05-07-2025
US fighter pilots fly F-16, F-15 jets while controlling drones in sky-combat test
In a significant milestone for next-generation air combat, the US Air Force has successfully demonstrated real-time manned-unmanned teaming in a combat-representative environment.
During a high-fidelity training event over Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, pilots flying an F-16C Fighting Falcon and an F-15E Strike Eagle each controlled two XQ-58A Valkyrie drones, marking one of the most advanced operational evaluations of semi-autonomous collaborative platforms (ACPs) to date.
This exercise reflects the US Air Force's strategic focus on integrating autonomous combat systems into existing force structures to maintain air superiority in increasingly contested battlespaces.
Designed as low-cost, runway-independent platforms, ACPs such as the Valkyrie are intended to operate with high autonomy under human supervision, conducting high-risk missions ranging from strike to surveillance to electronic warfare.
According to Air Combat Command (ACC), the successful execution of this mission validated key aspects of aircrew-drone integration. Operators controlled the drones mid-flight, delegating tactical tasks while retaining oversight, significantly reducing cockpit workload, increasing mission survivability, and preserving ethical control over lethal effects.
'This test with ACPs directly addresses the evolving requirements of modern warfare and the needs articulated by our warfighters,' said Gen. Ken Wilsbach, Commander, ACC.
'We are committed to integrating ACPs through operator-driven evaluations that enable rapid iteration and sharpen our combat edge. This approach is essential to maintaining air dominance and ensuring joint force effectiveness in the complex operating environments ahead.'
The Department of Defense's Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve (RDER) supported the demonstration, which was jointly executed by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Air Force Test Center, ACC, and the US Navy.
This cross-service collaboration underscores a broader effort to fast-track artificial intelligence and autonomy into operational concepts, ahead of near-peer threats.
The XQ-58A Valkyrie, developed by Kratos Defense, has been the leading testbed for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programs.
With a combat radius exceeding 2,000 nautical miles, modular payload bays, and a mission autonomy architecture, the Valkyrie complements fifth-generation fighters by acting as a sensor node, jamming platform, or even a decoy or strike asset.
Unlike traditional UAVs, ACPs like the Valkyrie are optimized to operate in GPS-denied, heavily contested airspace, pushing unmanned systems into roles traditionally reserved for crewed platforms.
Brig. Gen. Jason Bartolomei, Commander of AFRL, highlighted the significance of this event: 'With this flight, we take a decisive step toward operationalizing human-machine teaming. These platforms will allow us to adapt quickly, increase combat effectiveness, and reduce risk to aircrews in high-threat environments.'
Data from the flight will inform future CCA development and integration across the Department of Defense.
The objective is to enable individual aircraft to control drones and establish networked autonomy, where multiple unmanned platforms coordinate with each other and their crewed wingmen in dynamic combat conditions.
As adversary capabilities grow, the USAF aims to field a family of manned-unmanned teams capable of massing fires, saturating defenses, and executing multi-domain missions at scale.
The recent success at Eglin AFB is a concrete step toward that future, where autonomous drones expand combat reach without increasing human risk.
