Drones have long been an unavoidable factor in modern warfare, but recent developments by Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force could take the role of robotic aircraft in creating air supremacy to a whole new level.
The company unveiled the first operational copy of the Loyal Wingman, or “Loyal Wing Assistant,” in Sydney on May 5, 2020, which, thanks to artificial intelligence, is capable of flying in pilots with pilots driven by pilots and can also be deployed on stand-alone missions. Shane Arnott, director of the Airpower Teaming System program, said at the presentation that a pilot-led aircraft could be joined by up to 16 drone planes, which could not only provide effective assistance to fighter pilots but also protect aircraft much more vulnerable to attacks, such as the E -7The Wedgetail airspace control aircraft. The real trump card of the Loyal Wingman lies in the nose, which can be easily and quickly replaced, so the drone can be equipped with the tools needed for a given mission in a matter of seconds. “For example, if the mission is to deactivate enemy planes, one drone could be loaded with an infrared search system, the other two with radars, another with a communications repeater station, and one with electronic warfare equipment and a defense laser system.” Whether the Loyal Wingman can be equipped with offensive weapons has not been detailed by Boeing, but some sources say the drone could be equipped with air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, so it could even take part directly in air battles.
The other big weapon in the drone is the price. Although Boeing has not provided specific information on this either, so much has been said that it will be “competitive” with the XQ-58 Valkyrie, a similar concept developed by Kratos Defense and Secutity, which is said to cost around $ 2 million. This means that the Loyal Wingman, unlike tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars of fighter jets, is barely more expensive than a Tomahawk missile, so it can be sacrificed without any particular headache when just in need. As a result, Boeing’s wing assistant puts entirely new tactical possibilities in the hands of strategists, while controlling it is much simpler than that of traditional military drones. Loyal Wingman works with artificial intelligence, so the machine operator has enough general commands to give the drone, such as where to go and the rest the machine does on its own.
For the time being, Boeing is preparing to deliver three aircraft to the Australian Air Force, which will be tested first on the ground and then in the air, and if it proves effective in practice, mass production could begin. To be sure, in the future, this type of technology will become increasingly dominant in air warfare, as it will allow them to perform a number of tasks that previously required traditional fighter jets cheaply and without risking human lives. In addition to the Boeing, Kratos Defense is also developing a similar solution, but the British new fighter, the Tempest Fighter Jet, is also designed to be able to fly without a pilot.
Recent article
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
The Synergy of Machine Learning and Advanced Aviation Technologies
Drones News & Articles
New Chinese drone could confuse enemy defences by splitting in two
Additional aircraft News & Articles
How the next generation of supersonic commercial aircraft took to the skies
Air taxi News & Articles
Economic Dynamics of Urban Air Mobility
Flying Cars News & Articles
What are the solutions to reduce noise from Evtol and flying cars ?
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Suzuki to produce a flying car
Air taxi News & Articles
You can now order a flying taxi from the online shop
Drones News & Articles
Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Techniques for Drones
Additional aircraft News & Articles
Other notable aircraft
Air taxi News & Articles
What impact will air taxi services have on Dubai’s economy, especially the tourism sector ?
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Why is travelling with Evtol safer than with conventional aircraft ?
Air taxi News & Articles
Autonomous Air Traffic Control Systems
Drones News & Articles
The Promise of Airborne Wind Energy (AWE) Systems Powered Drones
Drones News & Articles
Swarm Technology for Drones
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
The Global Race for Air Mobility Supremacy: Who Are the Leading Players and Innovators ?
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
The Environmental Impact of Electric Aviation: Beyond Zero Emissions
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
What Role Will Public Perception and Community Engagement Play in the Adoption of Urban Air Mobility ?
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Stratolaunch’s hypersonic vehicle launched for the first time
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
How are emerging technologies like blockchain and IoT being leveraged to enhance the safety, efficiency, and user experience of urban air mobility services ?
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Centuries-old technology could revolutionise aviation
Air taxi News & Articles
Economic Viability: Are Flying Cars and eVTOLs Economically Viable for Mass Adoption ?
Electric airplane News & Articles
The Environmental Impact of Electric Planes: Are They Truly the Greener Alternative ?
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
How Airbus’ CityAirbus NextGen Aims to Revolutionize Urban Mobility ?
Flying Cars News & Articles
Alef’s flying car preparing for take-off
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Beyond the Prototype: The Economic Viability of Electric Aircraft
News & Articles Points of interest
Achieving Market Dominance in the eVTOL and Flying Car Industry
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Enhancing Emergency Response with eVTOL Technology
News & Articles Points of interest
The first large-scale rocket backpack competition was organised
Drones News & Articles
Red Bull has created the world’s fastest drone
Flying Cars News & Articles
Alef Aeronautics’ Model A could be in production in 2025
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
CycloTech Raises 20 Million Euros for Revolutionary Aviation Propulsion System
Flying Cars News & Articles
The Switchblade Flying Car: A Milestone in Personal Air Travel Featured in Pioneering Publication
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
What are/will be the impacts of Evtol and flying cars on infrastructure ?
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Unveiling the Energy Dynamics of eVTOLs
Flying Cars News & Articles
Evolving Skies: The Surge in eVTOL and Flying Car Production
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
What are the requirements for building a vertiport ?
Drones News & Articles
The role and future of military drones in wars
Flying Cars News & Articles
What are the safety concerns about flying cars and Evtol ?
Flying Cars News & Articles
What percentage of people may use flying cars and Evtols in the future ?
Flying Cars News & Articles
How Will Flying Car Technology Evolve in the Next Decade ?
More articles you may be interested in...
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
The Global Race for Air Mobility Supremacy: Who Are the Leading Players and Innovators ?
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
The Environmental Impact of Electric Aviation: Beyond Zero Emissions
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
What Role Will Public Perception and Community Engagement Play in the Adoption of Urban Air Mobility ?
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Stratolaunch’s hypersonic vehicle launched for the first time
Flying Cars News & Articles
Alef Aeronautics’ Model A could be in production in 2025
At first glance, the Model A by Alef Aeronautics might deceive you into thinking it's.......... READ MORE
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
CycloTech Raises 20 Million Euros for Revolutionary Aviation Propulsion System
In a landmark move for aviation technology, CycloTech, an Austrian pioneer in innovative flight propulsion.......... READ MORE
Flying Cars News & Articles
The Switchblade Flying Car: A Milestone in Personal Air Travel Featured in Pioneering Publication
In a significant nod to the future of transportation, the Switchblade Flying Sports Car has.......... READ MORE
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
What are/will be the impacts of Evtol and flying cars on infrastructure ?
Unlike traditional aircraft, eVTOLs are designed to operate in densely populated areas, offering a swift,.......... READ MORE
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Unveiling the Energy Dynamics of eVTOLs
Typically, the energy appetite of an eVTOL ranges between 200 to 300 watt-hours per kilometre.......... READ MORE
Flying Cars News & Articles
Evolving Skies: The Surge in eVTOL and Flying Car Production
This niche, once relegated to the realms of science fiction, is now on the cusp.......... READ MORE
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
What are the requirements for building a vertiport ?
Building a vertiport, the infrastructure necessary for the operation of electric vertical takeoff and landing.......... READ MORE
Drones News & Articles
The role and future of military drones in wars
The role and future of military drones in warfare have become increasingly complex and multifaceted,.......... READ MORE