ARLINGTON, Virginia, United States — An F-22 Raptor pilot has directed an autonomous combat aircraft during a flight demonstration, giving tactical instructions while the uncrewed jet worked out how to carry them out.
The US Air Force announced the test on 16 October, saying it took place earlier in the month. The pilot commanded a single YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft, acting as an airborne team leader rather than manually flying the second aircraft.
Onboard autonomy software interpreted the instructions in real time and executed flight manoeuvres and simulated combat tasks. That division of work is the central idea: a human sets the tactical direction, while software manages the detailed execution aboard the uncrewed aircraft.
The demonstration involved flight-test, operational evaluation, software and programme teams. Its data will support further software integration, development testing and work on how Collaborative Combat Aircraft could be employed.
This was a test milestone, not an announcement that the system has completed development or entered routine combat service. It nevertheless offers a concrete example of how a fighter pilot could direct an uncrewed teammate without taking on every flight-control task.