American Air Force plans to modify the F-22 Raptor fighter jet to become the first platform to control "loyal wingman" drones, using tablet computers and related hardware to achieve highly autonomous drone command. However, despite the F-22's technological advantages, the overall development of the loyal wingman air combat field in the United States may lag behind China. The core reason for this gap lies in the lack of a two-seat stealth fighter in the US, which significantly restricts the efficient integration of manned-unmanned collaborative operations in modern air combat environments.
According to the U.S. Air Force's fiscal year 2026 budget request, 143 operational F-22s will be equipped with a tablet-based control system through the "Manned Platform Integration Program" to command loyal wingman drones. This program costs approximately $15 million, with each set of equipment costing about $86,218. The F-22 will use its hard-to-intercept flight data link between flights to communicate with loyal wingman drones and may draw on the experience of the XQ-58 technology demonstrator to bridge the communication gap between the F-22 and F-35.
The U.S. Air Force plans to deploy 100 to 150 first increment loyal wingman drones and eventually procure around 1,000 drones, aiming to achieve initial operational capability by the end of this decade. General Atomics' YFQ-42A and Anduril's YFQ-44A are current prototype developments, showing the U.S. investment in loyal wingman technology. However, the design limitation of the F-22 as a single-seat fighter reduces its efficiency in manned-unmanned collaborative operations.
The F-22 and F-35 are both single-seat stealth fighters, with pilots needing to simultaneously handle flying, weapon operation, and loyal wingman command tasks. Although the solution of using tablet computers as a control interface is convenient for rapid deployment, its effectiveness is under question. Michael Atwood, Vice President of Advanced Programs at General Atomics, pointed out that in high-intensity air combat, single-seat fighter pilots find it difficult to divert attention to operate tablet computers while managing the main aircraft's weapon systems and coordinating the space and time of the drones. This multitasking load could lead to a decrease in operational efficiency or even affect mission success rates.
In contrast, two-seat fighters allow one pilot to focus on flying and situational awareness, while the weapons systems officer can focus on commanding drones or managing complex weapon systems. In 2024, Lockheed Martin tested the L-39 two-seat aircraft to simulate the "battle manager" role, indicating the potential advantages of two-seat platforms in drone control. However, the U.S. Air Force currently lacks a two-seat stealth fighter in its fleet, which has become a structural shortcoming in the loyal wingman era.
China's advantage in two-seat stealth fighters is far beyond what the U.S. can match. The J-20 "Vigorous Dragon" fighter has developed a two-seat model (J-20S), which is the world's first two-seat stealth fighter. The rear seat weapons system officer of the J-20S can focus on managing drones, electronic warfare, or complex sensor data, thereby significantly improving the efficiency of manned-unmanned collaborative operations. Public reports show that China is actively advancing its loyal wingman technology, and combined with the two-seat design of the J-20S, it may surpass the U.S. in air combat task allocation and command efficiency.
Additionally, China's rapid progress in drone technology, such as the "Dark Sword" unmanned combat aircraft and the GJ-11 stealth drone, indicates its significant investment in autonomy and manned-unmanned collaborative operations. In contrast, although the U.S. loyal wingman program started earlier, it may face challenges in future air combat due to the operational bottlenecks of single-seat fighters and relatively lagging autonomous development.
The U.S. military acknowledges that the autonomy of loyal wingmen still needs improvement. Although the modification plan for the F-22 and F-35 serves as a short-term solution, highly autonomous drones require a more advanced control architecture rather than a simple tablet interface. The Air Force Research Laboratory is trying to solve issues such as multi-aircraft coordination, defensive and offensive counter-air behaviors through projects like "Viper Experiment and Next Generation Combat Models" and the X-62A test platform. However, these projects are still in the experimental stage and need more time before practical deployment.
In contrast, China may compensate for the shortcomings in autonomous development through the two-seat design of the J-20S and a more integrated command system. The division of labor in two-seat fighters allows for more flexible tactical application, especially in complex electromagnetic environments or high-intensity confrontations.
How can the U.S. close the gap? It's actually very difficult because neither the F-22 nor the F-35 is likely to develop a two-seat version again, and artificial intelligence technology is not yet sufficient to replace the role of the rear-seat pilot in the short term.
Overall, the F-22 Raptor, as the first platform in the U.S. Air Force to control loyal wingman drones, demonstrates its technological advantages in the field of stealth fighters. However, the single-seat design limits its efficiency in high-intensity air combat, causing the U.S. to fall behind China, which possesses two-seat stealth fighters. The two-seat design of the J-20S provides China with more flexible command capabilities, combined with its progress in drone technology, which may give it an advantage in future air combat.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7542389647297593896/
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