Boeing to develop pilotless plane

Stefan Mileschin · 3rd March 2021, 08:39

A 737 MAX with the windows open

Boeing will use a pilotless, fighter-like jet developed in Australia as the basis for its US Air Force Skyborg prototype.

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 US 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.

Boeing airpower teaming programme director Shane Arnott told reporters: “Obviously the US market is a big market. That is a focus for us, achieving some sort of contract or programme of record in the United States.”

https://fudzilla.com/news/52444-boei...ilotless-plane

3rd March 2021, 08:39	#1
Stefan Mileschin [M] Reviewer Join Date: May 2010 Location: Romania Posts: 148,843	Boeing to develop pilotless plane A 737 MAX with the windows open Boeing will use a pilotless, fighter-like jet developed in Australia as the basis for its US Air Force Skyborg prototype. 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 US 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. Boeing airpower teaming programme director Shane Arnott told reporters: “Obviously the US market is a big market. That is a focus for us, achieving some sort of contract or programme of record in the United States.” https://fudzilla.com/news/52444-boei...ilotless-plane

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