General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) together with the U.S. Air Force conducted new tests involving a joint flight of the fifth-generation F-22 fighter as well as the MQ-20 Avenger unmanned aerial vehicle.
This represents an important step toward developing future aviation programs, primarily loyal wingman drones or unmanned fighters under the CCA program, as well as the so-called Combat Cloud that unites crewed and uncrewed aviation assets along with all possible sensors into one network.
Read more: British Skyperion "Shahed Detector" Tested in Ukraine, Cannot Detect Autonomous, Radio-Silent Variants
It is noted that during testing, the newest reference software was used for autonomous drone control from the F-22 fighter, as well as a tactical communications link for data exchange and coordination between the fighter and the unmanned system.
As GA-ASI President David R. Alexander emphasized, the flight demonstrated the autonomous control system's ability to use onboard sensors for making independent decisions and executing commands from the F-22.
The F-22 pilot during the demonstration sent autonomous control commands to the MQ-20 drone through the Autonodyne Bashi interface (PVI) involving tactical maneuvers, waypoint adjustments, combat patrol mission execution, and even engagement with air threats (likely meaning target detection and information transmission to the fighter pilot).
This marks at least the second time recently that GA-ASI has conducted such a demonstration. Recall that in October last year, this was the first time in history a fighter pilot controlled an unmanned system in flight, also involving an F-22 and an MQ-20. It was noted then that the fighter pilot controls the drone in flight using a tablet.
GA-ASI continues systematically implement the loyal wingman drone concept. Such demonstrations are very important for the company, as it participates in the CCA loyal wingman project and has its own development, the YFQ-42A drone, which received the name Dark Merlin.
Read more: U.S. Plans Production Expansion for B-21 Raider Bombers With $4.5B Investment
