The Loyal Wingman unmanned aerial vehicle has started high-speed runs on the runway. The first flight is scheduled for 2021.
Created by the Australian division of Boeing, the Loyal Wingman aircraft is one of the potentially most revolutionary developments in the defense sector. It is assumed that the device will receive information from a neighboring manned platform through a data transmission channel. Thus, it will complement manned aircraft, significantly expanding their capabilities.
According to Boeing, the Loyal Wingman program has overcome another important stage on the way to the first flight: the device performed the first high-speed runs on the runway. As part of the tests, the UAV itself and the operation of the control center were checked. Loyal Wingman has been successfully tested at low, medium and high speeds.
Loyal Wingman Tests / ©Boeing
"Our test program is progressing well and we are pleased with the ground test data we have collected so far," said Paul Ryder, flight test Manager at Boeing Corporation. — We work with the Air Warfare Center (defense research organization of the Royal Australian air force. - Ed.) on the completion of the final test checks to prepare for flight tests in the new year."
More than 35 Australian suppliers from the industry group contributed to the development of Loyal Wingman, including investment partner BAE Systems Australia. According to the plans announced by Boeing, the device can perform the first flight in 2021.
Structurally, the Loyal Wingman is a low-profile all-composite jet vehicle equipped with a single engine. Its length is 11 meters. Loyal Wingman was built on a modular principle: it will be possible to place the payload (in particular, sensors) in replaceable nose compartments. In the future, the device can learn to use different weapons.
Loyal Wingman
Image source: armytimes
Australia is not the only country that wants an unmanned wingman. This direction is now, in particular, actively studied in Russia. Earlier it became known that the new Russian UAV "Hunter" performed the first flight in conjunction with the fifth-generation fighter.
It is also noteworthy that, according to some reports, the su-57 fighter itself began to be tested in unmanned mode: the pilot was in the cockpit during the tests, but only to control the situation.
It should be noted that the first serial su-57 fighter should be handed over to the troops before the end of the year. The very first production car crashed during testing in 2019.
