Drones obey F-16, F-15 pilots in USAF’s most advanced live tests yet

The US Air Force recently achieved a significant milestone in next-generation air combat by successfully demonstrating real-time manned-unmanned teaming during a high-fidelity training exercise at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. In this test, pilots flying F-16C Fighting Falcon and F-15E Strike Eagle jets each controlled two semi-autonomous XQ-58A Valkyrie drones, marking one of the most advanced operational evaluations of autonomous collaborative platforms (ACPs) to date. These low-cost, runway-independent drones are designed to operate with high autonomy under human supervision, performing missions such as strike, surveillance, and electronic warfare in contested environments, thereby reducing pilot workload and increasing mission survivability while maintaining ethical control over lethal effects. Developed by Kratos Defense, the XQ-58A Valkyrie serves as a leading testbed for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programs, featuring a combat radius over 2,000 nautical miles and modular payload capabilities. Unlike traditional UAVs, these