Breaking News: U.S. Air Force validates F-16 and F-15EX fighter jets human-machine teaming with XQ-58A drone
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According to information published by the U.S. Air Combat Command on July 8, 2025, the U.S. Air Force has achieved a significant milestone in the evolution of future airpower by conducting a manned-unmanned teaming flight exercise involving semi-autonomous XQ-58A Valkyrie drones. The demonstration took place at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, where pilots from an F-16C Fighting Falcon and an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets each controlled two Valkyrie platforms during a live air combat scenario. This test marked one of the most advanced integrations of autonomous collaborative platforms (ACPs) into U.S. military training operations to date.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet teams with XQ-58A Valkyrie drone during live air combat demonstration. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)
The XQ-58A Valkyrie is a stealthy, long-range, runway-independent unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in partnership with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). It was conceived under the Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology (LCAAT) program, launched in 2016 to deliver an affordable UAV capable of operating alongside crewed aircraft in contested environments. The XQ-58A made its maiden flight in March 2019 and has since undergone a series of developmental tests focused on autonomy, survivability, and real-time integration with manned platforms.
The U.S. Air Force is testing this new tactic of human-machine teaming as part of its broader shift toward distributed airpower strategies. With adversaries increasingly investing in integrated air defense systems, hypersonic weapons, and electronic warfare, the traditional model of deploying limited numbers of high-value crewed aircraft is becoming less viable. By integrating loyal wingman platforms like the Valkyrie, the Air Force seeks to multiply its combat effectiveness, extend sensor coverage, complicate enemy targeting, and reduce the exposure of human pilots in high-risk zones. The XQ-58A can perform missions independently or in coordination with fighters, delivering strike payloads, jamming enemy radars, or conducting forward reconnaissance—tasks that would otherwise place crewed assets in danger.
Technically, the Valkyrie is designed to meet this challenge with stealth shaping, a top speed exceeding 1,050 km/h, and a range of over 3,000 kilometers. It supports modular payload bays with up to 272 kilograms of mission-specific equipment, including precision-guided munitions, sensors, and electronic warfare tools. Its rocket-assisted takeoff and parachute recovery systems eliminate the need for conventional airstrips, allowing deployment from dispersed or austere bases to enhance survivability in a contested environment.
The ability of F-16 and F-15 pilots to command multiple ACPs in real time without overwhelming cognitive workload is central to the Air Force’s vision for future combat operations. The XQ-58A’s autonomous mission execution, networked communication, and tactical flexibility support the concept of disaggregated airpower—one where numerous low-cost platforms can absorb initial enemy strikes, maintain pressure on adversary systems, and ensure mission continuity even under intense threat.
According to Gen. Ken Wilsbach, commander of Air Combat Command, such exercises demonstrate the Air Force’s commitment to maintaining air dominance by integrating next-generation technologies with operator-driven tactics. This initiative is supported by the Department of Defense’s Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve (RDER) program and executed through cooperation between AFRL, the Air Force Test Center, Air Combat Command, and the U.S. Navy, showing a unified approach to capability acceleration.
Brig Gen. Jason E. Bartolomei, commander of AFRL, emphasized that the data and insights from this flight test are vital for shaping future development paths of autonomous systems within the Department of Defense. The XQ-58A Valkyrie not only represents a tactical enabler but also a strategic asset for future force design. It offers the U.S. Air Force a scalable and adaptive toolset to outpace near-peer competitors and conduct sustained operations across increasingly contested multi-domain battlespaces.
The integration of the XQ-58A Valkyrie into live air combat exercises marks a decisive step toward the operational realization of human-machine teaming. As the U.S. Air Force moves toward a future characterized by speed, complexity, and technological competition, solutions like the Valkyrie will be essential in delivering mass, flexibility, and survivability. These new tactics are not only reshaping air combat doctrine but also redefining the role of autonomy in warfare.
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According to information published by the U.S. Air Combat Command on July 8, 2025, the U.S. Air Force has achieved a significant milestone in the evolution of future airpower by conducting a manned-unmanned teaming flight exercise involving semi-autonomous XQ-58A Valkyrie drones. The demonstration took place at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, where pilots from an F-16C Fighting Falcon and an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets each controlled two Valkyrie platforms during a live air combat scenario. This test marked one of the most advanced integrations of autonomous collaborative platforms (ACPs) into U.S. military training operations to date.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet teams with XQ-58A Valkyrie drone during live air combat demonstration. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)
The XQ-58A Valkyrie is a stealthy, long-range, runway-independent unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in partnership with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). It was conceived under the Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology (LCAAT) program, launched in 2016 to deliver an affordable UAV capable of operating alongside crewed aircraft in contested environments. The XQ-58A made its maiden flight in March 2019 and has since undergone a series of developmental tests focused on autonomy, survivability, and real-time integration with manned platforms.
The U.S. Air Force is testing this new tactic of human-machine teaming as part of its broader shift toward distributed airpower strategies. With adversaries increasingly investing in integrated air defense systems, hypersonic weapons, and electronic warfare, the traditional model of deploying limited numbers of high-value crewed aircraft is becoming less viable. By integrating loyal wingman platforms like the Valkyrie, the Air Force seeks to multiply its combat effectiveness, extend sensor coverage, complicate enemy targeting, and reduce the exposure of human pilots in high-risk zones. The XQ-58A can perform missions independently or in coordination with fighters, delivering strike payloads, jamming enemy radars, or conducting forward reconnaissance—tasks that would otherwise place crewed assets in danger.
Technically, the Valkyrie is designed to meet this challenge with stealth shaping, a top speed exceeding 1,050 km/h, and a range of over 3,000 kilometers. It supports modular payload bays with up to 272 kilograms of mission-specific equipment, including precision-guided munitions, sensors, and electronic warfare tools. Its rocket-assisted takeoff and parachute recovery systems eliminate the need for conventional airstrips, allowing deployment from dispersed or austere bases to enhance survivability in a contested environment.
The ability of F-16 and F-15 pilots to command multiple ACPs in real time without overwhelming cognitive workload is central to the Air Force’s vision for future combat operations. The XQ-58A’s autonomous mission execution, networked communication, and tactical flexibility support the concept of disaggregated airpower—one where numerous low-cost platforms can absorb initial enemy strikes, maintain pressure on adversary systems, and ensure mission continuity even under intense threat.
According to Gen. Ken Wilsbach, commander of Air Combat Command, such exercises demonstrate the Air Force’s commitment to maintaining air dominance by integrating next-generation technologies with operator-driven tactics. This initiative is supported by the Department of Defense’s Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve (RDER) program and executed through cooperation between AFRL, the Air Force Test Center, Air Combat Command, and the U.S. Navy, showing a unified approach to capability acceleration.
Brig Gen. Jason E. Bartolomei, commander of AFRL, emphasized that the data and insights from this flight test are vital for shaping future development paths of autonomous systems within the Department of Defense. The XQ-58A Valkyrie not only represents a tactical enabler but also a strategic asset for future force design. It offers the U.S. Air Force a scalable and adaptive toolset to outpace near-peer competitors and conduct sustained operations across increasingly contested multi-domain battlespaces.
The integration of the XQ-58A Valkyrie into live air combat exercises marks a decisive step toward the operational realization of human-machine teaming. As the U.S. Air Force moves toward a future characterized by speed, complexity, and technological competition, solutions like the Valkyrie will be essential in delivering mass, flexibility, and survivability. These new tactics are not only reshaping air combat doctrine but also redefining the role of autonomy in warfare.
