Air Force Secretary Sets Timeline For Manned, Unmanned Teaming

Kimberly Johnson

Wednesday, February 16, 2022 at 04:21 PM ET

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Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall [File Photo Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force is fully committed to developing manned-unmanned teaming (MUT) for combat aircraft, with initial capabilities expected around the same time frame as the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, which aims for operational status by 2030.
This strategy is intended to open up new tactical options and provide a more cost-effective way to build force "mass," as relying solely on expensive manned aircraft limits the Air Force's overall size.
MUT concepts will be explored with both fighters (like NGAD and F-35) and bombers (such as the B-21 Raider), with a focus on delivering a minimum viable product and then developing its functionalities over time.

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The U.S. Air Force’s concept of manned, unmanned teaming could emerge in “roughly the same time frame” as the service’s forthcoming Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter currently in production, the service’s top official said Tuesday.

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall confirmed Tuesday that when it comes to exploring the use of pairing unmanned air combat platforms with piloted aircraft, the service is all in.