Boeing to base US air force prototype on Australian pilotless combat jet
Boeing Co will use a pilotless, fighter-like jet developed in Australia as the basis for its U.S. Air Force Skyborg prototype, an executive at the plane maker said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
The “Loyal Wingman”, the first military aircraft to be designed and manufactured in Australia in more than 50 years, made its first flight on Saturday under the supervision of a Boeing test pilot monitoring it from a ground control station in South Australia.
Boeing’s Loyal Wingman is 38 feet long (11.6 metres), has a 2,000 nautical mile (3,704 km) range and a nose that can be outfitted with various payloads. The plane can also carry weapons and act as a shield to help protect more expensive manned fighter jets.
The U.S. Air Force in December awarded multi-million dollar contracts to Boeing, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Kratos Defense and Security Solutions to produce unmanned aerial prototypes that can team with crewed jets.
“The airpower teaming system is the basis for our Skyborg bid,” Boeing airpower teaming programme director Shane Arnott told reporters. “Obviously the U.S. market is a big market. That is a focus for us, achieving some sort of contract or programme of record in the United States.”
Defence contractors are investing increasingly in autonomous technology as militaries around the world look for cheaper and safer ways to maximise their resources.
Australia, a staunch U.S. ally, is home to Boeing’s largest footprint outside the United States and has vast airspace with relatively low traffic for flight testing.
The Australian government said on Tuesday it would invest a further A$115 million ($89 million) to acquire three more Loyal Wingman aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to develop tactics for using the jets with crewed planes, on top of its initial investment of A$40 million.
“Our aim with Boeing is to understand how we can get these aircraft to team with our existing aircraft to be a force multiplier in the future,” RAAF Air-Vice Marshal and head of air force capability Cath Roberts said.
Britain in January signed a GBP 30 million ($42 million) contract with the Belfast unit of Spirit AeroSystems for a similar type of pilotless aircraft to have a trial flight in the next three years.
During the test flight in Australia, the Loyal Wingman took off under its own power before flying a pre-determined route at different speeds and altitudes to verify its functionality and demonstrate the performance of the design.
Arnott said that three Loyal Wingman aircraft would be used for teaming flights this year and that the Australian government’s order would take the number available to six.
Videos
![](/cache_video/video_images/17/49315_3/ebrd.thumb-550x310.png)
Interview with Francis Malige, EBRD Managing Director
![](/cache_video/video_images/67/199285_3/april_24.thumb-550x310.png)
Armenians Commemorating 106th Anniversary of Genocide
![](/cache_video/video_images/67/199086_3/biden_genocide_v3.thumb-550x310.jpg)
Biden Under Pressure to Recognize Armenian Genocide - KTLA 5 News
![](/cache_video/video_images/17/48505_3/untitled_v4.thumb-550x310.jpg)
Governance and Oversight Capacities Account for Our Bank's Robust Management System - Philip Lynch, Independent Board Member at Ameriabank
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YsUfAAHX-Bs/maxresdefault.jpg)
'Mr. President, It Is Now in Your Power to Right Decades of Denial' - US Congressman Adam Schiff Urges Joe Biden to Recognize Armenian Genocide
![](/cache_video/video_images/17/48048_3/untitled.thumb-550x310.png)
Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh in Despair After Trauma of Military Defeat - France 24
![](/cache_video/video_images/65/193399_3/ef.thumb-550x310.jpg)
Interview with Kakhaber Kiknavelidze, an Independent Member of Ameriabank Board of Directors
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YgKLSoO1JU4/maxresdefault.jpg)
Only Terrorists Keep Hostages, Putting Forward Preconditions for Their Release - Edmon Marukyan
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/GCXrePjX--E/maxresdefault.jpg)
Rep Adam Schiff Says Congress Should Recognize Artsakh
![](/cache_video/video_images/16/45838_3/un_v2.thumb-550x310.jpg)
UN's Guterres Issues Global Appeal to Make 2021 'Year of Healing'
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/rzmd7RouGrM/maxresdefault.jpg)
NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Landing Animations
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/oCKNREhXAoo/maxresdefault.jpg)
Azerbaijan Uses Prohibited Phosphorus Chemical Munitions - Defense Army Video
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wVdiJ8AdQx0/maxresdefault.jpg)
