Aerospace giant Boeing’s Australian branch unveiled, on Tuesday, the very first prototype of its ‘Loyal Wingman’ drone-cum-fighter for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The Loyal Wingman, first showcased at last year’s Australian International Airshow,  is the country’s first home-made military jet (design-to-manufacturing) in over 50 years. 

The Australian Prime Minister also applauded the efforts made by the “men and women of Boeing Australia, the RAAF and local industries” who all played their part in achieving this feat.

Cutting Edge Technology

The wingman will operate within Boeing’s Airpower Teaming System (ATS); a revolutionary framework for achieving exceptional aerial coordination. Jerad Hayes, Boeing’s senior director for autonomous aviation and technology said:

We see the Airpower Teaming System platform as capable of going against many different mission sets, and as such, we’re engaging across the Department of Defense to understand their specific mission need, what their requirements are for those, and understanding exactly how the Airpower Teaming System fits those

Up to 16 wingman could work in sync with manned fighters like the F/A-18 Super Hornet and the F-35A, to conduct a wide range of missions. It will offer reconnaissance, intelligence, surveillance, and tactical early warning support, all thanks to the advanced sensor packages onboard.

Boeing has tailored the unmanned jet specifically for reaching the greater goal of complete air autonomy — using artificial intelligence (AI). Its AI capabilities will enable pilots to fly worry-free as the surrounding wingman will adjust their position automatically. They can also fly independently if required.  

Ultimately, it will give pilots more intel so they can assess the situation better. Hayes added:

Autonomy is a big element of this, as well as the incorporation of artificial intelligence. Those two elements combined enable us to support existing forces

What’s next for the Loyal Wingman?

The unmanned jet’s appearance has also stirred interest from global defence contractors including the US and UK. Boeing already saw its global export potential and hence incorporated several lucrative features in the design. For example, its enormous nose having a capacity of 90 000 cubic inches will allow buyers to create custom payloads suited to their needs.

Boeing also intends to fill the gap for low-cost unmanned aircraft in the market; keeping its price close to that of its primary competitor, the Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie. Testing of the Loyal Wingman will commence later this year with the Australian Air Force; and mass-production to begin as early as mid-decade.

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