Skyborg

Skyborg
Name	Skyborg
Type	Unmanned combat aerial vehicle
Origin	United States
Used by	United States Air Force
Designer	Air Force Research Laboratory
Manufacturer	Kratos Defense & Security Solutions
Service	Under development

Skyborg. It is an autonomous unmanned aircraft system being developed by the United States Air Force as a core component of its Next Generation Air Dominance family of systems. The program aims to create a suite of artificial intelligence that can pilot low-cost, attritable unmanned combat aerial vehicles, designed to operate alongside and augment crewed fighter aircraft like the F-35 Lightning II and F-15EX Eagle II.

Overview

The program represents a fundamental shift in aerial warfare doctrine, moving towards a concept of manned-unmanned teaming. Managed by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the initiative seeks to field a scalable autonomy core system that can be integrated into various airframe designs. This approach is central to the Department of the Air Force's strategy for achieving air superiority in contested environments against advanced adversaries. The core philosophy emphasizes using attritable platforms to perform high-risk missions, thereby preserving more valuable assets and human pilots.

Development and History

Development is spearheaded by the Air Force Research Laboratory under the Skyborg Vanguard program, which was officially launched in 2019. The first major contract for air vehicles was awarded to Kratos Defense & Security Solutions for their XQ-58A Valkyrie loyal wingman demonstration aircraft. Early autonomous flight tests began in 2021 at Tyndall Air Force Base and Eglin Air Force Base, utilizing a modified UTAP-22 Mako drone as a testbed for the initial autonomy software. Key milestones have included successful teaming flights with an F-16 Fighting Falcon and an F-15E Strike Eagle, demonstrating basic collaborative behaviors. The program office is also collaborating with NASA on autonomy research and has engaged multiple companies through the AFWERX innovation arm.

Technical Specifications

The technical heart is the **Autonomous Core System**, an open architecture software suite containing the mission-specific artificial intelligence and algorithms for flight control and decision-making. This ACS is designed to be platform-agnostic, allowing it to be installed on different unmanned airframes. Primary test vehicles have included the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie, a turbofan-powered, stealthy aircraft with an internal weapons bay, and the General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger. The system utilizes advanced sensor fusion from onboard radar, electro-optical/infrared sensors, and electronic warfare suites to build a comprehensive understanding of the battlespace, enabling complex behaviors without constant human direction.

Operational Capabilities

Envisioned capabilities include conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, establishing a forward sensor network, and performing electronic attack to jam enemy defenses. In a combat role, these systems are designed to act as weapons carriers, launching ordnance like the AIM-120 AMRAAM or GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb against targets designated by a human pilot or identified autonomously within rules of engagement. A critical function is serving as a force multiplier, absorbing enemy surface-to-air missile fire and depleting adversary interceptor inventories to create openings for manned aircraft. The AI is being developed for advanced dogfighting maneuvers and suppression of enemy air defenses operations.

Integration and Testing

Integration efforts focus on ensuring seamless communication and data-links between the unmanned systems and manned platforms, primarily via the Kansas City National Security Campus-produced Open Mission Systems standard. Testing has progressed through a series of structured demonstration events, including the **Skyborg Autonomy Testbed** flights and the **Autonomous Aircraft Experimentation** campaign. A major test series involved the **Autonomous Collaborative Platform** program, where multiple drones executed coordinated behaviors. The 416th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base has been instrumental in flight evaluations, working towards eventual operational assessment by a frontline unit like the 53rd Wing.

Future Implications

The successful fielding of this technology is expected to fundamentally reshape the structure and tactics of the USAF. It is a cornerstone for the envisioned Collaborative Combat Aircraft fleet, which will see hundreds of unmanned systems partnering with a smaller number of crewed Next Generation Air Dominance platforms. This has spurred similar "loyal wingman" developments among allies, including the Royal Australian Air Force's Boeing Airpower Teaming System and projects in the United Kingdom and Japan. Long-term implications extend to fully autonomous swarm tactics, posing significant challenges to existing air defense paradigms and raising ongoing discussions within the Pentagon and Congress regarding the ethics and policy of lethal autonomous weapons systems.

Category:Unmanned aerial vehicles of the United States Category:United States Air Force projects Category:Artificial intelligence applications