Featured in loyal wingmanBYThomas NewdickApr 5, 2021ShareStealthy Valkyrie Drone Uses Weapons Bay For First Time To Launch Smaller DroneOn its sixth test flight, Kratos’ low-cost stealthy drone launched a drone of its own via a tube launcher in its weapons bay. BYThomas NewdickApr 5, 2021ShareBYThomas NewdickMar 24, 2021ShareNow The UK Wants To Add Combat Drones To Its Aircraft Carriers, But Is It Really Feasible?Project Vixen is studying how a large high-performance combat drone could undertake missions from the Royal Navy’s flattops. BYThomas NewdickMar 24, 2021ShareBYThomas NewdickMar 22, 2021ShareAI-Controlled F-16s Are Now Working As A Team In DARPA’s Virtual DogfightsThe dogfighting AI DARPA is developing is set to make the challenging migration from a synthetic environment to the real world soon. BYThomas NewdickMar 22, 2021ShareBYThomas Newdick and Joseph TrevithickMar 2, 2021ShareBoeing Is Adapting Its Australian Combat Drone For The U.S. Air Force’s Skyborg ProgramAs Australia signs up for more of the Airpower Teaming System drones, Boeing confirms it will use the design as the basis for its Skyborg offering. BYThomas Newdick and Joseph TrevithickMar 2, 2021ShareBYTyler RogowayMar 2, 2021ShareAustralia’s Potentially Game-Changing Loyal Wingman Drone Has Flown For The First TimeBoeing Airpower Teaming System is set to revolutionize how the Royal Australian Air Force fights and the drone’s export potential continues to grow. BYTyler RogowayMar 2, 2021ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayFeb 10, 2021ShareDARPA Is Developing Aircraft-Launched Missile-Like Drones That Fire Their Own Air-To-Air MissilesThe LongShot program could enable aircraft to engage aerial threats further away, remain less vulnerable while doing so, and much more. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayFeb 10, 2021ShareBYThomas NewdickJan 25, 2021ShareThe United Kingdom Has Chosen Who Will Build Its First Prototype Loyal Wingman Combat DroneThe technology demonstrator is positioned to pave the way for a semi-autonomous combat drone to accompany the UK’s F-35, Typhoon, and Tempest. BYThomas NewdickJan 25, 2021ShareBYThe War Zone staffJan 23, 2021ShareAir Force Eyes Drones For Adversary And Light Attack Roles As It Mulls Buying New F-16sThe future of the U.S. Air Force’s tactical aircraft fleet is under review, with some radical ideas under discussion. BYThe War Zone staffJan 23, 2021ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJan 16, 2021ShareGeneral Atomics’ Stealthy Avenger Drone Flies With Infrared Search And Track PodThe Legion Pod gives the Avenger a way to spot and track even stealthy aircraft and provides a way to quickly add in other new capabilities. BYJoseph TrevithickJan 16, 2021ShareBYJoseph TrevithickDec 5, 2020ShareGeneral Atomics Avenger Drone Flew An Autonomous Air-To-Air Mission Using An AI BrainThe stealthy drone flew for hours, searching for potential aerial threats together with five other simulated drones. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 5, 2020ShareBYThomas NewdickDec 2, 2020ShareRussia’s Okhotnik Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Tests Air-To-Air Missiles: ReportThe flying-wing drone has apparently begun tests carrying air-to-air missile surrogates for a planned “fighter-interceptor role.” BYThomas NewdickDec 2, 2020ShareBYTyler RogowayNov 27, 2020ShareArea 51 Has A Huge New Hangar Facility That Points To A Drone Swarm FutureThe Air Force is accelerating its advanced combat drone development efforts and the facility’s unique attributes seem perfect for supporting them. BYTyler RogowayNov 27, 2020ShareBYThomas NewdickOct 1, 2020ShareOver A Dozen Companies Awarded Contracts For Air Force’s Skyborg Combat Drone ProgramThe U.S. Air Force is seeking to begin work on a drone using AI technologies before the end of the year. BYThomas NewdickOct 1, 2020ShareBYThomas NewdickAug 18, 2020ShareAustralia’s Loyal Wingman Drone It’s Developing With Boeing Has Been Photographed In The WildA photographer spotted the Airpower Teaming System vehicle at an airfield somewhere in Queensland, ahead of its first flight. BYThomas NewdickAug 18, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJul 22, 2020ShareNavy Eyes ‘Hard-Kill’ Defenses For Transport, Tanker, and Possibly Unmanned Escort PlanesThe service is looking for a system that launches interceptors at incoming missiles and could end up on more than half a dozen types of aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 22, 2020ShareBYTyler Rogoway and Joseph Trevithick and Jamie HunterJul 21, 2020ShareF-15 Eagle Seen Loaded With Loyal Wingman Drone For Previously Unknown TestsF-15s carrying loyal wingmen into the fight is a fascinating proposition, but what these tests could be for beyond that is even more intriguing. