CCAs Can Achieve the Previously Unimaginable Feats
Hacking the Skies: The Redefining Battleground of Air Combat
The US Air Force is rethinking its approach to combat, believing that a single manned fighter jet can manage a greater number of drones than initially assumed. According to Maj. Gen. Joseph D. Kunkel, the force's director of force design, this shift could create unexpected challenges for adversaries, as demonstrated during tests and simulations.
The specific numbers of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones a manned fighter can control remains classified. Previously, senior Air Force leaders, including former Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, suggested a potential ratio of two to five drones per manned jet, with a notional plan of two drones per fighter looking most likely. However, recent developments suggest that these ratios might be far from the reality.
Maj. Gen. Kunkel hinted at larger numbers, stating, "We thought that it was going to be small ratios, but it’s bigger than we thought." Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet, speaking separately, hinted at a possible quadrrupling of the drone to fighter ratio, suggesting one fighter could control as many as eight CCA drones.
This development is significant because it opened up new possibilities for how the Air Force can employ the drones in combat, as pilots can now manage larger numbers of drones without relying on cutting-edge autonomy software. In fact, Kunkel described it as "probably the most exciting part" of the CCA program since it would decrease the pilot workload and present more options in handling the drones.
A potential increase in combat air forces is an attractive prospect, especially considering their decline in number over time. This development would provide a counterbalance to China's growing force size, while presenting Chinese forces with a more complex targeting challenge against a larger number of rival aircraft.
The Air Force has an experimental test unit working on developing the best ways to use CCAs, and is also using its X-62 VISTA program to experiment with autonomy software undergirding CCAs. The service aims to have at least 100 drones in the fleet by 2029. With the focus on relatively simple autonomy, human involvement is considered crucial for combat aircraft operating at high speeds.
Lockheed Martin's CEO Taiclet mentioned that the F-35, equipped with the new Tech Refresh 3 upgrades, is capable of maintaining the link between manned platforms and autonomous drones. This connectivity, he stated, is essential for driving 5G-level connectivity among nodes in a network like this.
Editorial Director John Tirpak contributed to this report.
Air Technology
- The US Air Force is considering a shift in combat strategies, believing that a single manned fighter jet could control a larger number of drones than initially anticipated, posing potential challenges for adversaries.
- The specific number of drones a manned fighter can control is classified, but recent developments suggest that the ratio of drones to fighters might be far greater than previously thought, with estimates suggesting one fighter could control up to eight drones.
- This development could open up new possibilities for the Air Force's use of drones in combat, reducing the pilot workload and presenting more options for handling drones, making it "probably the most exciting part" of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.
- The potential increase in combat air forces could offer a counterbalance to China's growing force size, presenting Chinese forces with a more complex targeting challenge against a larger number of rival aircraft.
- Lockheed Martin's F-35, equipped with the new Tech Refresh 3 upgrades, is capable of maintaining the link between manned platforms and autonomous drones, a key factor in driving 5G-level connectivity among nodes in a network like this.
