As the future of aerial combat moves towards teaming manned and unmanned vehicles, loyal wingman drones are taking center stage.
These highly autonomous platforms are designed to operate alongside fighter jets, augmenting mission capabilities while minimizing risks to human life. At a fraction of the cost of a manned fighter jet, these aircraft are seen as an easy way to scale up military might with a smaller investment.
Several nations are developing loyal wingman drones, with varying degrees of success. Here are some of the most promising loyal wingman drones on the horizon that could shape the future of aerial warfare.
Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat
Developed in collaboration with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat is Australia’s first domestically produced combat aircraft in more than 50 years. It was officially named ‘ghost bat’ after a native Australian mammal known for teaming together in a pack to hunt.
Designed to operate both autonomously and in conjunction with manned aircraft, this loyal wingman is capable of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) activities, as well as electronic warfare and direct combat. It has a payload capacity of up to 500kg and features an open architecture designed to facilitate the integration of third-party systems and payloads.
The aircraft took its maiden flight in 2021, and has operated both solo and in manned-unmanned teaming scenarios. In March 2025, Boeing announced that the MQ-28 had completed 100 test flights and that it intends to conduct test launches of air-to-air missiles by the end of 2025 or early 2026.
Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie
This experimental unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been in development since 2016, with the intention of creating an autonomous vehicle to fly alongside advanced fighter jets like the F-22 and F-35. The Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie flew for the first time in 2019, and in 2023, it successfully flew under the Penetrating Affordable Autonomous Collaborative Killer Portfolio (PAACK-P) program, evaluating the Valkyrie’s capabilities in manned-unmanned teaming scenarios.
It is designed for versatility in mission profiles, with manned-unmanned teaming at the heart of the platform. Equipped with artificial intelligence algorithms, the XQ-58A can perform missions with minimal human intervention and can operate in coordinated ‘swarm’ groups to overwhelm enemy defenses.
At a production rate of 50 aircraft annually, the drone is expected to cost around $4 million a unit. However, the costs will reduce if more units are built, bringing the per aircraft price down to around $2 million for 100 units or more per year. Kratos has said that production could eventually be as high as 250 to 500 Valkyries per year.
Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B
One of the largest drones on our list, the Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B, also known as the Hunter-B, has been in development since at least 2011. Developed in partnership between Mikoyan and Sukhoi, it builds on previous work on the Mikoyan Skat UCAV. The first prototype was revealed in 2017.
It took its maiden flight in 2019, and by February 2021, it was reported that at least four prototypes had been built. In 2023, Russia said that the state tests for the Okhotnik were almost complete, and that it would begin serial production in the second half of 2024, although there is no evidence that this has now begun.
Like many of the drones here, the S-70 Okhotnik-B is designed to work alongside Russia’s formidable fifth-generation fighter jet, the Su-57. However, questions remain over its capabilities as, in October 2024, an S-70 was deliberately downed by an Su-57 near Kostiantynivka in Ukraine. Russian forces had lost control of the drone, and decided to destroy it to prevent Ukraine from accessing the wreckage.
Bayraktar Kızılelma
The Bayraktar Kızılelma (Turkish for ‘red apple’) is Turkey’s first homegrown jet-powered UAV, designed by Baykar Technologies. While the initial version, known as the Kızılelma-A, is subsonic, future iterations (-B and -C) are intended to be supersonic. Alongside the TAI Anka-3, this is one of two Turkish jet-powered drones in development.
The Kızılelma is satellite-controlled with fully autonomous takeoff and landing capabilities. It has a low radar cross section, high maneuverability and control beyond line-of-sight. It is expected to feature two internal weapons bays, and six external hardpoints on the wings, with options for air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles as well as various options for bombs.
Having started conceptual studies in 2013, the design and specifications of the Kızılelma were first shared publicly in 2021. The aircraft took its first flight in December 2022, and in 2023 was seen flying in formation with an F-16C at TEKNOFEST in Istanbul. In October 2024, Baykar announced that mass production of the Kızılelma had begun, with a target of 10 units to be produced by 2026.
Dassault nEUROn
Led by French aerospace company Dassault, the nEUROn program launched over 20 years ago in 2003. Bringing together countries including France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, the goal of the project is to develop a stealthy, autonomous UAV that can support forces in high-threat combat situations.
Powered by a single Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour Mk. 951 turbofan engine, the nEUROn is designed for air-to-ground missions. Its two internal bays are capable of carrying 250kg laser guided bombs, while its stealth capabilities allow it to fly into high threat environments without being detected.
The drone took its maiden flight in December 2012 and completed over 170 test flights between 2012 and 2022. Progress on the nEUROn stalled for a while, but interest was renewed in December 2024, when it was announced the vehicle would return to service and continue its development.
Feihong FH-97
The Feihong FH-97 and subsequent FH-97A are China’s leading efforts in the loyal wingman space. Developed by the Aerospace Times Feihong Technology Corporation, a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), these drones are intended to team up with manned fighter jets to support in combat situations.
Unveiled in 2021, the FH-97 is a stealthy unmanned aerial vehicle designed to suppress air defenses with electronic countermeasures. It has been succeeded by the FH-97A, revealed at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2022, although very little is known about either of the platforms.
Visually, the FH-97 takes some strong cues from the XQ-58A Valkyrie and is thought to be capable of carrying up to eight air-to-air missiles or loitering munitions. It is equipped with rocket boosters, allowing takeoff without a runway and catapult launch from ships.
Although China has shown off its prototypes, analysts suggest it may be several years before these systems are integrated into China’s military arsenal.
HAL CATS Warrior
India’s reply to future drone efforts worldwide comes in the form of the HAL CATS Warrior, an unmanned combat aerial vehicle developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in collaboration with NewSpace Research & Technologies.
It’s a stealth-optimized airframe with a modular construction, allowing for rapid adaptation to suit different missions. It has both an internal weapons bay and external hardpoints, letting it capably carry a diverse payload. It operates under the manned-unmanned teaming concept, and can autonomously take off, land and adapt to real-time evolving combat scenarios.
Having unveiled a scale model at Aero India in 2021, HAL achieved a milestone in January 2025 when it conducted a successful ground run of the engine on a full-scale demonstrator. This will be followed by taxi trials and a first flight, hopefully before the end of 2025.
Airbus Wingman
The ‘Wingman’ by Airbus is intended to be a cutting-edge unmanned aerial vehicle that will operate alongside manned fighter jets like the Eurofighter Typhoon. Unveiled at the ILA Berlin Air Show in June 2024, the drone has a sleek, stealth design with an emphasis on low observability.
Equipped with advanced sensors and connectivity solutions, the drone is intended to be capable of performing multiple jobs for defense forces. These include electronic warfare, reconnaissance and precision strikes against ground or aerial targets.
Airbus is investing significantly in the Wingman project, viewing it as a major stepping stone towards the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). FCAS will include a 6th-generation fighter jet, and is expected to be rolled out as a complete system in the 2030s.
As technologies continue to grow, the fight for aerial supremacy continues to produce ever more capable and advanced platforms. These loyal wingman drones are more than just a mindless kamikaze weapon; they’re serious investments that rival fighter jets in their capabilities, but at a fraction of the investment (and without the human risk).
While a fully connected airspace is still some years away, it’s emerging as a key goal for nations around the world. AI will underpin many of the loyal wingman drones featured here, and its successful application will form the backbone of this interconnected manned-unmanned team.
