In an interesting article in the USAF’s Air and Space Power Journal Col. Michael W. Pietrucha has suggested that future aircraft will need lightweight, autonomous, force multiplying wingmen.
According to Pietrucha’s vision, pilots of the future will need to have access to small drone aircraft that can perform maneuvers autonomously to help human operators accomplish more intense and complex missions.
To that end Pietrucha has out together a list of characteristics that these next-gen wingmen should have:
• Autonomous fight; navigation (including instrument approach and terrain following); identification, friend or foe; and communications.
• Small size.
• High maneuverability (up to 7 g’s).
• F-16-like combat radius.
• High subsonic speed, service ceiling of at least 30,000 feet.
• Internal and external payload.
• Reduced radar and infrared signature (not necessarily “low observable”).
• Modular avionics fit.
• Short takeoff and landing (STOL).
• Capability of interfacing with tactical networks
In a combat scenario pilots accompanied by these drones would be able issue a series of preprogramed orders to defend the main jet or strike at either ground or air targets.
While this scenario seems like something out of a sci-fi movie, or video game Pietrucha insists that this capability could be available to US pilots sometime during the 2020s.
Image Courtesy of Flight Global and Scribd