• US Air Force awards contract to Honeywell for drone wingman engines.
• Honeywell will adapt its SkyShot 1600 engine for the service's Collaborate Combat Aircraft program.
• The SkyShot engine delivers powerful thrust capability with turbofan or turbojet propulsion.
• The contract supports the development of unmanned aircraft systems propulsion.

This contract award may signal the US Air Force's increasing focus on autonomous drone technology, which could enhance its collaborative combat capabilities. The adaptation of Honeywell's SkyShot engine suggests a push for more efficient and powerful propulsion systems, which could benefit the development of next-generation unmanned aircraft.