U.S. Air Force to test unmanned wingmen for the first time during military exercises

The annual Orange Flag military exercise by the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, scheduled for this summer, will feature unmanned wingmen being developed as part of the Skyborg project for the first time. Flightglobal reports.

The exercise will take place in July 2021, with unmanned wingmen taking part for the first time. The US Air Force Research Laboratory does not disclose exactly which vehicles will take part in the maneuvers. It is reported that the main task of using slaves will be to test the operation of the "brain" of the devices.

It is planned to test the autonomy of unmanned wingmen in relatively difficult conditions, as well as the compatibility of vehicles with various types of manned aircraft

- said the head of the Air Force laboratory, Brigadier General Heather Pringle.

The Skyborg program has been run by the US military for the past few years. Currently, developments are being carried out in several directions at once. Scientists are exploring how to create cheap "drones", and software that allows pilots to control drones during the performance of a standard flight task. It is assumed that unmanned wingmen will "work" in tandem with fighters equipped with elements of artificial intelligence, thereby expanding their capabilities.

In May 2020, the US Air Force announced a tender for the development and supply of artificial intelligence systems designed to control promising unmanned wingmen. As part of the announced tender, the participants were asked to develop prototypes of a software and hardware complex that would allow the navigator of a two-seat fighter to control several wingmen at once. At the same time, it was emphasized that the prototype should be created on a modular basis, i.e. additional functions should be added to the system not by full flashing, but by adding a new module.

According to the plans of the US Air Force, the first guided drones with a new control system should be put into service no earlier than 2023.

Comments

[OgnennyiKotik]

Yesterday there was a presentation of the project of a new Russian UAV based on the SR-10. The project is extremely interesting.

[OgnennyiKotik]

For what? There is no more information. It turns out they showed this project in 2017. There is also such an infographic.

[mojohed2012]

I read and read, but, unfortunately, there is no understanding: what are the tasks of such an unmanned slave fighter? If it is controlled by a fighter pilot, then, in the event of his unexpected attack by the enemy, the pilot together with the aircraft will be destroyed, because distracted by the control of the UAV.
Isn't it easier to use these attack UAVs with control from the ground, and give fighters the opportunity to solve their tasks without being distracted from controlling the aircraft and its systems?
Or, there are guided missiles.

[Zaurbek]

Well, now on modern machines they practice data exchange ... what one sees, everyone sees. And it can direct missiles from one fighter jet - another. So it is quite possible that the slave can go ahead (or above) of the group, turn on his AFAR in different modes, and the main vehicles will not light up. Maybe an additional carrier of anti-radar missiles (any other). An independent flight (takeoff and landing) is not a problem, and he does not need to climb into dog dumps.

[The eye of the crying]

Quote: Zaurbek

And it can direct missiles from one fighter jet - another.

Here is information about it - where from?

[OgnennyiKotik]

In addition to weapons, the slaves will be carriers of electronic warfare systems, radars, communications equipment, decoys, etc.
The manned aircraft will be the brain center of the system, where the UAVs will perform all active actions: engage in reconnaissance, search and identification of targets, defeat them, protect the leading aircraft from threats, crush numerical superiority, lure the enemy, etc., etc. You can exchange the drone for an aircraft or air defense complex. Without the slightest twinge of conscience.
The main thing is to create a large number of relatively cheap unmanned aircraft, which are not a pity to lose and capable of performing some narrow task. At the same time, the leading aircraft did not give itself out in any way, it was only engaged in controlling a swarm of UAVs.
The LoyalWingman must be sufficiently autonomous and the manned aircraft advanced.
This is already to the capabilities of the 5th generation and its main distinguishing feature. The pilot does not have to control the aircraft, he must control the battle. Therefore, such a problem with retraining pilots from the 4th generation, the philosophy is changing.

[Avior]

At the same time, the leading aircraft did not give itself out in any way, it was only engaged in controlling the UAV swarm.

only in this case a two-seater plane begs

[voyaka uh]

The F-35 (like the Su-57) is equipped with an advanced autopilot.
The pilot can focus on weapons, or weighty drones.

[FrankyStein]

Why from the ground, from the side of the drlo the very thing. It is not clear why the wing is backward, you cannot achieve high speeds with such a wing.

