform future requirements for the Marine Corps in a rapidly evolving security environment, while successfully fueling joint innovation and experimentation opportunities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. John McRell)
XQ-58

First USMC MQ-58 Valkyrie CCA Drones To Arrive In 2029

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 29, 2026

A U.S. Marine Corps XQ-58A Valkyrie, highly autonomous, low-cost tactical unmanned air vehicle, conducts its second test flight with two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to 33rd Fighter Wing, 96th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 23, 2023. The XQ-58A Valkyrie test flight and the data collected inform future requirements for the Marine Corps in a rapidly evolving security environment, while successfully fueling joint innovation and experimentation opportunities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. John McRell)
XQ-58

F-35s Quarterbacking Drones Seen As Gateway To USMC’s 6th Gen Fighter

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 20, 2026

The Air Force’s Experimental Operations Unit, under Air Combat Command, concluded a critical exercise with Collaborative Combat Aircraft recently at Edwards Air Force Base, California, putting principles of the new Warfighting Acquisition System into practice. The exercise employed the YFQ-44A aircraft and represents a shift toward the new concept of earlier, operator-driven experimentation to inform tactics and procedures that will accelerate the delivery of this transformative capability to the warfighter.
Loyal Wingman

YFQ-44 Fury Fighter Drone Wraps Contested Operations Test That Could Accelerate Its Fielding

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 17, 2026

An MQ-28A Ghost Bat loaded with an AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile during Trial Kareela at RAAF Base Woomera, South Australia.
MQ-28

MQ-28 Ghost Bat Gains Major European Foothold As Rheinmetall Joins Forces With Boeing

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 31, 2026

The U.S. Air Force has given us our first look at one of Anduril's YFQ-44 Fury ‘fighter drone’ prototypes carrying an inert AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).
Loyal Wingman

Anduril’s Fury Collaborative Combat Aircraft Is Now Flying With AIM-120 AMRAAM

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Feb 24, 2026

General Atomics' air-launched LongShort drone has made new progress toward its first flight with the completion of various tests on the ground, including a demonstration of its weapons release capabilities.
Loyal Wingman

X-68A LongShot Air-To-Air Missile-Carrying Drone Moves Closer To F-15 Launch

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 17, 2026

YFQ-42 selected for test program with the USMC.
Loyal Wingman

YFQ-42 Fighter Drone To Test USMC’s Autonomy ‘Brain’ Alongside Crewed Jets

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Feb 11, 2026

An MQ-28A Ghost Bat loaded with an AIM-120 during Trial Kareela at RAAF Base Woomera, South Australia.
MQ-28

Boeing Details New MQ-28 Ghost Bat Features, Eyes Indo-Pacific Sales

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 5, 2026

Kratos has confirmed to TWZ that the landing gear-equipped version of its XQ-58 Valkyrie drone being developed for the U.S. Marines will still be able to make rocket-assisted takeoffs from static launchers.
XQ-58

Marine XQ-58 Valkyries Will Launch Via Rockets Or Runways

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jan 9, 2026

The Marine Corps' pursuit of a fully missionized version of Kratos' stealthy XQ-58A Valkyrie drone has taken another step forward with a new announcement that Northrop Grumman is now aiding in the effort.
XQ-58

USMC XQ-58 Valkyrie Development Makes Leap Forward With New Contract (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 8, 2026

New imagery of Chinese catapult-capable low-observable combat drones, or possibly mockups thereof, together with some unusual trucks, may point to plans to launch them from the ground, as well as ships.
Loyal Wingman

Is This China’s Truck-Mounted Electromagnetic Catapult?

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Dec 30, 2025

The U.S. Air Force has formally designated Northrop Grumman’s Project Talon drone as the YFQ-48A and described it as a "strong contender" to be part of its future Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) fleets.
Loyal Wingman

YFQ-48A ‘Fighter Drone’ Designation Given To Northrop Grumman’s Talon By USAF

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 22, 2025