Latest news with #aircombat
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Why The F-22's Exhaust Looks So Different From Other Fighter Jets
No accolade could better describe how exemplary the F-22 Raptor is as a fighter jet than that its production run was quartered because it was peerless in air-to-air combat. The F-22's rectangular exhaust nozzles are two of many places on the aircraft where stealth, speed and maneuverability were all design considerations. How the exhaust is handled helps the aircraft, co-developed by Lockheed Martin and Boeing, hit a speed of 1,500 miles per hour, twirl through the sky like a falling leaf and remain difficult to spot on radar. The first thing that onlookers at air shows notice about the F-22 Raptor is the shape of its exhaust nozzle. Most fighter aircraft have circular-shaped exhausts, which seems intuitive when all turbofan engines are cylinders that have to be fitted to the airframe. However, it creates a unique dilemma. According to the Aviation Geek Club, the curved shape can be easier to spot on radar. The angular shape of the F-22's exhausts and the sawtooth edges along the fuselage's aft section are there to minimize the return signature on radar. Read more: These Are The Worst Transmission Recalls Of The Last 5 Years The F-22 Raptor Has More Thrust Than Any Other Fighter On The Planet The thrust vectoring flaps are another feature that contributes to the F-22's unique look. The exhaust-mounted flaps aren't an aesthetic choice. The flaps angle up or down by 20 degrees based on the pilot's inputs and the aircraft's speed to dramatically increase the Raptor's agility. Think of the differential in your car turned up to 11. The F-22 has an unbelievable amount of power to play with, as each of its two Pratt & Whitney F119 engines produces 35,000 pounds of thrust. According to the United States Air Force, the pair of engines produces more thrust than any current fighter engine in service around the world. Production for the F-22 Raptor was cancelled in 2009, with the last fighter jet leaving the assembly line in 2012. Only 186 Raptors were ever produced, a fraction of the Air Force's initial order of 750 fighters. The F-22 was designed for an era where it needed to have the military might to stand toe-to-toe with Moscow and Beijing. The geopolitical landscape quickly shifted in the 2000s, where air-to-air combat was nearly non-existent in Afghanistan and Iraq. The F-22 Raptor will likely be phased out for more affordable planes over the coming decades, but it will be remembered as an unrivaled feat of aerospace engineering. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
US fighter pilots fly F-16, F-15 jets while controlling drones in sky-combat test
In a significant milestone for next-generation air combat, the US Air Force has successfully demonstrated real-time manned-unmanned teaming in a combat-representative environment. During a high-fidelity training event over Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, pilots flying an F-16C Fighting Falcon and an F-15E Strike Eagle each controlled two XQ-58A Valkyrie drones, marking one of the most advanced operational evaluations of semi-autonomous collaborative platforms (ACPs) to date. This exercise reflects the US Air Force's strategic focus on integrating autonomous combat systems into existing force structures to maintain air superiority in increasingly contested battlespaces. Designed as low-cost, runway-independent platforms, ACPs such as the Valkyrie are intended to operate with high autonomy under human supervision, conducting high-risk missions ranging from strike to surveillance to electronic warfare. According to Air Combat Command (ACC), the successful execution of this mission validated key aspects of aircrew-drone integration. Operators controlled the drones mid-flight, delegating tactical tasks while retaining oversight, significantly reducing cockpit workload, increasing mission survivability, and preserving ethical control over lethal effects. 'This test with ACPs directly addresses the evolving requirements of modern warfare and the needs articulated by our warfighters,' said Gen. Ken Wilsbach, Commander, ACC. 'We are committed to integrating ACPs through operator-driven evaluations that enable rapid iteration and sharpen our combat edge. This approach is essential to maintaining air dominance and ensuring joint force effectiveness in the complex operating environments ahead.' The Department of Defense's Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve (RDER) supported the demonstration, which was jointly executed by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Air Force Test Center, ACC, and the US Navy. This cross-service collaboration underscores a broader effort to fast-track artificial intelligence and autonomy into operational concepts, ahead of near-peer threats. The XQ-58A Valkyrie, developed by Kratos Defense, has been the leading testbed for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programs. With a combat radius exceeding 2,000 nautical miles, modular payload bays, and a mission autonomy architecture, the Valkyrie complements fifth-generation fighters by acting as a sensor node, jamming platform, or even a decoy or strike asset. Unlike traditional UAVs, ACPs like the Valkyrie are optimized to operate in GPS-denied, heavily contested airspace, pushing unmanned systems into roles traditionally reserved for crewed platforms. Brig. Gen. Jason Bartolomei, Commander of AFRL, highlighted the significance of this event: 'With this flight, we take a decisive step toward operationalizing human-machine teaming. These platforms will allow us to adapt quickly, increase combat effectiveness, and reduce risk to aircrews in high-threat environments.' Data from the flight will inform future CCA development and integration across the Department of Defense. The objective is to enable individual aircraft to control drones and establish networked autonomy, where multiple unmanned platforms coordinate with each other and their crewed wingmen in dynamic combat conditions. As adversary capabilities grow, the USAF aims to field a family of manned-unmanned teams capable of massing fires, saturating defenses, and executing multi-domain missions at scale. The recent success at Eglin AFB is a concrete step toward that future, where autonomous drones expand combat reach without increasing human risk.