[Thrifty]

So there are gramadier projects, but there are only 3 uppla available in fact! It is necessary to reverse the situation, the same Altair massively in the form of a shock drone to supply to the army

[dauria]

new Russian UAV based on SR-10

These are just the "wishlist" of the developer. It is a pity that the plane itself repeats the fate of the Yak-30. But this is actually his improved descendant - to create an excellent training aircraft, and then try to somehow attach it somewhere. They did not take it in the initial training, or in light attack aircraft, now they are trying to do it with a drone. Everything was already in the 60s and even in the 70s they tried. Then the CMEA policy, and now it is corny there is no money for a car.

[rocket757]

So the minke whales go forward, not without mistakes, well, the first ones ...

[Zaurbek]

They go and search. Their main task is to solve the A2D2 problem - to restrict or deny access for strike aircraft to the control zones of modern, echeloned air defense systems. So they are trying to solve it with different concepts and options. As they decide, they will be able to put pressure on the owners of С300 / 400/500 without the threat of unacceptable losses on their part.

[rocket757]

Quote: Zaurbek

As they decide, they will be able to put pressure on the owners of С300 / 400/500 without the threat of unacceptable losses on their part.

not everything is so simple, in relation to the vigorous powers ... and they do not stand still, which is also obvious from all the events that are taking place.

[Object.F7]

The first yeah, in May 2020 they announced a tender for the development and creation of an unmanned wingman, when in 2019 in some places the unmanned wingman was already flying in conjunction with a 5th generation manned fighter, i.e. has already been developed and created six months before the "first" tender

[OgnennyiKotik]

Quote: Object.F7

has already been developed and created six months before the "first" tender

Experimental machines were developed and tested. The tests involved UTAP-22, XQ-58, Pradator C. The program itself and the test flights began somewhere in 2016-2017, maybe even earlier.
Contract for 2023 for pre-production cars. In addition to the three official participants, 10 more companies want to take part in this program. In spring, closer to summer, there will be news about UAVs every day.
Turkey, Britain, Australia, India, China, Russia have similar projects.

[Object.F7]

American small (and not only) aviation at the top world level, the new Predator received an interesting civil engine, but this is a continuation of the concept of the first Predator, the cruiser and maximum speed have been significantly raised, but for an unmanned slave fighter it is still slow. The Valkyrie and utap projects are extremely interesting, they go at about the same time as the flying hunter, who, in the new version, will finish the flat nozzle in order to reduce the visibility in the spectra, plus in the acoustic noise from the low-pressure compressor is shielded by the wing itself, from the ground it is no longer so audible. The ideal aerodynamic shape reduces drag, and there is no extra body per centner, with its own catapult seat, completely unnecessary control knobs, monitors, wires (on the Su-30 about 70 km), a completely idiotic, expensive and stealthy cockpit canopy. What will the cruising speed be if the combat load is at the level of a bomber with missiles up to 5000 km, since the airborne missile division was burned in the furnace, the engine from the moment 1.44 promised non-afterburning supersonic, but taking into account the losses due to the flat nozzle, it is unlikely to count on supersonic, but this it will still be fast, with jet acceleration, Predator C does not fly like that)

[OgnennyiKotik]

Predator C is just a testing platform, like the other 2. Completely different systems can go into production.
Already AL-41 gives non-afterburner supersonic on the Su-35, it will not be on the hunter because of the glider, on the diagram of a flying wing, supersonic is impossible.

[Ros 56]

The main thing is that they do not get lost.

[stels_07]

And Ukraine, what is not an unmanned wingman?

[aldharald]

U.S. Air Force to test unmanned wingmen for the first time during military exercises

Good luck

[Comrade Kim]

Quote: dauria

One infantry is a mother, again all the dirt and all the hope is on her.

Recent events in the south have again confirmed the common truth: air superiority is the key to victory. And the infantry, after the suppression of the missile defense system, will be cleaned individually and in groups by poychavnye suckers with joysticks in their sweaty palms.
Last year, the Americans tested new programs for UAVs. In all training battles (more than 20), the live pilot lost to the AI. The pilot's skill allowed only to delay the defeat a little.