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph Trevithick and Jamie HunterJul 21, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2020ShareHere’s Who’s In The Running To Build The Royal Air Force’s First Loyal Wingman DronesThese drones could eventually fly together with the RAF’s F-35s and future Tempest fighter jets and will be a key part of its broader unmanned future. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 24, 2020ShareGlitzy Air Force Video Lays Out “Skyborg” Artificial Intelligence Combat Drone ProgramThe presentation outlines potential future mission sets, including air-to-air combat, and how the drones will fit into the service’s larger plans. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 24, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMay 22, 2020ShareThe Fight For The Air Force’s “Skyborg” Artificial Intelligence Equipped Drones Has BegunThe artificial intelligence-driven suite of systems could be flying loyal wingman type drones operationally in just a few years. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 22, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMay 19, 2020ShareUSAF Plans For Its “Skyborg” AI Computer Brain To Be Flying Drones In The Next Two YearsThe service envisions the artificial intelligence system eventually flying larger, more complex unmanned designs and in the cockpit with human pilots. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 19, 2020ShareBYTyler RogowayMay 4, 2020ShareEverything We Learned From Boeing About Its Potentially Game-Changing Loyal Wingman DroneThe stealthy Airpower Teaming System drone has a snap-on nose that can accommodate a huge variety of payloads and can be swapped quickly in the field. BYTyler RogowayMay 4, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickApr 8, 2020ShareBehold Boeing’s Loyal Wingman Drone It Is Building For The Royal Australian Air ForceThe company is planning for the prototype to make its first flight later this year. BYJoseph TrevithickApr 8, 2020ShareBYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickMar 1, 2020ShareGeneral Atomics Wants To Give Aerial Tankers Their Own Missile-Laden Loyal Wingmen DronesThe “Defender” concept is a potentially promising way to address the increasing vulnerability of Air Force tankers and other lumbering support planes. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickMar 1, 2020ShareBYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickJan 18, 2020ShareThe Pentagon May Finally Get The Fighter-Sized Stealth Aerial Target Drone It Badly NeedsWell over a decade in the making, we finally got our first look at the 5th Generation Aerial Target, or 5GAT, that is slated to fly soon. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickJan 18, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickDec 6, 2019ShareNavy Boss Hints At A Very Different Looking Future Fleet Of Naval Combat AircraftHe also talked about the possibility of deploying those manned and unmanned aircraft on ships beyond traditional aircraft carriers. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 6, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickNov 19, 2019ShareBoeing Conducts Flight Test Of Surrogate Drones For Australia’s Loyal Wingman ProgramThe program is using lower-end jet drones to help demonstrate the concept that will eventually use stealthy fighter-sized drones. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 19, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickOct 16, 2019ShareThis Containerized Launcher For The XQ-58A Valkyrie Combat Drone Could Be A Game ChangerThe system would be air, rail, road, or sea transportable, allowing for long-range, hard-hitting drone swarms to make unpredictable attacks. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 16, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickSep 27, 2019ShareWatch Russia’s S-70 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Fly With An Su-57 For The First TimeRussia says one of the primary goals of the program is to be able to operate both of these aircraft together in manned-unmanned teams. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 27, 2019ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowaySep 6, 2019Share“B-21s With Air-To-Air Capabilities,” Drones, Not 6th Gen Fighters To Dominate Future Air CombatThe Air Force’s vision of the future of aerial combat has evolved greatly as of late and has moved away from plans for new, costly manned fighters. