Posted on 10/23/2020 11:59:44 AM PDT by RomanSoldier19
Boeing's Loyal Wingman combat drone has taxied under its own power for the first time, carrying out several ground maneuvers at speeds of up to 14 knots (16 mph, 26 km/h) and stopping on command.
The Loyal Wingman is being developed for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and the aircraft used in the latest test is one of three class prototypes being built under Australia's Advanced Development Program.
Boeing says the low-speed taxi was carried out to verify the function and integration of drone's systems, which include steering, braking, and engine controls.
When the 38-ft-long (11.7-m) drone is ready for flight, it will be a jet-powered, autonomous, artificial-intelligence-powered teaming aircraft with a range of 2,000 nm (2,301 mi, 3,704 km) that can fly alongside UAVs and piloted combat aircraft.
The armaments for Loyal Wingman has yet to be revealed, though it will have electronic warfare capabilities.
(Excerpt) Read more at newatlas.com ...
Loyal wingman. Lol. Who thinks up the names for these things? As if one single troop is ever going to call it that.
The countermeasure will be the “Ugly girlfriend” drone, the Wingman will have to take the grenade to save his pilot.
My thought exactly - plus it's an insult to military pilots everywhere. You become Lead by starting as a wingman.
Are they implying there are disloyal wingmen?
I guess if the command was, Go intercept that inbound kamakazi drone, maybe so...
I’ll take one of those. Pretty sure I could pull out enough wiring and some of those little electronic thingees to make room for me in the fuselage. Then it’s Myrtle Beach for the weekend...or Panama Beach.
Actually, I’d say it’s the future of combat aircraft.
Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie, and yes we have already flown it multiple times.
"Nice landing, Sir."
"Lead, you're on fire" and
"I'll take the fat chick".
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