Reuters
19-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Drone makers battle for air dominance with 'wingman' aircraft
PARIS, June 19 (Reuters) - Defence heavyweights and emerging military tech firms used the Paris Airshow to showcase cutting-edge drones known as "wingmen" - uncrewed aircraft designed to fly alongside next-generation fighter jets and reshape the future of air combat. The Paris show, the biggest aerospace and defence gathering in the world, featured a record number of drones, reflecting their rising importance after proving highly effective in the Ukraine war and as the U.S. prepares for a potential conflict with China in the Pacific. In April last year, the U.S. Air Force selected Anduril and General Atomics to develop the first fleet of drone wingmen, which are designed to fly alongside manned fighter jets and are officially known as Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). California-based Anduril, which has already supplied small drones to Ukraine and was making its debut at the air show, displayed a model of its 17-foot Fury drone - planned for production in 2027 as part of the U.S. Air Force's CCA programme. "We're moving extremely fast," Jason Levin, Anduril's senior vice president of engineering, told Reuters. "The aircraft is very capable. We can't go into specifics here, but it performs the mission like a fighter." Levin said Anduril had raised $2.5 billion to build a 5-million-square-foot production facility in Ohio, with construction set to begin next year. In March, Anduril signed a 30-million-pound ($38 million) deal with Britain to supply its compact Altius drone to Ukraine. The drone can be launched from the ground or air and is capable of conducting strikes, serving as a decoy or for cyber warfare. Larger drones like Fury are part of the U.S. CCA programme, which aims to field around 1,000 autonomous drones capable of conducting surveillance, electronic warfare and strike operations alongside piloted fighter jets - such as Lockheed Martin's (LMT.N), opens new tab F-35 and the next-generation F-47, which Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab was tapped to build following its selection by the Air Force in March. General Atomics showed off a model of its YFQ-42A drone at the show, which is its equivalent of the Fury, with both designed for potential use in the Pacific if China invaded democratically-ruled Taiwan. Last week, Boeing demonstrated the potential of drones operating in coordination with human pilots during a groundbreaking test with the Royal Australian Air Force, the U.S. aerospace giant announced at the air show. In the trial, two of Boeing's Ghost Bat drones flew alongside an E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft, with a human operator remotely controlling the uncrewed systems to carry out a mission against an airborne target, the company said. "The Ghost Bat has the potential to turn a single fighter jet into a fighting team, with advanced sensors that are like hundreds of eyes in the sky," Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said in a statement. European defence firms are also advancing wingman drone initiatives, including Sweden's Saab ( opens new tab and a trilateral partnership between Dassault Aviation ( opens new tab, Airbus ( opens new tab, and Indra Sistemas ( opens new tab under the Future Combat Air System. The programme aims to integrate autonomous drones with manned fighter jets. Turkey's Baykar displayed two of its drone models at the show for the first time - the high-altitude, heavy lift Akinci and the TB3, which has foldable wings and can take off or land on short-runway aircraft carriers. On Monday, Baykar and Italian defence and aerospace group Leonardo ( opens new tab formally launched a joint venture for unmanned systems. Germany's Rheinmetall ( opens new tab announced at the show that it would partner with Anduril to build versions of Fury and Barracuda - a cruise missile-style drone - for European markets.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Drone makers battle for air dominance with 'wingman' aircraft
By Joe Brock PARIS (Reuters) -Defence heavyweights and emerging military tech firms used the Paris Airshow to showcase cutting-edge drones known as "wingmen" - uncrewed aircraft designed to fly alongside next-generation fighter jets and reshape the future of air combat. The Paris show, the biggest aerospace and defence gathering in the world, featured a record number of drones, reflecting their rising importance after proving highly effective in the Ukraine war and as the U.S. prepares for a potential conflict with China in the Pacific. In April last year, the U.S. Air Force selected Anduril and General Atomics to develop the first fleet of drone wingmen, which are designed to fly alongside manned fighter jets and are officially known as Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). California-based Anduril, which has already supplied small drones to Ukraine and was making its debut at the air show, displayed a model of its 17-foot Fury drone - planned for production in 2027 as part of the U.S. Air Force's CCA programme. "We're moving extremely fast," Jason Levin, Anduril's senior vice president of engineering, told Reuters. "The aircraft is very capable. We can't go into specifics here, but it performs the mission like a fighter." Levin said Anduril had raised $2.5 billion to build a 5-million-square-foot production facility in Ohio, with construction set to begin next year. In March, Anduril signed a 30-million-pound ($38 million) deal with Britain to supply its compact Altius drone to Ukraine. The drone can be launched from the ground or