F-35 to Control Armed Attack Drones
[Kris Osborn]
Kris Osborn
Thursday at 1:39 PM
Drones could help fighter jets with reconnaissance, weapons transport, electronic warfare and targeting; the F-35 might control Predators, Reapers, Global Hawks or small swarms of mini-attack drones
The Air Force Chief Scientist said F-35 pilots will be able to control a small group of drones flying nearby from the aircraft cockpit in the air, performing sensing, reconnaissance and targeting functions.
At the moment, the flight path, sensor payload and weapons disposal of airborne drones such as Air Force Predators and Reapers are coordinated from ground control stations.
In the future, drones may be fully operated from the cockpit of advanced fighter jets such as the Joint Strike Fighter or F-22, Air Force Chief Scientist Greg Zacharias told Scout Warrior in an interview.
http://www.scout.com/military/warrior/story/1699517-f-35-to-control-armed-attack-drones
