F-22 Pilot Directs Fury Drone in Airborne Test

A U.S. Air Force F-22 pilot directed an autonomous YFQ-44A Fury drone through flight maneuvers and simulated-combat tasks in an airborne test, the service said. The pilot issued high-level tactical instructions rather than remotely operating the aircraft’s controls, while the drone’s onboard software executed the commands. The demonstration, conducted earlier in October, involved one Fury and advanced the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, which is developing uncrewed aircraft to operate alongside crewed fighters. The Air Force said the test showed how a pilot can direct a semiautonomous aircraft in flight while continuing to fly the fighter. The service did not describe the demonstration as operational combat. The Air Force plans to use data from the test to guide software integration, developmental testing and future operating concepts for the program. The flight brought together personnel from Air Force test and engineering units, including the 412th Test Wing and the Experimental Operations Unit. The pilot and drone exchanged tactical direction through a data link, according to accounts of the test. The YFQ-44A, developed by Anduril, is one of two aircraft...