In the course of the newest mission from Edwards AFB, the pilot aboard the F-22 directed the MQ-20 to carry out tactical maneuvers, alter waypoints, fly Fight Air Patrol profiles, and execute simulated risk engagement duties.
The U.S. Air Pressure and Normal Atomics Aeronautical Programs, Inc. carried out a brand new autonomy demonstration involving an F-22 Raptor geared up with the newest authorities reference autonomy software program and MQ-20 Avenger unmanned plane, GA-ASI introduced in a public assertion. Whereas particulars haven’t been disclosed, the check, which was carried out lately, came about out of Edwards Air Pressure Base, California, and targeted on validating MUMT (manned-unmanned) teaming between the 2 platforms, which had been related by way of tactical information hyperlink.
In keeping with GA-ASI, through the demo mission, the pilot aboard the F-22 performing as “command plane,” issued teaming instructions to the MQ-20, which obtained and executed these instructions, demonstrating its potential to function in coordination with a crewed fighter in a sensible operational state of affairs.
“We respect the flawless execution of this mission utilizing the federal government’s superior autonomous methods,” stated GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “This demo featured the mixing of mission components and the power of autonomy to make the most of onboard sensors to make unbiased choices and execute instructions from the F-22.”
The demonstration validated not solely the mixing of autonomy software program but in addition the power of the 2 plane to change data through tactical information hyperlink. Utilizing the Autonodyne Bashi Pilot Car Interface (PVI), the F-22 was capable of ship autonomy tasking on to the MQ-20, directing it to carry out tactical maneuvers, alter waypoints, fly Fight Air Patrol profiles, and execute simulated risk engagement duties.
The current assessments are yet one more step in direction of the event of Collaborative Fight Plane (CCA), unmanned methods designed to function alongside piloted fighters as power multipliers in what was referred to as, till a couple of years in the past, a “loyal wingman state of affairs”. On this position, autonomous plane just like the MQ-20 can lengthen sensor protection, enhance survivability, and perform missions that will in any other case place the lifetime of human pilots in danger.
An identical check, was carried out final 12 months. On Oct. 21, 2025, an F-22 and an MQ-20 cooperated to display the mixing of L3Harris’ BANSHEE Superior Tactical Datalinks with its Pantera software-defined radios (SDRs) through Lockheed Martin’s open radio architectures, all built-in and shared from the Raptor. As defined in our earlier article, the F-22 pilot took command of the MQ-20 in flight utilizing a PVI on a pill and the F‑22’s GRACE (Authorities Reference Structure Compute Atmosphere) module. The latter is a brand new software program being built-in on the Raptor, which might enable “non-traditional F-22 software program” to be put in on the plane and supply “extra processing and pilot interfaces.” The existence of this software program was first talked about in 2024 as a part of the continued upgrades for the F-22 fleet.
Noteworthy, the F-22 is the so-called “threshold platform” for CCA: actually, whereas integration with F-16s, F-35As, F-15Es and F-15EXs is being thought-about, the U.S. Air Pressure will initially pair CCAs solely with the F-22 Raptor. Coping with the MQ-20, the Avenger has been used as a surrogate CCA platform for greater than 5 years, supporting the event and validation of autonomy ideas earlier than and after the arrival of newer purpose-built platforms such because the XQ-67A and YFQ-42A.
