Air Force Looking To Manned, Unmanned Aircraft Teaming

Teaming up formations of manned aircraft and drones ‘opens up a whole range of tactics that we currently would not contemplate,’ Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said Wednesday.

Kimberly Johnson

Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at 06:11 PM ET

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A Skyborg conceptual design for an unmanned combat aerial vehicle. [US Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall is initiating programs for uncrewed combat aircraft to cost-effectively build mass and enable teaming with manned aircraft.
These uncrewed platforms are designed to be "cheap" and "attritable" (expendable), allowing for new tactical maneuvers without risking manned aircraft.
Kendall believes the technology exists for manned aircraft to control multiple autonomous uncrewed vehicles and will seek funding for two classified programs in the next defense budget.

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U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall is starting programs for uncrewed combat aircraft as a cost-effective way to build mass as the service looks to a future of manned and unmanned aircraft teaming.

“It’s imperative that they be cheap, relative to the manned aircraft,” Kendall said Wednesday during an online event with the Center of the Loyal Wingman program, under development at New American Security.