Sponsored by 80,000 hours: If you’re interested, head to 80000hours.org/perun for access to their career guide, newsletter, and myriad other resources. We've previously talked about 6th Generation fighters on this channel (https://youtu.be/RPrWm6fWuaM) but when they take to the skies, they won't be doing so alone. Increasingly autonomous and capable unmanned combat aircraft are here, and they are going to change the way you build an air force. Forces around the world are talking about the immense possibilities of combining manned and unmanned systems together into a cohesive team. In this episode I discuss the concepts behind drone wingmen, some of the major development programs, and what they might mean for the future of air warfare. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PerunAU Caveats & Comments: All normal caveats and comments apply. For example, proud shilling of the MQ-28 is done for comedic effect and should not be taken to represent financial or any other kind of advice Relevant Reading/sourcing US DoD Directive 3000.09 https://www.esd.whs.mil/portals/54/documents/dd/issuances/dodd/300009p.pdf PACAF Strategy 2030: https://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3522468/pacific-air-forces-commander-releases-pacaf-strategy-2030-evolving-airpower/ DARPA Longshot: https://www.darpa.mil/program/longshot https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/general-atomics-prepares-for-flight-testing-of-uncrewed-missile-truck/154890.article Harpy https://www.iai.co.il/p/harpy Airbus on FCAS https://www.airbus.com/en/products-services/defence/multi-domain-superiority/future-combat-air-system-fcas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdo5EKlcfYc https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2022-12-remote-carrier-demonstrator-released-and-operated-from-flying-a400m NGAD is expensive https://www.defensenews.com/air/2022/04/28/future-ngad-fighter-jets-could-cost-hundreds-of-millions-apiece/ Reporting on Australian Loyal Wingman concepts https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/loyal-wingman-to-take-australias-airpower-into-the-next-era/ Reporting on CCA https://www.airandspaceforces.com/usaf-5-8-billion-ccas-five-years-spectral-warfare/ https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/collaborative-combat-aircraft-cca-usa/ https://www.airandspaceforces.com/collaborative-combat-aircraft-ngad-timeline/ https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/affordable-mass-concept-driving-air-forces-new-advanced-drone-initiative https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-very-opposed-cost-limits-ccas/ https://www.defensenews.com/air/2022/09/07/mark-your-calendar-for-a-planned-drone-wingmen-competition-in-2024/ S-70 https://tass.com/defense/1375043 https://tass.com/defense/1452733 Reporting on Mosquito https://www.airforce-technology.com/features/mosquito-swat-becomes-the-latest-in-a-long-line-of-uk-uncrewed-dead-ends/ Interview on F-35 Fusion https://sldinfo.com/2018/11/the-f-35-and-data-fusion-a-perspective-from-the-international-fighter-conference-2018/ Unmanned Aircraft Systems report – CRS https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47188 Kizelima image from https://www.dailysabah.com/business/defense/baykar-plans-to-make-supersonic-variant-of-unmanned-fighter-jet-kizilelma Skyborg https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2596671/skyborg-autonomy-core-system-has-successful-first-flight/ Reporting on ERC https://www.edrmagazine.eu/mbda-developing-expendable-remote-carrier-for-the-fcas-programme X-61A Gremlin https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2021/11/08/darpa-has-caught-a-gremlin-drone-in-midair-can-it-grab-four-in-a-half-hour/ Secretary Kendall discussing NGAD and CCA https://www.airandspaceforces.com/kendall-top-seven-priorities/ https://www.airandspaceforces.com/kendall-new-details-air-force-plans-200-ngad-1000-ccas/ PRC Images and concepts https://www.airdatanews.com/chinese-two-seat-j-20-fighter-jet-controlling-three-gj-11-stealth-drones/ https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/china-unveils-loyal-wingman-armed-drone-concept-2021-09-29/ Marines vs Robots https://www.businessinsider.com/marines-fooled-darpa-robot-hiding-in-box-doing-somersaults-book-2023-1 Mosquito https://www.gov.uk/government/news/royal-air-force-rapid-capabilities-office-announce-review-of-project-mosquito MQ-28 Ghost Bat https://www.boeing.com.au/products-services/Defense-Space-Security/ghost-bat.page https://www.airforce.gov.au/our-work/projects-and-programs/ghost-bat MQ-20 flying autonomously using LEO SATCOM Datalink https://www.ga.com/ga-asi-flies-mq-20-avenger-autonomously-using-leo-satcom-datalink Timestamp: 00:00:00 — The Race 00:01:49 — What Am I Talking About? 00:04:12 — Automation Levels 00:07:48 — Why Go Unmanned? 00:12:13 — Teaming 00:14:53 — Why Aviation? 00:34:06 — Programs Of Note 00:46:18 — Collaborative Combat Aircraft 00:57:13 — The Evolving Systems 01:03:35 — Towards Full Autonomy 01:05:28 — Conclusion