The U.S. Air Force successfully demonstrated the ability of F-15E "Strike Eagle" and F-16C "Fighting Falcon" pilots to remotely control two XQ-58A "Valkyrie" unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) for simulated air-to-air combat during its latest exercise at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. This historic trial marks a critical step forward in the coordinated operations between manned fighter jets and unmanned loyal wingman, signaling a profound transformation in air combat. In response to the rapid progress of the United States in the field of unmanned combat systems, China needs to accelerate the development of its own loyal wingman to cope with the new landscape of future air warfare.

The XQ-58A "Valkyrie," developed by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, is a low-cost unmanned combat aerial vehicle designed for high-threat environments. What are its main features? First, stealth design: The aircraft uses a trapezoidal fuselage, swept wings, and a V-tail to effectively reduce radar and infrared signatures, making it suitable for deep penetration into enemy air defense areas. Its stealth performance is worse than the Chengdu J-20, but much better than traditional surveillance and strike UAVs.

Performance parameters: Cruise speed of 0.72 Mach, maximum speed of 0.85 Mach, operational altitude of 13,700 meters, and a range of over 5,556 kilometers.

Modular payload: It can carry 544 kilograms of precision-guided weapons (such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition and GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb) or electronic warfare systems, supporting multiple mission requirements.

Low cost: The unit price ranges from $2 million to $6.5 million, far lower than the MQ-9 "Reaper," making it a "disposable" asset.

Flexible deployment: No traditional runway is required; it uses rocket-assisted takeoff and parachute recovery, suitable for forward bases or maritime platforms.

The design concept of the "Valkyrie" aligns closely with the U.S. Air Force's low-cost expendable aircraft technology program, aiming to supplement high-cost fighters such as the F-35 through economically efficient unmanned platforms.

In this exercise, the F-15E "Strike Eagle" and F-16C "Fighting Falcon" served as airborne command platforms, controlling the "Valkyrie" unmanned combat aerial vehicles in real time via encrypted tactical data links (such as Link-16). Pilots used advanced human-machine interfaces to treat drones as extensions of their fighter jets, directing them to perform high-risk missions such as reconnaissance or simulated target engagements. This mode allows manned aircraft to remain outside the range of enemy air defense systems, significantly reducing pilot risk.

The F-15E and F-16C, equipped with advanced radars (APG-82 active electronically scanned array radar and AN/APG-83 scalable agile beam radar) and sensor suites, enhanced situational awareness in complex battlefields. The test showed that traditional fighter jets can be upgraded to become command nodes, extending their operational lifespan while paving the way for the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program.

As a loyal wingman, the "Valkyrie" can perform reconnaissance, target acquisition, and even simulate air-to-air missile launches (such as the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile). Its open system architecture supports real-time data processing and sharing, allowing pilots to dynamically adjust tactics. This manned-unmanned formation greatly enhances mission flexibility, especially in high-threat environments.

Traditional air command relies on E-3 "Sentry" airborne warning and control systems or joint tactical air controllers. This trial shows that the F-15E and F-16C can directly act as command and control nodes, reducing dependence on ground stations. This distributed control model alleviates the burden on early warning aircraft and lays the foundation for future large-scale drone swarm coordination.

The low cost of the "Valkyrie" allows it to serve as a "forerunner" in high-risk missions, protecting high-value assets such as the F-22 and F-35. This not only reduces the risk of economic loss but also improves overall survivability by dispersing enemy fire.

The recent U.S. trial has far-reaching geopolitical implications, particularly in potential conflict scenarios in the Indo-Pacific region involving China. The deployment of loyal wingmen can enhance the survival capability and deterrence power of the U.S. military in disputed airspace.

In contrast, although China has made progress in the field of unmanned combat systems, it has not yet demonstrated the ability to integrate highly with manned fighter jets. Of course, China may use the J-20 to command the J-11 to build its own manned-unmanned air combat network, which could be much more advanced than the current U.S. combination. The following are the technical barriers to building this capability:

Developing a loyal wingman with a high degree of autonomy, integrating artificial intelligence algorithms to deal with complex battlefield environments.

Building an encrypted data link to ensure seamless cooperation between manned and unmanned systems.

Learning from the "Valkyrie" disposable concept, or using high stealth methods like the J-11, to develop economical and efficient unmanned platforms, suitable for intense conflicts.

Researching drones that do not require traditional runways to enhance operational flexibility in forward areas such as the South China Sea.

The U.S. Air Force demonstrated the huge potential of manned-unmanned formations in future air warfare through the collaborative trials of the F-15E, F-16C, and "Valkyrie." This mode not only enhances tactical flexibility and survivability but also reshapes the command and control system. As an important player in global military competition, China needs to accelerate the development of its own loyal wingman technology to cope with increasingly complex geopolitical and technological challenges. Only through technological innovation and strategic foresight can China take the initiative in the next generation of air warfare.



Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7530516627054395947/

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