air and is capable of conducting strikes, serving as a decoy or for cyber warfare. Larger drones like Fury are part of the U.S. CCA programme, which aims to field around 1,000 autonomous drones capable of conducting surveillance, electronic warfare and strike operations alongside piloted fighter jets - such as Lockheed Martin's F-35 and the next-generation F-47, which Boeing was tapped to build following its selection by the Air Force in March. General Atomics showed off a model of its YFQ-42A drone at the show, which is its equivalent of the Fury, with both designed for potential use in the Pacific if China invaded democratically-ruled Taiwan. Last week, Boeing demonstrated the potential of drones operating in coordination with human pilots during a groundbreaking test with the Royal Australian Air Force, the U.S. aerospace giant announced at the air show. In the trial, two of Boeing's Ghost Bat drones flew alongside an E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft, with a human operator remotely controlling the uncrewed systems to carry out a mission against an airborne target, the company said. "The Ghost Bat has the potential to turn a single fighter jet into a fighting team, with advanced sensors that are like hundreds of eyes in the sky," Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said in a statement. European defence firms are also advancing wingman drone initiatives, including Sweden's Saab and a trilateral partnership between Dassault Aviation, Airbus, and Indra Sistemas under the Future Combat Air System. The programme aims to integrate autonomous drones with manned fighter jets. Turkey's Baykar displayed two of its drone models at the show for the first time - the high-altitude, heavy lift Akinci and the TB3, which has foldable wings and can take off or land on short-runway aircraft carriers. On Monday, Baykar and Italian defence and aerospace group Leonardo formally launched a joint venture for unmanned systems. Germany's Rheinmetall announced at the show that it would partner with Anduril to build versions of Fury and Barracuda - a cruise missile-style drone - for European markets. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
18-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Preserving America's Air Battle Edge: Why Canceling The E-7 Would Be A Strategic Mistake
An artist's depiction shows an E-7A in flight. The Pentagon's recent questioning of the Air Force plan to purchase 26 E-7 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft in favor of an option to use five Navy E-2s during a transition of the mission to space raises significant concerns about America's ability to achieve and maintain air superiority. Modern air combat takes a team, with the sensor and battle management expertise on board AEW&C aircraft a key part of that enterprise. They serve as the quarterbacks for the broader air superiority effort. Built on the Boeing 737 airframe and equipped with Northrop Grumman's advanced multirole electronically scanned array radar, the E-7 is the lynchpin for modern air battle management. Modernization Long Overdue The AEW&C mission is currently executed by the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. First fielded in the 1970s, it is based on the 1960s-era Boeing 707 airframe. Fifty years later, the aircraft and its associated mission systems are increasingly unsustainable. Today, E-3s require hand-crafted, aircraft junkyard, or 3D-printed parts due to absence of a supply base—the 707 airframe was retired by the airlines over 40 years ago. Commanders around the globe frequently call upon the AWACS, but more often than not, they are broken. Maintaining these aging aircraft through the mid-2030s is projected to cost nearly $10 billion. The E-3 recapitalization crisis is not new. In 2001, then-Air Combat Command Commander Gen. John Jumper proposed the E-10 Multi-Sensor Command and Control Aircraft to consolidate and replace multiple sensor aircraft that included the E-3, E-8, and RC-135. However, the E-10 program was cancelled in 2007 due to technical integration challenges, underfunding of the Air Force amidst an excessive focus on counterinsurgency operations, and a mistaken belief that China would not become an adversary. Since then, no serious AEW&C recapitalization was pursued, and the E-3 inventory grew older. A decades-long vulnerability is now acute. Threats from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran demand modern, robust and resilient airborne command and control. Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin testified to Congress to that effect on May 6, 2025, when he explained that the E-3 is a 'dying platform,' and that only the E-7 can effectively replace it. The E-7 is becoming the free-world's standard with Australia, United Kingdom, South Korea, and Turkey operating it. That makes the aircraft an export success—with allies funding a significant portion of the aircraft's development. The Department of Defense (DOD) should capitalize on this reality, not abandon it. Moving the Mission to Space A key rationale of those who support terminating the Air Force E-7 plan is the prospect of transitioning the airborne moving target indicator (AMTI) mission to space-based sensors, which may ultimately offer a more secure and persistent solution. While that solution path holds much promise, the scale and scope of the technical challenges involved with engineering, testing, and fielding an operationally relevant space-based AMTI enterprise will take many years if not decades. The transition of the AMTI enterprise from air to space is an incredibly challenging mission evolution that requires significant