Airbus will present its new Loyal Wingman type unmanned combat aircraft concept during the ILA International Aerospace Exhibition in Berlin.
Takeaways:
- Wingman is designed to operate as a companion to manned fighter jets, following commands from the pilot.
- The drone can perform high-risk missions, reducing the threat to the manned aircraft.
- Wingman will increase the capabilities of current fighter jets like the Eurofighter.
- Airbus is looking to offer an affordable solution to the Luftwaffe and other Air Forces.
The Airbus concept is an unmanned, fighter-like system that will operate as the Wingman of a manned aircraft, following the pilot’s commands, allowing it to take on high-risk missions, considerably reducing the threat to the manned fighter.
The 1:1 model, which Airbus will showcase from June 5-9 at its ILA static exhibit, displays all the expected capabilities needed, such as low observability, integration of various armaments, advanced sensors, connectivity and teaming solutions. Although not necessarily everything on display may make it to mass production. In this respect, the model on display at ILA Berlin will serve as a basis and catalyst to drive the design requirements for each generation of the Wingman. According to the current concept, the Wingman is intended to augment the capabilities of current manned combat aircraft, such as the Eurofighter, with unmanned platforms that can carry weapons and other effectors.
A key force multiplier
“The German Air Force has expressed a clear need for an unmanned aircraft flying with and supporting missions of its manned fighter jets before the Future Combat Air System will be operational in 2040,” said Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space. “Our Wingman concept is the answer. We will further drive and fine-tune this innovation made in Germany so that ultimately we can offer the German Air Force an affordable solution with the performance it needs to maximise the effects and multiply the power of its fighter fleet for the 2030s.”
See also: Remote Carriers, the unmanned companions of Europe’s sixth-generation fighters
Unmanned Wingman tasks can range from reconnaissance to electronic jamming and attacking targets on the ground or in the air with precision guided munitions or missiles. Pilots of manned aircraft acting as “command fighters” will always be in control of the mission. They are always the final decision-making authority, while benefiting from the protection and reduced risk exposure offered by delegating tactical tasks to unmanned systems.
Another key objective of the program is to increase the “mass” of global combat vectors affordably, so that the Air Force can match the number of opposing forces that “peer or near-peer” adversaries might deploy in a hypothetical high-intensity armed conflict.
