F-22 controls MQ-20 drone in first industry-funded teaming flight
An F-22 Raptor has controlled a General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger in flight for the first time. The demonstration marks a new step in linking frontline fighters with autonomous unmanned aircraft for manned-unmanned teaming.
The test took place on Oct. 31 at the Nevada Test and Training Range and was disclosed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems on Nov. 17. A piloted F-22 communicated with the MQ-20 through L3Harris Technologies’ BANSHEE Advanced Tactical Datalinks, Pantera software-defined radios and Lockheed Martin open radio architectures. One L3Harris software-defined radio was carried in each aircraft. General Atomics said the setup enabled end-to-end communications through a Pilot Vehicle Interface tablet and the F-22’s GRACE module, allowing the fighter pilot to command and control the unmanned aircraft in flight.
The company described the event as an industry-funded demonstration built with non-government-owned and non-proprietary communications capabilities. It said the test highlighted the ability to fly, transition and re-fly flight hardware that supports Open Mission Systems and a broader autonomy ecosystem. General Atomics is using the MQ-20 as a testbed for future collaborative autonomous aircraft. The effort comes as General Atomics and Anduril continue work on autonomous air vehicles after advancing in the first increment of the U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. Lockheed Martin, which built the Air Force’s F-22 fleet, was among the original contractors for CCA Increment 1 but did not advance to the next round.
The latest event builds on a series of MQ-20 demonstrations this year. In February, General Atomics flew the aircraft with a government-furnished reference architecture that allowed a pilot to interface with compliant autonomy software and switch between autonomy systems in flight. In June, General Atomics and Shield AI said an MQ-20 using AI-based flight software completed tests that included midair station keeping, autonomous decision-making, manned-unmanned teaming, a live aircraft intercept of two aircraft and a simulated missile shot against representative Group 5 unmanned aircraft.
By putting an F-22 in direct control of an MQ-20, the companies are showing how existing combat aircraft could be linked to autonomous wingmen through open architectures and software-defined radios rather than bespoke systems. If repeated at scale, that approach could speed integration, widen supplier options and shape how the Air Force fields collaborative combat aircraft in future operations.