The Air Force has officially designated its first two uncrewed fighter aircraft, YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, as part of its Next-Generation Air Dominance program. These 'loyal wingmen' are designed to enhance the US military fleet, which has been shrinking due to high development costs. Despite the promise of autonomous systems costing a fraction of crewed fighters, concerns over budget sustainability and delays linger. The initiative gains importance amid China's military advancements, prompting the US to bolster its aerial capabilities with innovative uncrewed technology to maintain strategic superiority.
The ambitious Next-Generation Air Dominance initiative seeks to integrate uncrewed fighters into the USAF, but it faces challenges due to rising costs and development delays.
Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall indicated that uncrewed combat aircraft could be produced for a fraction of the cost of crewed jets, enhancing the Air Force's capability.
Collection
[
|
...
]