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US Air Force Demonstrates Manned-Unmanned Teaming

February 24, 2026

2 min read

Key Takeaways

US Air Force conducted live demonstration of manned-unmanned teaming.
F-22 Raptor linked with MQ-20 Avenger in flight test.
Test explored autonomous aircraft support for frontline fighters.
MQ-20 operated as autonomous system, not remotely piloted aircraft.

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Strategic Implications

This demonstration may indicate the US Air Force's growing interest in integrating autonomous systems into future operations. The use of legacy fighters like the F-22 in manned-unmanned teaming concepts suggests a potential path for upgrading existing aircraft with autonomy capabilities, which could enhance their effectiveness in combat scenarios.

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What Happened

Autonomous MQ-20 Avenger Supports F-22 Raptor In Flight Test

The US Air Force has successfully demonstrated manned-unmanned teaming by linking a crewed F-22 Raptor with an uncrewed MQ-20 Avenger in a flight test. The exercise, conducted at Edwards Air Force Base in California, aimed to explore how autonomous aircraft can support frontline fighters in future operations. The test was conducted in collaboration with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, which supplied the Avenger and autonomy software. According to the US Air Force and GA-ASI, the F-22 pilot used a tactical data link and autonomy interface to issue mission-level commands to the MQ-20, which responded autonomously. This development was first reported by AeroTime.

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