Boeing Australia recently made two new advances on its Loyal Wingman program, unveiled just over a year ago. In February, the fuselage of the first prototype had finally been assembled. Today, this demonstrator being assembled has been landed for the first time on its landing gear, and its internal systems were powered on for the first time.
Developed with the support of the Royal Australian Air Force under the Advanced Development Program, the Loyal Wingman is an 11,7m long stealth companion drone intended to accompany long-range combat aircraft raids. Its manufacturer thus designates it internally as the “Boeing Airpower Teaming System”. For the RAAF, the machine must be able to interact with a Super Hornet, Growler or F-35 type combat aircraft, but also with E-7A Wedgetail radar planes and maritime patrol planes. P-8 Poseidon. To do this, the Loyal Wingman will use artificial intelligence which will allow it to accomplish missions autonomously, but can also be remotely operated by the crews of the planes it accompanies.
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