Artsakh Defense Army Units Neutralizing Azerbaijani Arms Supplies
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/AzLOovjnkdo/maxresdefault.jpg)
Artsakh Defense Army Units Neutralizing Azerbaijani Drone
![](/cache_video/video_images/15/44149_3/zohrab_mnatsakanyan.thumb-550x310.png)
Nagorno-Karabakh's Status Has Been At the Heart of Our Approach - Zohrab Mnatsakanyan
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/86_V0iUxKBQ/maxresdefault.jpg)
Artsakh Defense Army Releases Video Featuring Damaged Azerbaijani Military Equipment
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/r7h5Lu4D8Ww/maxresdefault.jpg)
Artsakh Defense Army Units Inflicting Manpower Losses on Azerbaijan
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/I4vTMFuEjqs/maxresdefault.jpg)
Gas Pipeline Damaged in Azerbaijani Fire Targeting Nagorno-Karabakh's Capital
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/8EvGzTYdK5c/maxresdefault.jpg)
President Armen Sarkissian Meets Emmanuel Macron at Élysée Palace
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/u96OSWiG0O0/maxresdefault.jpg)
Artsakh Defense Army Neutralizes Azerbaijani Military Hardware
![](/cache_video/video_images/59/174611_3/frontline.thumb-550x310.jpg)
Artsakh Defense Army Units Neutralizing Azerbaijani Military Infrastructures
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/1G5TqYmDBew/maxresdefault.jpg)
President Armen Sarkissian Meets with NATO Secretary-General in Brussels
![](/cache_video/video_images/15/44003_3/stepanakert_1.thumb-550x310.png)
Buildings and Homes Lying in Ruins in Nagorno-Karabakh's Capital After Azerbaijani Shelling
![](/cache_video/video_images/15/43969_3/fire.thumb-550x310.png)
Artsakh Defense Army's Precision Fire Gives Deadly Blow to Enemy
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/173649_3/tanks.thumb-550x310.png)
Artsakh Defense Army Units Destroying Azerbaijani Tank
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/n91BdmvGi2E/maxresdefault.jpg)
Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Ceasefire Does not Mandate Azerbaijan to Kill Civilians and Hit Civilian Settlements
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/173520_3/la.thumb-550x310.jpg)
Armenians Protest Outside Turkrish Embassy in Los Angeles
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/173280_3/artsakh.thumb-550x310.jpg)
Losses in Azerbaijan's Military Featured in Defense Army Footage
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/173240_3/transport_column.thumb-550x310.png)
Artsakh Defense Army Neutralizing Adversary's Transport Column
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/173229_3/abc.thumb-550x310.png)
Turkey openly backs Azerbaijan 'far more aggressively than in the past' - ABC News on Syrian mercenaries fighting in Karabakh
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/173091_3/church.thumb-550x310.jpg)
Iconic Armenian Church Hit in Azerbaijani Attacks in Nagorno-Karabakh City (photos)
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/173013_3/strikes.thumb-550x310.jpg)
Artsakh Defense Army Continues High-Precision Strikes
![](/cache_video/video_images/15/43777_3/mep.thumb-550x310.png)
War Situation in Karabakh on European Parliament's Agenda
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/172572_3/armnews.thumb-550x310.png)
Call for Urgent Action: Armenian Journalist Brings Intn'l Colleagues' Attention to Situation iin Artsakh After Azerbaijani Attacks
![](/cache_video/video_images/15/43689_3/artsakh_n.thumb-550x310.jpg)
Turkey's Support to Syrian Mercenaries Fighting Against Artsakh: Facts About Azerbaijani Aggression
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/172396_3/stepanakert.thumb-550x310.png)
Nagorno-Karabakh's Capital Under Azerbaijani Strikes
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/172248_3/video.thumb-550x310.jpg)
Armenian Armed Forces Neutralize Azerbaijani Defense Positions
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/171448_3/fighting.thumb-550x310.jpg)
ArmenianTroops Destroy Azerbaijani Armored Fighting Vehicle on Frontline
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/171424_3/f5f723cbfd6d50_5f723cbfd6da4.thumb-550x310.jpg)
There is a solid evidence that Azerbaijan has launched a thoroughly planned attack on the NKR
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/171353_3/eu_karabakh.thumb-550x310.png)
EU calls for Immediate End to Hostilities over Nagorno-Karabakh
-
15:20 • 24.05.21 Interview with Francis Malige, EBRD Managing Director
-
11:39 • 24.04.21 Armenians Commemorating 106th Anniversary of Genocide
-
09:40 • 23.04.21 Biden Under Pressure to Recognize Armenian Genocide - KTLA 5 News
-
15:34 • 22.04.21 Governance and Oversight Capacities Account for Our Bank's Robust Management System - Philip Lynch, Independent Board Member at Ameriabank
