For the first time in history, an F-22 pilot controlled an MQ-20 Avenger wingman drone from the cockpit of his stealth fighter. This is thus a demonstration of capabilities that in the future are supposed to form the foundation of air forces.
As Breaking Defense writes, the test flight took place on October 21 at the Nevada Test and Training Range. The project brought together efforts of UAV developer General Atomics, aircraft developer Lockheed Martin, and radio and communications equipment manufacturer L3Harris.
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The unmanned aircraft was controlled using a tablet from the single-seat F-22 cockpit and radios installed in both aircraft. Its emphasized that a new software government reference architecture was used for communication.
General Atomics is proud of this achievement, noting that their advanced software provides high autonomy, which is sufficient for the wingman drone role. They add that the fighter was chosen for integration because it will play a major role in the project.
Defense Express notes that this is indeed potentially the beginning of a new era in military aviation, when unmanned aircraft perform tasks on par with piloted platforms. This will allow both reducing risks to personnel and ensuring a greater number of available combat aircraft.
It should be noted that General Atomics recently flew the YFQ-42A UAV, which is being offered for the potential wingman drone competition. And the mentioned MQ-20 is actively used for working out technologies, including integration ones.
Recall that this is not the only candidate for such a contract, as in May they also showed in metal a competitor the YFQ-44A from Anduril. Moreover, US military and government officials say they don't want to limit the number of potential competitors, even taking small companies.
Overall, under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, the Americans plan to obtain over 1,000 unmanned fighters. And they will work not only with existing stealth aircraft, such as the F-22 and F-35 in the role of truck for air-to-air missiles, but also with the sixth-generation F-47.
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