US firms unveil sixth-gen F-47's wingmen drones at Paris Air Show

At the 2025 Paris Air Show, US defense firms Anduril Industries and General Atomics unveiled full-scale models of their autonomous loyal wingmen drones—YFQ-44A "Fury" and YFQ-42A respectively—designed to operate alongside the sixth-generation F-47 fighter jets currently under development by Boeing for the US Air Force. These drones, part of the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, are expected to have a combat radius exceeding 700 nautical miles and will be capable of air-to-air combat, reconnaissance, and other missions to extend the operational range and capabilities of manned aircraft. The Air Force plans to make a production decision by 2026, with around 1,000 drones operational by 2029, complementing over 185 F-47 fighters ordered for delivery in the 2030s. The development of these autonomous drones reflects a strategic focus on maintaining air superiority in the Indo-Pacific region amid rising tensions