Photo: Airbus
Military pilots have a habit of going out on missions in pairs or small groups. That's because no matter the mission ahead, it's always easier for the lead pilot to see it through with friends around. The concept is almost as old as military aviation, and it is so important that there is even a dedicated name for the support pilot: wingman.
It's also a term the military aviation industry uses for uncrewed aircraft that are specifically developed to support human pilots in their missions. These Wingman drones, as they are collectively called, are a bit more than conventional drones controlled from afar, as they let themselves be controlled by pilots flying nearby, in other aircraft.
There are several Wingman drones being developed at the moment, the most famous of them all being the Boeing-made Ghost Bat. Most of the world's powers seem to have been pondering such an aircraft, except for the Europeans: until this week the Old Continent did not seem to have anything notable to show on this front.
That changed in Berlin, Germany, where the International Aerospace Exhibition ILA is being held. It is there that aerospace giant Airbus showed the world an unnamed Wingman drone concept that at first glance seems to dwarf anything else made before.
You see, the European continent is working on its own brand new, sixth generation fighter jet. It's called the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), and it will be part of an aerial combat ecosystem that will include drones and AI.
The problem with the FCAS is that it's not supposed to be ready before the year 2040, and Europe is facing some serious security challenges right now. Germany, as the leader of the pack there in more respects than one, is particularly interested in getting its hands on a system that could bridge the gap between the current planes and the upcoming FCAS.
The Airbus Wingman could be a solution. Flying uncrewed, it would allow control over its systems from pilots flying nearby, taking on the high-risk missions humans don't like taking. Capable of carrying weapons, it could strike enemy targets on its own, while its controller is in the air a safe distance away, calling all the important shots. The drone can also be used to perform reconnaissance and jam targets.
Visually speaking, the 1:1 model Airbus is showing in Berlin is without a doubt the most fighter-jet like Wingman drone I've ever seen. And it's shaped like something that appears to be the spawn of the SR-71 Blackbird and a missile.
Airbus says this is only a concept design, but it does show all that's expected from a drone of this kind: low observability, armed to the teeth, packed with sensors, and capable of teaming.
There are no official plans to make the Wingman a reality in the immediate future, but some of the tech and design ideas that were imagined for it could make it into production, to be used on other kind of aircraft.
There are several Wingman drones being developed at the moment, the most famous of them all being the Boeing-made Ghost Bat. Most of the world's powers seem to have been pondering such an aircraft, except for the Europeans: until this week the Old Continent did not seem to have anything notable to show on this front.
That changed in Berlin, Germany, where the International Aerospace Exhibition ILA is being held. It is there that aerospace giant Airbus showed the world an unnamed Wingman drone concept that at first glance seems to dwarf anything else made before.
You see, the European continent is working on its own brand new, sixth generation fighter jet. It's called the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), and it will be part of an aerial combat ecosystem that will include drones and AI.
The problem with the FCAS is that it's not supposed to be ready before the year 2040, and Europe is facing some serious security challenges right now. Germany, as the leader of the pack there in more respects than one, is particularly interested in getting its hands on a system that could bridge the gap between the current planes and the upcoming FCAS.
The Airbus Wingman could be a solution. Flying uncrewed, it would allow control over its systems from pilots flying nearby, taking on the high-risk missions humans don't like taking. Capable of carrying weapons, it could strike enemy targets on its own, while its controller is in the air a safe distance away, calling all the important shots. The drone can also be used to perform reconnaissance and jam targets.
Visually speaking, the 1:1 model Airbus is showing in Berlin is without a doubt the most fighter-jet like Wingman drone I've ever seen. And it's shaped like something that appears to be the spawn of the SR-71 Blackbird and a missile.
Airbus says this is only a concept design, but it does show all that's expected from a drone of this kind: low observability, armed to the teeth, packed with sensors, and capable of teaming.
There are no official plans to make the Wingman a reality in the immediate future, but some of the tech and design ideas that were imagined for it could make it into production, to be used on other kind of aircraft.
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