US Navy Successfully Remotes Control Unmanned Combat Aircraft... "Manned Aircraft Damage Will Decrease"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. Navy and aircraft manufacturer Boeing have successfully remotely controlled two unmanned combat aircraft from other aircraft. It is expected that the deployment of unmanned vehicles in dangerous battlefield environments will increase in the future, minimizing pilot losses.

On the 4th (local time), Boeing announced that, together with the U.S. Navy Air Systems Command, they completed 21 training missions by remotely controlling two EA-18G Growlers from other aircraft at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland, USA. Boeing emphasized that this test flight demonstrated the technical capability for F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters and EA-18G Growler fighters to perform combat missions with a three-unmanned system.

Although backup pilots were onboard the two EA-18Gs for safety, Boeing explained that the control was conducted remotely from separate nearby aircraft. If this technology becomes established, it is expected that a carrier-based pilot will be able to control multiple aircraft simultaneously, enhancing situational awareness and multiplying the combat power of each fighter.

Typically, remote control has been focused on drone fighters known as unmanned aerial vehicles, but recently it has been developing into remote control forms for existing fighters and bombers. Compared to conventional drone fighters, these have much greater payload capacity and operational range, and significantly reduce the risk of pilot bombing, making them highly favored. The U.S. military is reportedly expecting significant cost savings, including delaying the retirement of manned aircraft pilots, if this technology advances.

Tom Brant, head of Boeing’s manned-unmanned teaming demonstration department, explained, "This technology will expand the Navy’s sensor range while reducing damage to manned aircraft," adding, "Synergistic effects are also expected with other U.S. Navy unmanned systems."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.