USAF Advances Crewed Uncrewed Teaming

⊲ Tom’s Hardware ⊳ The US Air Force has conducted an airborne test in which an F-22 Raptor pilot directed an Anduril YFQ-44A Fury drone during simulated combat, according to The Defense Watch. The pilot issued tactical commands which the autonomous wingman translated into tasks and flight manoeuvres. The trial forms part of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft programme to integrate uncrewed aircraft into fighter squadrons. Further hurdles remain, including testing tactical autonomy limits, weapons authorisation, performance under electronic interference and lost communications, plus maintenance, logistics and forward basing.
◂ Validating how an F-22 pilot tasks a Fury wingman will demand simulators where crews rehearse teaming long before squadrons ever fly together. ▸
⊲ Featured Image – A YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft flies over the Mojave Desert. An F-22 pilot demonstrated in-flight control of a YFQ-44A in an October 2026 test. U.S. Air Force photo by Jennifer Healy ⊳
⊲ www.simulation.news ⊳