Will be able to shoot down fighters: US Air Force to equip CCA 'faithful wingman' drone with AMRAAM missiles

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Will be able to shoot down fighters: US Air Force to equip CCA 'faithful wingman' drone with AMRAAM missiles

AIM-120D AMRAAM


The US Air Force is partnering with Raytheon to integrate rocket medium-range air-to-air missile AIM-120 AMRAAM on the Pentagon's first "loyal wingman" UAV CCA, which is designed to accompany manned combat aircraft.



The first generation CCA itself is planned to be presented on the 1th-16th of this month in the form of full-scale mock-ups. Two variants from competitor companies Anduril Industries and General Atomics Aeronautical will be shown – the Fury and Gambit drones (based on the XQ-18 UAV), respectively.


fury


These will be “loyal wingmen,” and they will be flown by a manned fighter: either an F-35, in all likelihood, or perhaps an NGAD [Next Generation Air Dominance Fighter], once we determine what NGAD is.

- Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall.


XQ-67


As Raytheon explained, AMRAAM missiles will become the “standard weapons» for these drones. Armed with these air-to-air missiles, they will enhance the combat capabilities of manned aircraft such as the F-35 or F-22:

Drones will be able to act as combat power amplifiers.


The latest version of the AMRAAM air-to-air missile, the AIM-120D, has an estimated range of approximately 160 km. Accordingly, at this distance, "loyal wingmen" will be able to cover manned aircraft, shooting down enemy fighters.

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  1. 0
    11 September 2024 20: 30
    Will be able to shoot down fighters: US Air Force to equip CCA 'faithful wingman' drone with AMRAAM missiles

    Yeah, but what if a civilian plane crashes by mistake?
    As the parable about the theatre says: if there is a gun hanging on the wall in the first act, it will go off later.
    So you need to think a thousand times, if of course there is still some trace of conscience left.
  2. -1
    11 September 2024 20: 39
    In the photo, on the nose of the freak it says XQ-58M, the caption says XQ-67. Who to believe?
    1. -1
      11 September 2024 22: 55
      In the photo, on the nose of the freak it says XQ-58M, the caption says XQ-67. Who to believe?

      XQ-67 looks like this
      1. 0
        12 September 2024 07: 21
        He's also a freak, to be honest.
  3. +1
    11 September 2024 21: 01
    or maybe NGAD [Next Generation Air Dominance Fighter], once we figure out what NGAD is
    I smiled at the fact that they themselves don't know yet what will happen, but they already want to equip it. NGAD is somehow vague... What I want - I don't know myself)
  4. -1
    11 September 2024 21: 15
    "at this distance, "faithful wingmen" will be able to cover manned aircraft"///
    -----
    The calculation is a little bit wrong.
    The guided drones will fly tens of kilometers ahead of the manned fighter.
    Therefore, to the 160 km of the rocket we need to add these 30-40 km
  5. 0
    11 September 2024 22: 20
    Who will lead these faithful wingmen? A pilot of a single-seat supersonic fighter? And when will it be?
    1. -1
      11 September 2024 22: 59
      It is supposed to be integrated into the weapons system. That is, they will fly themselves, the pilot has chosen the target, marked it and selected the means of destruction.
      1. 0
        12 September 2024 00: 35
        Quote from solar
        It is supposed to be integrated into the weapons system. That is, they will fly themselves, the pilot has chosen the target, marked it and selected the means of destruction.

        about what has not yet been created, but only in the plans, my grandfather, during his lifetime, said with a smile:
        - "the hen is in the nest, the egg is in the ... (Well, basically inside the chicken wink ), and you are already counting money..?!! smile " .. what
        1. -2
          12 September 2024 07: 25
          They are doing it right now.
    2. -2
      11 September 2024 23: 05
      It is he.
      The F-35 has a well-developed autopilot. And you don't have to turn your head. 360-degree sensors.
      The F-35 pilot is practically freed from flight control and is only occupied with
      weapons and communication with other devices.
  6. 0
    12 September 2024 07: 44
    a golden age for the Pentagon and the American military industry - will they loot for centuries? If they don't run into a counter fist, of course.