The USAF’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft concepts, the YFQ-42A (bottom) and the YFQ-44A. Photo: US Air Force.
Posted on 03/19/2025 9:33:12 AM PDT by Alas Babylon!
For the first time in its history, the U.S. Air Force has designated two prototype drones as unmanned fighter aircraft, marking a new era in aerial warfare. The YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, developed by General Atomics and Anduril, respectively, are the harbingers of a new chapter in military strategy, one where human pilots are no longer the sole aces in the skies.
These drones, part of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, are designed to fly alongside manned fifth- and sixth-generation fighters like the F-35. Affectionately called “loyal wingmen, the drones are supposed to augment the human-piloted jets in missions ranging from offensive strikes to intelligence gathering. The Air Force plans to field the first increment of these systems before the end of the decade, with prototypes expected to take their first flights this summer. At least 1,000 fighter drones will be acquired.
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Joining these next-gen jets will be the “Loyal Wingmen”. Imagine swarms of these highly capable fighter drones that fly autonomously but are still coordinated in some capacity by the “mothership”.
Equipped with artificial intelligence, they can perform tasks like target identification, missile deployment, and even autonomous decision-making in contested environments. For example, a single F-35 pilot could control multiple drones, effectively multiplying their firepower and creating a more formidable force.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
The USAF’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft concepts, the YFQ-42A (bottom) and the YFQ-44A. Photo: US Air Force.
Tail flash AI—Unit does not exist in the USAF...
Skynet vibes anyone?
We can see them autonomous if there is sufficient ability to excercise command and control redundantly remotely.
My guess is that the whole point of them being augmented units is for redundancy of command.
No need for the F-22 or F-35 pilot since remote orders can be given now.
The key word is “unveils”.
I miss the 80's
I’m no techie and no pilot but it has to be easier to hack one of these things than brainwash a pilot so it can be used against us. But then there is Mark Kelly so what the hell do I know? Never mind.
“Imagine swarms of these highly capable fighter drones that fly autonomously but are still coordinated in some capacity by the “mothership”.”
Too late, the mothership has already visited Earth:
“Minister Louis Farrakhan received a vision during which he was beamed up on board a spacecraft, that he believes was the mothership that the Hon. Elijah Muhammad taught of.”
https://nationofislamhistory.wordpress.com/2010/09/18/44/
Here is the 80's Air Force:
Excellent!
LOL
We’ll see them operating autonomously when operating crewed aircraft would be simply too dangerous. That could be because of antiaircraft capabilities, deniability, or the nature of the mission involved. Risking hardware is almost always preferable to risking people.
They use fossil fuels. They should be all-electric. Fly them, land ‘em, recharge then send ‘em out again. And you can establish floating chargers for really long missions.
did you ask the skunk works or better yet the CCP
neurolinked to some bed bound geniuses
yes the SR-71 didnt get unveiled for 20 years
tell it to the Ukrainian drone corps $5-10 thousand a pop.
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