Russia Wants to Pair Su-57 Stealth Fighters and Drones

https://nationalinterest.org ^ | February 19, 2021 | by Kris Osborn

[RomanSoldier19]

The U.S. military has for several years now been working on the concept of a “loyal wingman” wherein a manned jet controls nearby drones from the cockpit without needing to move data through a ground control station. This technology is now maturing quickly with the United States, particularly with drone programs such as the Valkyrie which has already taken off and flown in tandem with Air Force F-22s and F-35s, according to an Air Force report in December of last year.

“The rocket-launched Valkyrie successfully conducted a semi-autonomous flight alongside the F-22 and F-35 for the first time,” the Air Force report states.

The technical advance is quite significant, as it not only reduces latency in terms of data transmission but naturally massively streamlines command and control, such that fifth-generation fighters such as the F-22 or F-35 stealth fighters can control the flight path, mission scope and sensor payload of nearby drones to test enemy defenses, blanket areas with forward surveillance or even fire weapons when directed by humans. Perhaps F-35s could operate a small forward fleet of mini-drones to jam enemy radar, overwhelm sensors or network targeting data back to air and ground nodes.

[RomanSoldier19]

[EasySt]

They best be quick about it, too, if they wish to save themselves,
considering that America’s might and resources are all in the process of
being turned over to China by proxy. (They know they will be next.)

[Rockingham]

Russia today lacks the financial means and technical and industrial skills to convert advanced ideas like this into deployed weaponry. Yet, as one must expect of the country that conceived of Potemkin villages, pretending to be developing advanced weapons offers a way to con the Russian public and outsiders and to keep engineers on payroll, support favored companies, and generate opportunities for graft.

The real money and defense effort goes into nuclear arms and low level aggression against Ukraine and other weak neighbors. As much as China may seem a long term threat, it is the West that has the raw strength and appeal to the Russian populace to present a source of danger to Putin and his regime. With rare exceptions, announcements of supposed Russian weapons advances are simply feel good propaganda for those whose fates and fortunes are tied to Putin's regime.