Lockheed working on expendable, advanced drones to team up with Air Force fighters
By Stephen Losey
Sunday, Jul 17
This screenshot from a Lockheed Martin concept video shows an F-35 flying with autonomous drones with which it's teamed. The company's Skunk Works division is working on a two-tiered path for the U.S. Air Force's concept of teaming piloted fighters with autonomous drones flying alongside it. (Lockheed Martin)
WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin is eyeing a mix of expendable drone wingmen and more advanced autonomous systems for the U.S. Air Force to team up with its manned fighters.
The service could fly the expendable drones in as soon as three years, the vice president and general manager of the company’s advanced development programs division, known as Skunk Works, said July 11.
John Clark said in a briefing with reporters before the Farnborough Airshow, scheduled for July 18-22 in London, that the expendable drones will have a much lower price point than the more advanced systems, making a quicker delivery easier.
https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/2022/07/17/lockheed-working-on-expendable-advanced-drones-to-team-up-with-us-air-force-fighters/
