US Tests NGAD Drone Wingman with F-35

US Tests NGAD Drone Wingman with F-35: What the Trials Aim to Show

The United States has advanced testing of unmanned “wingman” aircraft developed under Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) concepts alongside legacy and modern fighters such as the F-35. These trials focus on proving that an autonomous or remotely piloted drone can fly with a manned combat aircraft and contribute to mission tasks.

This article explains why the tests matter, how they are organized, key technologies involved, and the likely operational impacts if the program moves into wider service.

Why Test an NGAD Drone Wingman with the F-35

Pairing a drone wingman with an F-35 aims to extend capability while protecting human pilots. The drone can take risky tasks, carry extra sensors or weapons, and operate as an expendable asset when necessary.

Key purposes of the tests include validating command-and-control links, evaluating autonomous teaming behavior, and testing sensor and weapons integration in realistic flight environments.

Primary test objectives

• Validate secure, low-latency datalinks between F-35 and drone.
• Demonstrate coordinated tactics: formation flying, target handoff, and battle management.
• Assess survivability and redundancy for contested environments.
• Measure mission effectiveness and pilot workload impacts.

How Tests Are Structured

Tests progress through staged scenarios. Early trials focus on flight handling and emergency procedures. Later flights add mission tasks like ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) and weapons employment.

Typical test phases include ground integration, captive-carry or close-range flights, progressive autonomy tests, and full mission simulations with representative threats and rules of engagement.

Test environment and participants

• Manned aircraft: F-35 acting as mission lead and human authority for engagement decisions.
• Unmanned aircraft: NGAD-aligned drone prototypes or surrogate loyal wingman platforms.
• Support: range safety, telemetry, ground control stations, and threat emitters.

Key Technologies Enabling Drone Wingman Tests

Several technology areas must work together for a successful manned-unmanned teaming test. Each area is evaluated separately and then together during integrated flights.

Communications and datalinks

Robust, encrypted datalinks are essential for real-time sharing of sensor data and commands. Tests check link range, latency, and resistance to jamming.

Autonomy and human-machine teaming

Autonomy software allows the drone to maintain formation, follow commands, and execute contingency behaviors if links fail. Human-machine interfaces on the F-35 are assessed for clarity and workload.

Sensor fusion and targeting

Integrated sensors allow the F-35 and drone to share a common picture. Tests evaluate how well the two platforms correlate tracks and assign targets.

Operational Benefits and Use Cases

When mature, NGAD drone wingmen can enable multiple mission benefits. Commanders can tailor force packages with a mix of manned and unmanned platforms to match risk and objectives.

Practical use cases

• Lead-escort formations: F-35 leads while drone scouts ahead for threats.
• Sensor augmentation: drones carry extra radars or EO/IR sensors to expand coverage.
• Attritable strike: expendable drones deliver weapons in high-risk target sets.
• Electronic warfare: drones carry jammers or decoys to support manned aircraft.

Challenges and Risks in Testing

Tests must address safety, rules of engagement, and interoperability with existing systems. Technical issues like secure communications and reliable autonomy are primary concerns.

Regulatory and ethical questions also appear: who makes lethal-force decisions, and how are failures recovered without endangering people on the ground or in the air?

Technical and operational hurdles

• Maintaining secure, anti-jam communications in contested environments.
• Ensuring predictable autonomous behavior in complex airspace.
• Integrating mission systems with classified platforms like the F-35.
• Managing logistics and sustainment for attritable drones.

Case Study: Early Loyal Wingman Demonstrations

Real-world programs give context to NGAD tests. For example, several allied and US initiatives have flown loyal wingman prototypes in recent years to demonstrate teaming concepts and autonomy basics.

These demonstrations used surrogate aircraft to validate datalinks, formation flying, and shared sensor tracks before moving to more advanced weapons integration tests.

What Comes After Successful Tests

After trials validate key capabilities, the pathway typically includes expanded flight envelopes, weapons integration, doctrine updates, and acquisition decisions for fielding. Operational units will need revised training, maintenance, and tactics.

Successful demonstration can shift air combat structure toward mixed manned-unmanned packages that increase persistence, reach, and flexibility.

Checklist for transition to operations

• Complete weapons and safety certifications.
• Update tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for manned-unmanned teams.
• Train pilots and operators on new interfaces and decision flows.
• Establish sustainment and attrition plans for drone inventories.

Conclusion: Practical Takeaways

Testing NGAD drone wingmen with F-35s is a practical step toward a future where pilots and autonomous systems operate together. The tests validate key technologies and reveal gaps that must be filled before full operational use.

Planners should expect a phased introduction, focused training, and incremental updates to doctrine and logistics as the capabilities mature.