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowaySep 6, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayMar 6, 2019ShareAir Force’s Secretive XQ-58A Valkyrie Experimental Combat Drone Emerges After First FlightThe QX-58 may lead to a whole new class of highly-flexible and affordable unmanned combat air vehicles that could revolutionize how the USAF fights. BYTyler RogowayMar 6, 2019ShareBYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickFeb 27, 2019ShareBoeing Will Unveil This ‘Loyal Wingman’ Combat Drone For Australia’s Air Force Tomorrow (Updated)Boeing reportedly developed the all-new stealthy drone specifically for the Australians as part of a classified program. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickFeb 27, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayFeb 26, 2019ShareBoeing Just Teased A Big Reveal For Australia’s Avalon Air Show, What Could It Be?A stealthy loyal wingman or target drone? A UCAV? A Light fighter T-X variant? We break down the possibilities. BYTyler RogowayFeb 26, 2019ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayFeb 12, 2019ShareLet’s Talk About The U.K.’s Sudden Move To Field A Drone Swarm SquadronThe new unit is yet another sign that high-end networked drones are going to begin taking on the toughest air combat missions. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayFeb 12, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMar 26, 2018ShareThis Is What the US Air Force Wants You To Think Air Combat Will Look Like in 2030A new Air Force Research Laboratory video depicts manned-unmanned teams, drone swarms, lasers and other advanced weapons, and more. BYJoseph TrevithickMar 26, 2018ShareBYTyler RogowaySep 7, 2017ShareDARPA’s “Flying Missile Rail” Seems To Be More About Manufacturing Than CombatThe idea has limited potential, but how it will be designed and manufactured will be the program’s biggest and most important challenges. BYTyler RogowaySep 7, 2017ShareBYTyler RogowayFeb 7, 2017ShareMore Details Emerge On Kratos’ Optionally Expendable Air Combat DronesThe USAF doesn’t seem interested in fielding a high-end unmanned air combat vehicle, but they might be interested in fielding lots of cheaper, lower-end ones that they can even choose to throw away for certain missions. BYTyler RogowayFeb 7, 2017Share12
BYThomas NewdickApr 5, 2021ShareStealthy Valkyrie Drone Uses Weapons Bay For First Time To Launch Smaller DroneOn its sixth test flight, Kratos’ low-cost stealthy drone launched a drone of its own via a tube launcher in its weapons bay. BYThomas NewdickApr 5, 2021Share
BYThomas NewdickMar 24, 2021ShareNow The UK Wants To Add Combat Drones To Its Aircraft Carriers, But Is It Really Feasible?Project Vixen is studying how a large high-performance combat drone could undertake missions from the Royal Navy’s flattops. BYThomas NewdickMar 24, 2021Share
BYThomas NewdickMar 22, 2021ShareAI-Controlled F-16s Are Now Working As A Team In DARPA’s Virtual DogfightsThe dogfighting AI DARPA is developing is set to make the challenging migration from a synthetic environment to the real world soon. BYThomas NewdickMar 22, 2021Share
BYThomas Newdick and Joseph TrevithickMar 2, 2021ShareBoeing Is Adapting Its Australian Combat Drone For The U.S. Air Force’s Skyborg ProgramAs Australia signs up for more of the Airpower Teaming System drones, Boeing confirms it will use the design as the basis for its Skyborg offering. BYThomas Newdick and Joseph TrevithickMar 2, 2021Share
BYTyler RogowayMar 2, 2021ShareAustralia’s Potentially Game-Changing Loyal Wingman Drone Has Flown For The First TimeBoeing Airpower Teaming System is set to revolutionize how the Royal Australian Air Force fights and the drone’s export potential continues to grow. BYTyler RogowayMar 2, 2021Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayFeb 10, 2021ShareDARPA Is Developing Aircraft-Launched Missile-Like Drones That Fire Their Own Air-To-Air MissilesThe LongShot program could enable aircraft to engage aerial threats further away, remain less vulnerable while doing so, and much more. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayFeb 10, 2021Share
BYThomas NewdickJan 25, 2021ShareThe United Kingdom Has Chosen Who Will Build Its First Prototype Loyal Wingman Combat DroneThe technology demonstrator is positioned to pave the way for a semi-autonomous combat drone to accompany the UK’s F-35, Typhoon, and Tempest. BYThomas NewdickJan 25, 2021Share
