Lockheed Martin Advances Air-Combat Concepts with Autonomous Drones

Lockheed Martin successfully demonstrated control of an uncrewed aerial system (UAS) from the cockpit of an F-22 Raptor during a flight from Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas. The company announced the milestone on November 19, 2025, highlighting the potential for single-seat fighters to direct autonomous drones through interfaces integrated into aircraft. According to Lockheed Martin, the F-22 pilot used an open-architecture system to send tasking commands to the UAS. The demonstration marks a significant step toward future air-combat concepts built around human-machine coordination. The company is continuing to test and refine these capabilities, with additional demonstrations planned.