Boeing Uncrewed Fighter Jet Completes First Flight

On March 1, Boeing Australia and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) announced that the Loyal Wingman uncrewed aircraft had successfully completed its first test flight. Now, Boeing has also provided video proof of this impressive first flight.

"The Loyal Wingman’s first flight is a major step in this long-term, significant project for the Air Force and Boeing Australia, and we’re thrilled to be a part of the successful test,” said in a statement Air Vice-Marshal Cath Roberts, RAAF Head of Air Force Capability. “The Loyal Wingman project is a pathfinder for the integration of autonomous systems and artificial intelligence to create smart human-machine teams.

“Through this project, we are learning how to integrate these new capabilities to complement and extend air combat and other missions,” she said.

This first Loyal Wingman aircraft will now serve as the foundation for the Boeing Airpower Teaming System and will fly alongside other platforms, using artificial intelligence to team with existing crewed and uncrewed assets.

It might be the first of its kind but it certainly won't be the last. Additional models are currently under development. It seems that the future of Australia's Air Force is uncrewed!