BYThe War Zone staffJan 23, 2021ShareAir Force Eyes Drones For Adversary And Light Attack Roles As It Mulls Buying New F-16sThe future of the U.S. Air Force’s tactical aircraft fleet is under review, with some radical ideas under discussion. BYThe War Zone staffJan 23, 2021Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJan 16, 2021ShareGeneral Atomics’ Stealthy Avenger Drone Flies With Infrared Search And Track PodThe Legion Pod gives the Avenger a way to spot and track even stealthy aircraft and provides a way to quickly add in other new capabilities. BYJoseph TrevithickJan 16, 2021Share
BYJoseph TrevithickDec 5, 2020ShareGeneral Atomics Avenger Drone Flew An Autonomous Air-To-Air Mission Using An AI BrainThe stealthy drone flew for hours, searching for potential aerial threats together with five other simulated drones. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 5, 2020Share
BYThomas NewdickDec 2, 2020ShareRussia’s Okhotnik Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Tests Air-To-Air Missiles: ReportThe flying-wing drone has apparently begun tests carrying air-to-air missile surrogates for a planned “fighter-interceptor role.” BYThomas NewdickDec 2, 2020Share
BYTyler RogowayNov 27, 2020ShareArea 51 Has A Huge New Hangar Facility That Points To A Drone Swarm FutureThe Air Force is accelerating its advanced combat drone development efforts and the facility’s unique attributes seem perfect for supporting them. BYTyler RogowayNov 27, 2020Share
BYThomas NewdickOct 1, 2020ShareOver A Dozen Companies Awarded Contracts For Air Force’s Skyborg Combat Drone ProgramThe U.S. Air Force is seeking to begin work on a drone using AI technologies before the end of the year. BYThomas NewdickOct 1, 2020Share
BYThomas NewdickAug 18, 2020ShareAustralia’s Loyal Wingman Drone It’s Developing With Boeing Has Been Photographed In The WildA photographer spotted the Airpower Teaming System vehicle at an airfield somewhere in Queensland, ahead of its first flight. BYThomas NewdickAug 18, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJul 22, 2020ShareNavy Eyes ‘Hard-Kill’ Defenses For Transport, Tanker, and Possibly Unmanned Escort PlanesThe service is looking for a system that launches interceptors at incoming missiles and could end up on more than half a dozen types of aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 22, 2020Share
BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph Trevithick and Jamie HunterJul 21, 2020ShareF-15 Eagle Seen Loaded With Loyal Wingman Drone For Previously Unknown TestsF-15s carrying loyal wingmen into the fight is a fascinating proposition, but what these tests could be for beyond that is even more intriguing. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph Trevithick and Jamie HunterJul 21, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2020ShareHere’s Who’s In The Running To Build The Royal Air Force’s First Loyal Wingman DronesThese drones could eventually fly together with the RAF’s F-35s and future Tempest fighter jets and will be a key part of its broader unmanned future. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 24, 2020ShareGlitzy Air Force Video Lays Out “Skyborg” Artificial Intelligence Combat Drone ProgramThe presentation outlines potential future mission sets, including air-to-air combat, and how the drones will fit into the service’s larger plans. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 24, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMay 22, 2020ShareThe Fight For The Air Force’s “Skyborg” Artificial Intelligence Equipped Drones Has BegunThe artificial intelligence-driven suite of systems could be flying loyal wingman type drones operationally in just a few years. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 22, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMay 19, 2020ShareUSAF Plans For Its “Skyborg” AI Computer Brain To Be Flying Drones In The Next Two YearsThe service envisions the artificial intelligence system eventually flying larger, more complex unmanned designs and in the cockpit with human pilots. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 19, 2020Share
BYTyler RogowayMay 4, 2020ShareEverything We Learned From Boeing About Its Potentially Game-Changing Loyal Wingman DroneThe stealthy Airpower Teaming System drone has a snap-on nose that can accommodate a huge variety of payloads and can be swapped quickly in the field. BYTyler RogowayMay 4, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickApr 8, 2020ShareBehold Boeing’s Loyal Wingman Drone It Is Building For The Royal Australian Air ForceThe company is planning for the prototype to make its first flight later this year. BYJoseph TrevithickApr 8, 2020Share
BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickMar 1, 2020ShareGeneral Atomics Wants To Give Aerial Tankers Their Own Missile-Laden Loyal Wingmen DronesThe “Defender” concept is a potentially promising way to address the increasing vulnerability of Air Force tankers and other lumbering support planes. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickMar 1, 2020Share
BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickJan 18, 2020ShareThe Pentagon May Finally Get The Fighter-Sized Stealth Aerial Target Drone It Badly NeedsWell over a decade in the making, we finally got our first look at the 5th Generation Aerial Target, or 5GAT, that is slated to fly soon. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickJan 18, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickDec 6, 2019ShareNavy Boss Hints At A Very Different Looking Future Fleet Of Naval Combat AircraftHe also talked about the possibility of deploying those manned and unmanned aircraft on ships beyond traditional aircraft carriers. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 6, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickNov 19, 2019ShareBoeing Conducts Flight Test Of Surrogate Drones For Australia’s Loyal Wingman ProgramThe program is using lower-end jet drones to help demonstrate the concept that will eventually use stealthy fighter-sized drones. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 19, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickOct 16, 2019ShareThis Containerized Launcher For The XQ-58A Valkyrie Combat Drone Could Be A Game ChangerThe system would be air, rail, road, or sea transportable, allowing for long-range, hard-hitting drone swarms to make unpredictable attacks. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 16, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickSep 27, 2019ShareWatch Russia’s S-70 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Fly With An Su-57 For The First TimeRussia says one of the primary goals of the program is to be able to operate both of these aircraft together in manned-unmanned teams. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 27, 2019Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowaySep 6, 2019Share“B-21s With Air-To-Air Capabilities,” Drones, Not 6th Gen Fighters To Dominate Future Air CombatThe Air Force’s vision of the future of aerial combat has evolved greatly as of late and has moved away from plans for new, costly manned fighters. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowaySep 6, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayMar 6, 2019ShareAir Force’s Secretive XQ-58A Valkyrie Experimental Combat Drone Emerges After First FlightThe QX-58 may lead to a whole new class of highly-flexible and affordable unmanned combat air vehicles that could revolutionize how the USAF fights. BYTyler RogowayMar 6, 2019Share
BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickFeb 27, 2019ShareBoeing Will Unveil This ‘Loyal Wingman’ Combat Drone For Australia’s Air Force Tomorrow (Updated)Boeing reportedly developed the all-new stealthy drone specifically for the Australians as part of a classified program. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickFeb 27, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayFeb 26, 2019ShareBoeing Just Teased A Big Reveal For Australia’s Avalon Air Show, What Could It Be?A stealthy loyal wingman or target drone? A UCAV? A Light fighter T-X variant? We break down the possibilities. BYTyler RogowayFeb 26, 2019Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayFeb 12, 2019ShareLet’s Talk About The U.K.’s Sudden Move To Field A Drone Swarm SquadronThe new unit is yet another sign that high-end networked drones are going to begin taking on the toughest air combat missions. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayFeb 12, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMar 26, 2018ShareThis Is What the US Air Force Wants You To Think Air Combat Will Look Like in 2030A new Air Force Research Laboratory video depicts manned-unmanned teams, drone swarms, lasers and other advanced weapons, and more. BYJoseph TrevithickMar 26, 2018Share
BYTyler RogowaySep 7, 2017ShareDARPA’s “Flying Missile Rail” Seems To Be More About Manufacturing Than CombatThe idea has limited potential, but how it will be designed and manufactured will be the program’s biggest and most important challenges. BYTyler RogowaySep 7, 2017Share
BYTyler RogowayFeb 7, 2017ShareMore Details Emerge On Kratos’ Optionally Expendable Air Combat DronesThe USAF doesn’t seem interested in fielding a high-end unmanned air combat vehicle, but they might be interested in fielding lots of cheaper, lower-end ones that they can even choose to throw away for certain missions. BYTyler RogowayFeb 7, 2017Share