All articles tagged with #loyal wingman
Anduril and Archer unveiled Thunder, a Group 5 autonomous VTOL drone designed as a loyal wingman for helicopters like the Apache and Cheyenne, with modular payloads (up to 10 Hellfires, 16 air-launched effects, 76 rockets), nose-mounted counter-UAS, a hybrid-electric drive, and a 40-foot container-ready package; first flight planned next year and production targeted for 2029–2030.
Anduril, in partnership with Archer Aviation, debuts Thunder — a Group 5 hybrid‑electric tiltrotor unmanned combat drone designed to fly as an autonomous wingman for crewed helicopters (e.g., Apache family and MV‑75 Cheyenne II). It features nap‑of‑the‑earth flight, a modular payload bay (missiles, launched effects, rocket pods, and interceptors), a hybrid propulsion system with Optimum‑Speed Tiltrotors to boost range and efficiency, and onboard AI with Lattice to coordinate in real time with host aircraft. The concept emphasizes mass, lower cost per unit than manned helicopters, and survivability in contested airspace, including defense against air‑to‑air drones and MANPADS. First flight is targeted next year with potential commercial variants with Archer; it faces competition from Boeing, Sikorsky, Bell, and UK NYX efforts as part of a broader loyal‑wingman market.
Britain's RAF unveiled Storm Fighter, an autonomous collaborative combat aircraft to fly with Typhoon, F-35 and the planned Tempest as part of a $6.6B defense modernization; the program revives loyal-wingman concepts from LANCA/Mosquito, includes carrier-demo work (Vanquish), and reflects broad industry interest (BAE, Boeing, others) with no finalized design or timeline yet.
Italy’s Leonardo and Baykar demonstrated autonomous control of the Turkish Kizilelma drone from an Italian M-346 trainer during a loyal-wingman flight in Turkey, marking a milestone in crewed/uncrewed teaming and signaling ongoing international collaboration with plans for more complex tests.