-
14:09 • 21.04.21 'Mr. President, It Is Now in Your Power to Right Decades of Denial' - US Congressman Adam Schiff Urges Joe Biden to Recognize Armenian Genocide
-
12:37 • 03.04.21 Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh in Despair After Trauma of Military Defeat - France 24
-
17:33 • 11.03.21 Interview with Kakhaber Kiknavelidze, an Independent Member of Ameriabank Board of Directors
-
17:57 • 26.01.21 Only Terrorists Keep Hostages, Putting Forward Preconditions for Their Release - Edmon Marukyan
-
13:33 • 22.01.21 Rep Adam Schiff Says Congress Should Recognize Artsakh
-
09:42 • 29.12.20 UN's Guterres Issues Global Appeal to Make 2021 'Year of Healing'
-
18:41 • 24.12.20 NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Landing Animations
-
13:33 • 31.10.20 Azerbaijan Uses Prohibited Phosphorus Chemical Munitions - Defense Army Video
-
16:37 • 30.10.20 Artsakh Defense Army Units Neutralizing Azerbaijani Arms Supplies
-
11:25 • 28.10.20 Artsakh Defense Army Units Neutralizing Azerbaijani Drone
-
13:45 • 24.10.20 Nagorno-Karabakh's Status Has Been At the Heart of Our Approach - Zohrab Mnatsakanyan
-
11:51 • 24.10.20 Artsakh Defense Army Releases Video Featuring Damaged Azerbaijani Military Equipment
-
11:40 • 24.10.20 Artsakh Defense Army Units Inflicting Manpower Losses on Azerbaijan
-
10:39 • 24.10.20 Gas Pipeline Damaged in Azerbaijani Fire Targeting Nagorno-Karabakh's Capital
-
12:41 • 23.10.20 President Armen Sarkissian Meets Emmanuel Macron at Élysée Palace
-
12:16 • 23.10.20 Artsakh Defense Army Neutralizes Azerbaijani Military Hardware
-
12:02 • 22.10.20 Artsakh Defense Army Units Neutralizing Azerbaijani Military Infrastructures
-
10:35 • 22.10.20 President Armen Sarkissian Meets with NATO Secretary-General in Brussels
-
10:51 • 17.10.20 Buildings and Homes Lying in Ruins in Nagorno-Karabakh's Capital After Azerbaijani Shelling
-
15:09 • 15.10.20 Artsakh Defense Army's Precision Fire Gives Deadly Blow to Enemy
-
13:13 • 13.10.20 Artsakh Defense Army Units Destroying Azerbaijani Tank
-
12:56 • 12.10.20 Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Ceasefire Does not Mandate Azerbaijan to Kill Civilians and Hit Civilian Settlements
-
12:23 • 12.10.20 Armenians Protest Outside Turkrish Embassy in Los Angeles
-
17:23 • 09.10.20 Losses in Azerbaijan's Military Featured in Defense Army Footage
-
15:53 • 09.10.20 Artsakh Defense Army Neutralizing Adversary's Transport Column
-
14:11 • 09.10.20 Turkey openly backs Azerbaijan 'far more aggressively than in the past' - ABC News on Syrian mercenaries fighting in Karabakh
-
15:52 • 08.10.20 Iconic Armenian Church Hit in Azerbaijani Attacks in Nagorno-Karabakh City (photos)
-
10:57 • 08.10.20 Artsakh Defense Army Continues High-Precision Strikes
-
14:24 • 07.10.20 War Situation in Karabakh on European Parliament's Agenda
-
19:31 • 05.10.20 Call for Urgent Action: Armenian Journalist Brings Intn'l Colleagues' Attention to Situation iin Artsakh After Azerbaijani Attacks
-
16:17 • 04.10.20 Turkey's Support to Syrian Mercenaries Fighting Against Artsakh: Facts About Azerbaijani Aggression
-
12:39 • 04.10.20 Nagorno-Karabakh's Capital Under Azerbaijani Strikes
-
13:49 • 03.10.20 Armenian Armed Forces Neutralize Azerbaijani Defense Positions
-
10:12 • 29.09.20 ArmenianTroops Destroy Azerbaijani Armored Fighting Vehicle on Frontline
-
23:42 • 28.09.20 There is a solid evidence that Azerbaijan has launched a thoroughly planned attack on the NKR
-
18:45 • 28.09.20 EU calls for Immediate End to Hostilities over Nagorno-Karabakh
Most popular articles Today Yesterday For a week
-
Event 11:19 • 06/09 Ucom and SunChild NGO Bring Renewable Energy to Syunik's Borderline Regions A photovoltaic panel with an installed capacity of 10.44 kW has been installed on the roof of the Shikahogh Cultural Center. This will supply electricity to the cultural center, the local municipality, and outdoor lighting.
-
Event 13:59 • 04/09 “Remote hands” for any business from anywhere։ Viva offers a reliable and flexible server support service Viva offers a solution through new technologies. The company provides affordable options for server colocation service and maintenance works. Viva is expanding its colocation services by adding “remote hands” to the existing options.
Law
-
15:33 • 13.06.24 Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan: Abraham Gasparyan has been tortured
Economy
-
15:09 • 13.08.24 Converse Bank has joined the UN Global Compact Initiative
-
18:07 • 02.08.24 Unlimited Internet from Viva becomes even more affordable
Event
-
15:04 • 30.08.24 Achieving self-development with “Viva University”
Science/tech
-
14:18 • 08.05.24 AstraZeneca withdrawing Covid vaccine worldwide