GA-ASI and US Air Force Demonstrate Advanced Manned-Unmanned Teaming

This article is based on an official press release from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI).

On May 27, 2026, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) announced the successful completion of a major flight test demonstrating advanced Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T). The exercise paired an F-35 Lightning II fighter jet system with an uncrewed MQ-20 Avenger drone, which acted as a surrogate for the U.S. Air Force’s future Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).

According to the official press release, the test successfully validated the hardware, software, and communication networks required to allow a human pilot to command a semi-autonomous drone in real-time. This marks a significant milestone in the Air Force’s push toward integrating AI-driven “loyal wingmen” into combat operations.

The demonstration was a joint effort involving GA-ASI, the F-35 Joint Program Office, Lockheed Martin, Autonodyne, and several U.S. Air-Forces units, including the 309th Software Engineering Group, 461st Flight Test Squadron, and 370th Flight Test Squadron.

Executing the Manned-Unmanned Teaming Demonstration

During the demonstration, the F-35 remained on the ground while the MQ-20 Avenger was airborne. The F-35 pilot used a tablet in the cockpit to send tactical autonomy commands to the MQ-20 via a “Bashi Pilot Vehicle Interface,” according to the provided research report.

The MQ-20 successfully received the commands, executed tactical maneuvers, and adjusted its waypoints. Furthermore, the drone transmitted critical autonomous responses, including ADS-B track data, location, altitude, and velocity, back to the F-35 pilot.

Building on Previous Milestones

This demonstration builds upon previous tests conducted in October 2025 and February 2026. During those earlier exercises, an Air Force F-22 Raptor pilot successfully controlled an MQ-20 Avenger, laying the groundwork for this most recent F-35 integration.

The Technological Backbone: TacACE and A-GRA

The success of the demonstration relied on several cutting-edge software and communication frameworks. The MQ-20 was equipped with GA-ASI’s proprietary Tactical Autonomy Ecosystem (TacACE) software. In previous tests, TacACE has demonstrated the ability to support autonomous mission execution, cooperative targeting, and stealthy “sensor-to-shooter” kill chains.

TacACE is built upon the U.S. Air Force’s Autonomy Government Reference Architecture (A-GRA). A-GRA is a government-owned, modular open-systems framework designed to standardize mission autonomy across different platforms. By decoupling the software from the vehicle hardware, A-GRA prevents “vendor lock” and allows the Air Force to rapidly integrate algorithms from various defense contractors.

Additionally, the aircraft were linked using Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communications. The test proved the ability of both platforms to utilize a tactical proliferated low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite data link to achieve seamless coordination.

Contextualizing the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) Program

The MQ-20 Avenger has served as a surrogate testbed for the CCA program for over five years, allowing the Air Force and GA-ASI to refine autonomy software and MUM-T concepts. The CCA program is designed to address the operational problem that crewed fighters alone cannot generate sufficient combat mass. These semi-autonomous drones are intended to fly alongside crewed fighters, acting as force multipliers for strike, air-to-air, and intelligence missions.

The Air Force is currently moving toward production for “Increment 1” of the CCA program. The service has requested nearly $1 billion in its FY2027 budget to initiate procurement of the first batch of these drones, estimated between 100 and 150 aircraft. GA-ASI is one of the primary finalists for Increment 1 with its YFQ-42A, recently named “Dark Merlin,” which began flight testing in August 2025.

“This significant warfighter integration milestone is the beginning of operational readiness for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft and demonstrates the near-term opportunities for force integration. Events like these drive home GA-ASI’s continued commitment to adoption of next-generation data links, mission autonomy, and unmanned air combat operations.”

AirPro News analysis

We observe that the successful pairing of a 5th-generation fighter’s interface with an autonomous drone proves that the “loyal wingman” concept is moving rapidly from theory to operational reality. The ability to control an uncrewed asset from a fighter cockpit via satellite data links represents a critical leap in combat networking.

Furthermore, the use of the A-GRA framework highlights a massive shift in defense procurement. The military is increasingly buying hardware and software separately, forcing traditional defense contractors to adapt to a highly competitive, open-architecture ecosystem rather than relying on proprietary, closed systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T)?

MUM-T is a military concept where crewed aircraft (like an F-35) and uncrewed autonomous drones (like the MQ-20) operate together in a synchronized manner, sharing data and executing coordinated tactical maneuvers.

What is the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program?

The CCA program is a U.S. Air Force initiative to develop jet-powered, semi-autonomous drones that will fly alongside crewed fighters. They are designed to be affordable, capable, and numerous, acting as force multipliers in combat scenarios.

Why was the MQ-20 Avenger used in this test?

The MQ-20 Avenger serves as a surrogate testbed. It allows the Air Force and defense contractors to test and refine the autonomy software and communication links that will eventually be installed in the actual CCA airframes, such as GA-ASI’s YFQ-42A “Dark Merlin.”

Sources

• General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI)