Northrop Grumman introduces stealthy unmanned jet fighter as loyal wingman for manned combat jet aircraft
PALMDALE, Calif. – Northrop Grumman Corp. has designed a new autonomous jet fighter aircraft intended to accompany manned combat jets into battle. National Defense reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
27 Sept. 2021 -- Unveiled earlier this month at the Northrop Grumman facility in Palmdale, Calif., the Model 437 stealthy jet with a 3,000 mile range is a collaboration between Northrop Grumman and aircraft designer Scaled Composites in Mojave, Calif.
Executives say the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will be for two autonomous aircraft technology programs — the U.S. Air Force’s Skyborg and the United Kingdom's Project Mosquito.
Skyborg will be an attritable unmanned aircraft with artificial intelligence (AI) to accompany manned jet fighters into battle. Project Mosquito is a British loyal wingman program that aims to fly a combat aircraft alongside the F-35 jet fighter, the multirole Typhoon fighter, and its future replacement, the Tempest.
John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics