DefenseUS Air Force F-22 controls MQ-20 Avenger unmanned aircraft for the first time
The US Air Force (USAF) conducted a successful integration demonstration between an F-22 Raptor fighter and a MQ-20 Avenger unmanned aerial vehicle on October 21 at the Nevada Test and Training Range. The milestone, however, was only revealed by the service in recent days.
This flight is part of a series of internally funded demonstrations aimed at advancing collaboration between crewed and uncrewed combat aircraft. The program seeks to inform development of future collaborative combat aircraft systems.
Two software-defined radios (SDRs) were used in the demonstration, with one installed in the MQ-20 and another in the F-22. These radios enabled direct communication and data exchange between the platforms.
The F-22 employed the GRACE system, which allows non-traditional software to be integrated and provides additional interfaces to the pilot. This architecture supports rapid upgrades and improved mission flexibility.
The Air Force identifies the F-22 as the threshold platform for collaborative combat aircraft integration, leveraging its operational status and technical maturity.
Loyal wingmen flight has been a pursued goal for several air forces, amidst changes in the theater of war caused by accelerated automation and the large-scale use of drones.
The USAF was also evaluating two collaborative combat aircraft, the General Atomics YFQ-42A and the Anduril YFQ-44A. The goal is to produce hundreds of these unmanned fighters to bolster the US’s capability for riskier missions.
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