In the US, it was suggested that the F-35A was the first to operate the MQ-9 Reaper UAV

The American media reports of remarkable flight training in the area of ​​the so-called 51 zone.

The 51 zone in the USA is called the territory in the state of Nevada, where, as many Americans believe, "the government keeps evidence of aliens visiting our planet." One of the "secret" US military bases is located there.

The 5th generation F-35A fighter and a pair of multi-role drones MQ-9 Reaper. This group of aircraft originally appeared in the east of the Nellis test site. And she drew attention to herself due to the fact that never before had the F-35A moved at such a close distance from the MQ-9 Reaper UAV. Both the fighter and the drones were moving at the same height, in close proximity to each other.

This led to the assumption that the pilot of the F-35A Lightning II exchanged data with drones, and the aircraft for the first time acted as a command post for the fulfillment of the assigned combat training mission - in fact, the F-35 controlled the MQ-9 Reaper UAV.

At the same time, the United States suggested that such a flight can also be regarded as a peculiar response of Russia, which is testing joint flights of a new-generation fighter Su-57 and the promising strike UAV S-70 “Okhotnik”.

At one stage of the flight, the drones moved at an altitude of about 400 m, and the F-35 fighter began a sharp climb. Then, according to some reports, the fighter returned to its "followers", after which they jointly proceeded over the area of ​​the 51 zone.

Comments

[eklmn]

“At the same time, the United States suggested that such a flight can also be regarded as a peculiar response of Russia, which is testing joint flights of a new-generation fighter Su-57 and a promising strike UAV S-70“ Okhotnik. ”
There is no such phrase in the original, there is a phrase that “Russia showed the SU-57 flying in conjunction with Hunter,” no more no less.
And the “response of Russia” was made several years ago when the Su-57 was still in the drawings, and the F-35 flew in conjunction with the F-15EX or the XQ-58 Valkyrie.

[abc_alex]

Quote: eklmn

And the “response of Russia” was made several years ago when the Su-57 was still in the drawings, and the F-35 flew in conjunction with the F-15EX or the XQ-58 Valkyrie.

No, it was the answer to flights in a bunch of Su-27 and MiG-31. Even in the days of the USSR, this was practiced in the North. Now they need to answer the flights of the MiG-31 link in the digital data exchange mode, and only then it will be possible to respond to the flights of the Su-57 with Okhotnik.

By the way, I did not understand why the Penguin flew in close proximity to Ripper. In general, in my opinion, a meaningless action. I would also understand if he fly 100 kilometers.

[VO3A]

The flight of thought is simply impressive. All of these conclusions regarding a bunch of UAVs and a crippled egg plane are not worth it ...
Firstly, the control of the UAV should be duplicated, it is better with triple redundancy in order to exclude the loss of the UAV. An aircraft can be used as one of such channels.
Secondly, this channel is temporary and emergency, taking into account the duration of UAV and airplane flights ...
Thirdly, why is it mandatory to use a stealth plane? On the contrary, it’s better to use the usual one with suspensions and a large stock of weapons, and use UAVs for covert target designation ... At the same time, an ordinary aircraft can be located outside the detection zone with a subsequent short-term exit to the attack line ....
Here, the moment of using the stealth for safety is interesting if the enemy uses electronic warfare as an emergency communication channel, well, in this case, a more secure communication channel should be provided, based on other physical principles and which is not vulnerable to electronic warfare equipment ...

[eklmn]

“... it was a response to flights in a combination of Su-27 and MiG-31. Even in the days of the USSR, this was practiced in the North. ”
And which one was unmanned?
The F-35 flies with the F-15EX as a bandolier. F-35 at a great distance with its sensors sees the targets and instructs the F-15EX to destroy them with their missiles. F-15EX has more missiles and they are larger, they fly further.

[abc_alex]

Quote: eklmn

And which one was unmanned?
F-35 flies with the drone F-15EX as a bandolier

You have mixed something up.
And when did the Penguin fly off with the XQ-58 Valkyrie, if this UAV in September had the first Tesius flight during which it was damaged during landing?

What is the difference in the form of which the driven board flies. Firstly, it makes no sense to fly side-by-side with the Reeper, and secondly, how will one pilot control two sides simultaneously?

[Thrifty]

In the usa suggested? What is it like? Did the pilot fly the drone on his own initiative? ?? Type, took a drone to play? ??

[eklmn]

The Aviationist published a link from Youtube of a curious Amer tourist (there are hundreds of them in the area of ​​zone 51), and these are the words of this tourist “We seem to have seen a joint flight ...”
But since the tourist is American, “In the USA they suggested ...”

[Jack O'Neill]

And again the distortion of the article ...

At the same time, the United States suggested that such a flight can also be regarded as a peculiar response of Russia, which is testing joint flights of a new-generation fighter Su-57 and the promising strike UAV S-70 “Okhotnik”.

Oh yeah...
Here is the original:

Russia has already revealed a program of claimed interoperability between their latest Sukhoi Su-57, NATO code name “Felon”, fighter aircraft and the recently unveiled Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik or “Hunter” remotely piloted aircraft.

The article itself.
https://theaviationist.com/2019/11/15/we-watched-an-f-35a-flying-with-mq-9-reaper-drones-near-area-51-on-thursday/