technical invention. Cutting edge innovation takes time and therefore it is important to pursue a careful handoff. The reality is that combatant commanders require reliable AEW&C solutions today. It comes down to assuring air superiority capability at sufficient capacity to deter conflict. Failing deterrence, we must ensure that we can fight and win. Even with a fully functioning space-based AMTI enterprise, there are limitations inherent with a space-based only solution. The optimal plan involves a collaborative multi-domain approach. That is why when asked about the AEW&C mission, Chief of Space Operations Gen Chance Saltzman explained: 'No one system is going to be perfectly optimized to take care of the full spectrum of ops. And so that's where I think you need a mix of systems.' Advocates of the move to a space-based AMTI architecture acknowledge the need to bridge from the E-3 to space-based AMTI and have proposed the idea of pursuing the Navy's E-2 airborne early warning aircraft (AEW) as an alternative to the E-7. While the E-2 is effective in its intended role for aircraft carrier strike group defense, it was not designed for large-scale, multi-theater air battle management. Its smaller mission crew—three versus the E-7's complement of eight air battle managers, and two additional electronic warfare officers—limits its capacity for complex operations. Its radar, constrained by lower flight altitudes, offers less range and fidelity across the vast Indo-Pacific theater. The E-2's size hampers future upgrades, and its probe-and-drogue refueling system is incompatible with most Air Force tankers. Furthermore, the proposed acquisition of just five E-2s is insufficient to backfill an E-3 inventory that recently numbered over 30 aircraft. U.S. combatant commanders require far more than five AEW&C aircraft dedicated to theater air battle management to fulfill the demands of the National Defense Strategy. Matching one E-7's capability would require multiple E-2Ds per mission—inefficient, impractical, and insufficient. Human Capital is Overlooked in Proposed DOD Alternative Absent in the Pentagon's latest proposal is the most important element of the AWE&C mission: human capital. Raw sensor data—whether coming from a space-based AMTI constellation or a handful of E-2s—does not manifest effective command and control. The actual mission—air battle management—requires highly trained personnel to interpret the various data inputs, correlate it into actionable information, and task various mission aircraft in accordance with operational and tactical objectives. This is a highly complex job that takes years of training and realistic practice to execute. It involves real-time surveillance, force direction, and coordination—not simply the transmission of data. Future space-based AMTI concepts have yet to define where and how air battle managers integrate into the overarching mission. Thus far, the effort has been focused on technical solutions. That is only half the equation. This mission requires trained air battle managers who can translate sensor data into actionable information and direct it to the right combat elements—often within seconds—to achieve operational effects. The same challenge exists for the E-2 option given its smaller mission crew capacity. The need for persistent air battle management is real and growing. The Indo-Pacific, European, and Central Command theaters all face threats from adversaries growing in capability. Ironically, China recognizes the value of modern AEW&C aircraft. That is why they field their own KJ-500 and are in the process of building more advanced versions. The E-7 is Key to Keeping America's Air Battle Management Edge Golden Dome is a result of a very appropriate increase in focus on homeland defense given the dangers posed by growing air and missile threats. This concern is validated by the attacks that Ukraine and Isreal are now experiencing—the U.S. could soon face similar challenges. The E-7 is central to Golden Dome's success in detecting and tracking cruise missiles, hostile aircraft, and drones. That is why U.S. Northern Command and NORAD Commander Gen. Gregory Guillot testified that the E-7's AMTI capability is essential to layered defense against these potential threats. For those who argue the E-7 should be sunset given survivability concerns, yes, non-stealth aircraft like the E-7 are vulnerable to advanced adversary weapon systems—but so is the E-2, as are satellites, ships, armor, infantry, etc. Chinese and Russian anti-satellite weapons, jamming capabilities, and cyber threats could rapidly neutralize U.S. space assets in wartime. Survivability is best achieved through a diversified mix of platforms in both air and space, along with robust offensive and defense offensive measures—not only by placing AMTI capability in space. Canceling the E-7 now would be a costly and strategic blunder. The Air Force has already invested $2.56 billion in the program. The insufficiency of a five-aircraft unit to meet combatant command requirements, the limitations of the proposed alternative for theater-wide air battle management, and the immaturity of the AMTI move to space all point to one conclusion: the DOD must move forward with E-7 acquisition. History is clear: air battle management, paired with modern fighters, is essential to achieving air superiority. Pentagon leadership should reconsider terminating the E-7 program, and if not, Congress must fund its continuation and deployment. The consequences for U.S. national security of not moving forward with the Air Force E-7 program could be dire and are simply not worth the risk that the proposed DOD alternative entails.
