US Air Force Successfully carried out the first flight of the combat drone XQ-67A LOYAL WINGMAN. Developed by General Atomics using automotive design techniques, the new drone promises to become a cheaper and flexible alternative to the existing UAV.
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) play an increasingly important role in military operations of the largest world powers. They not only solve the problem of the set and retention of pilots, but also avoid human losses, simultaneously multiplying combat capabilities, turning one pilot into a squadron commander of drones.
XQ-67A, based on the XQ-58A Valkyrie model, which first took off in 2023, is a new development under the Loyal Wingman program. The purpose of the program is to create an inexpensive, easy to maintain, and disposable UAVs, but not inferior to traditional fighters. The key element is the development of a universal chassis, which allows you to quickly modify the design of the drone for various tasks – whether it is combat use or intelligence.
The Air Force Research Laboratory compares this approach to the methods of the automotive industry, where the standardization of subsystems and frames reduces the time and cost of developing new models.
The first flight of the XQ-67A took place on February 28 at the General Atomics Gray Butte training ground near Palmdale, California. The main goals are the development of general design and emphasis on reconnaissance capabilities. After completing the tests, it is planned to install sensors, autonomous avionics, and other systems.
The development of the XQ-67A has become the culmination of the Low Cost Attritable Aircraft Platform Sharing (LCAAPS) program aimed at creating available and effective unmanned systems that complement, and not replace, manned aircraft. The device opens a new generation of autonomous jointly current platforms and is part of the Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) program, which means an external touch station.
“The use of general design principles, borrowed from automotive and other industries, allows you to reduce the time for withdrawal to the market, but the time for the initial operational preparation of military aircraft is increasing. The main tasks include verification of the concept of an open aviation system for hardware and software. There is also a demonstration of fast-time entering the market and low development cost,” said Trenton White, a