USAF Tests Manned-Fighter Integration with Autonomous Kratos Drones

Turkey's domestically developed KAAN fighter jet is emerging as a more affordable alternative to the U.S. F-35, targeting arms sales to emerging economies like Indonesia and potentially Egypt, reflecting Turkey's strategic pivot to defense self-reliance after its exclusion from the F-35 program. Meanwhile, the U.S. Air Force is advancing human-machine teaming with autonomous collaborative platforms (ACPs) such as the XQ-58A Valkyrie drones, which have been successfully integrated alongside manned F-16 and F-15E fighters in training exercises, enhancing mission effectiveness and situational awareness. The F-15EX Eagle II represents a significant evolution of the F-15 series, featuring advanced avionics and radar systems that improve survivability, lethality, and interoperability, bridging fourth- and fifth-generation fighter capabilities. Looking ahead, the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program under the Next Generation Air Dominance initiative is testing unmanned jets like General Atomics' YFQ-42A and Anduril's YFQ-44A, designed to operate in tandem with the upcoming F-47 sixth-generation manned fighter, providing force multiplication with roles including agile dogfighting, decoy, and intercept missions. These unmanned jets are expected to begin operational deployment between 2025 and 2029, with plans for over 1,000 units, marking a significant step toward integrated manned-unmanned combat air systems. Together, these developments highlight a global evolution in fighter aircraft technology emphasizing autonomy, affordability, and advanced combat capabilities.